Wait—Does Lip Balm Actually Make Chapped Lips Worse?

Wait—Does Lip Balm Actually Make Chapped Lips Worse?

Introduction

Chapped lips are a common problem, but you may be surprised to know that lip balm doesn't actually help. In fact, it can actually make chapped lips worse. We'll explain why this is true and how to treat your chapped lips without using the wrong products!

What Are Chapped Lips?

Chapped lips are a common problem, and there's no need to worry that you'll be feeling the effects of this flaky condition long term. While they may look painful, chapped skin is actually just a sensitive area of your skin that has been damaged by harsh conditions—like cold weather or windburn.

Chapped lips can cause:

Redness around the edges of the lips (the "corners")

Peeling or cracking of the skin on top of your lips (the "upper lip")

Flaking off at least some layers beneath it

Are Chapped Lips Healed When You Stretch Them?

You may have heard a lot of conflicting information about how to treat chapped lips. One popular myth is that stretching them will make them worse, but this isn't true.

"The idea that stretching your lips will lead to more tissue damage or make them redder is completely wrong," says Dr. Melissa Chiu, a dermatologist at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City and author of The SkinNYC Guide To Skincare For Ages 25-50: Essential Advice For Looking Great Now And In Your Later Years (Quirk Books). "There are some people who think if they stretch their skin out, then it'll heal better," she says—but this isn't true either!

Can You Use Lip Balm to Make Chapped Lips Worse?

Lip balm can actually make chapped lips worse if you use it too often or in the wrong way.

For instance, if you have sensitive skin and your lip balm contains ingredients that irritate the skin (like fragrance), then this could be causing more problems than just making your lips dryer.

Also, if you're using a product with a high concentration of shea butter—which is known for being an effective moisturizer—then this could also lead to more dryness on your hands or arms after application because they absorb some of the oil while applying it.

Is There a Cure for Chapped Lips?

There are many ways to treat chapped lips. The most common treatment is lip balm, which can be applied at night before going to bed. But you should also make sure that your lips are hydrated with a balm or oil during the day and protected from the sun, wind (think: cold weather), heat (think: hot beverages) and cold temperatures.

You might think that using lip balm every night will give you soft supple pouty lips in no time—but it's not as simple as just rubbing some petroleum jelly on them! The best way to get rid of dry chapped skin? Use an oil-based product like coconut oil instead of petroleum jelly; this will help keep moisture locked inside while helping seals out water loss caused by evaporation during sleep hours."

Lip balm can help soothe the itch, but it doesn't fix the underlying problem.

Lip balm can help soothe the itch, but it doesn't fix the underlying problem. If you have chapped lips, you need to treat the underlying cause. For example, if your lips are dry because of cold weather or windburned skin that leaves them raw and irritated (or both), applying a lip balm with SPF protection may help keep them from getting worse in future days.

Conclusion

So, should you use lip balm to treat chapped lips? The answer is a qualified yes. Lip balm is an effective way to relieve the pain and itch of chapped lips, but it won’t repair the underlying problem. If you want to get rid of your chapped lips for good, there are other options. Your best bet is to find an effective over-the-counter cream or gel that contains Vaseline or similar products that will help heal dry skin on contact with water (such as Aquaphor). We hope this article has helped answer any questions about why lip balm doesn't work as well on chapped lips as some people believe. If nothing else, hopefully we've inspired you to try out some new products!