Assessed and Endorsed by the MedReport Medical Review Board
Have you noticed sometimes your lips are still dry after applying lip balm?
What is Lip Balm?
Lip balms can come in many forms, colors, and sizes. Some can be in the form of sticks while others in the form of oils or ointments. They are for moisturizing lips when dry or chapped.
Lip Balm vs ChapStick
ChapStick is a specific brand of lip balms while lip balm is the general term.
Why do lips get dry?
Lips have a bad skin barrier and don’t have oil glands, so they lose moisture quickly. Chapped lips, or cheilitis, may be caused by dehydration, cold or dry weather, sun damage, and also frequently licking lips. Chapped lips can also be symptoms of further medical conditions, such as vitamin deficiencies. Research has shown that deficiency in B vitamins and iron can result in cheilitis.
Does lip balm actually work?
The lip balm’s formula is what determines whether or not your lips feel dry after applying. Some lip balms only have humectants, which draw moisture from the air but only provide temporary relief from dryness. Once the moisture evaporates from the lips, they can feel even drier than before. Additionally some ingredients in the lip balms such as fragrances or other chemicals can further cause dryness, such as salicylic acid and menthol. In order for a lip balm to actually keep your lips hydrated, look for a lip balm with humectants and occlusives.
What’s in a good lip balm
To find a lip balm that effectively moisturizes your lips, look for a lip balm formulated with humectants and occlusives. Humectants will pull the moisture in, and occlusives will create a barrier to lock it in and prevent it from evaporating. Some occlusives include shea butter, petroleum, beeswax, etc. Occlusives ingredients are usually heavy, greasy, and sometimes sticky, but are usually mineral oils, silicones, vegetable oils, animal fats, wax esters, hydrocarbons, and sterols. Petroleum is an ingredient that is used in many lip balms and actually is often considered one of the most effective moisturizing ingredients because it reduces water evaporation from your skin (trans-epidermal water loss) by 98%, whereas mineral oil, silicone, and lanolin reduce water evaporation by only 20–30%. Some ingredients in lip balms can actually make your lips drier, such as salicylic acid and menthol, so try to avoid those.
How often should you apply lip balm?
You can apply lip balm whenever you notice that your lips feel dry. Always apply after eating or drinking to ensure that it stays on and while outdoors make sure to apply lip balm with SPF about every two hours!
Lip Plumping Products
People buy lip plumpers often with the promise that it will make your lips fuller, however this is a temporary effect, and it sometimes is caused by irritation to make your lips plumper. Lip plumpers often contain ingredients like cinnamon, mint, wintergreen, and even capsicum, which are from chili peppers, to boost blood flow to your lips leading to swelling and redness, or plumping. These ingredients also can cause the stinging or tingling sensation when applying the products.
Other remedies for chapped lips
Use a humidifier to add moisture to the air and your lips.
Hydration! Better hydration will lead to less dry lips.
Applying lip balm with SPF when outdoors. People often overlook sun protection to your lips, however without SPF they are easily susceptible to sunburns, causing chapped and dry lips.
Avoiding licking, picking, or biting lips! Licking lips dries out your lips because of enzymes in the saliva, which are meant for digesting! These enzymes are too harsh for the delicate skin on lips and will cause damage or dryness.
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