Chapped Lips, inspired by the chapped lips topic Options

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Resource : http://www.uspharmacist.com

Treatment of Chapped Lips (Cheilitis)

Reasons:
Lips become chapped for a multitude of reasons. Wind and cold weather are two of the most common. Obstructed breathing (as in allergic rhinitis) can force patients to mouth-breathe, which also predisposes to chapped lips.* Chapped lips may be due to allergic or irritant dermatitis from the use of topical lip products, mouthwashes, or toothpastes. Isotretinoin, a drug used to treat acne, causes mucocutaneous reactions such as cheilitis (severe chapped lips).

*I actually went to the doctor about this and he said that during the winter because there isn't any moisture in the air because of electric heaters, when you lay down all the snot and all that pretty stuff clogs your nose and you start breathing through your mouth so in the morning its all cracky.

Chapped lips are painful and unsightly. If they crack open, the patient can experience pain when performing normal daily activities, including eating, drinking, talking, smiling, or kissing. Furthermore, some patients with chapped lips compulsively and obsessively lick them in vain attempts to relieve the discomfort. However, this activity delivers irritant salivary and intraoral fluids to the lips, worsening the problem.

Treatment Options:
Potential treatments for chapped lips include protectants, hydrocortisone, and products of unknown safety and efficacy, such as those containing salicylic acid. Protectants temporarily relieve chapped or cracked lips and help defend lips from the drying effects of wind and cold weather. The FDA allows protectant labeling on products that contain allantoin 0.5% to 2%, cocoa butter 50% to 100%, cod liver oil 5% to 13.56%, dimethicone 1% to 30%, glycerin 20% to 45%, hard fat 50% to 100%, lanolin 12.5% to 50%, mineral oil 50% to 100%, and petrolatum 30% to 100%.1 Two or more protectants may be combined.

Hydrocortisone 0.25% to 1% is approved by the FDA for topical application in the treatment of minor skin irritations, itching, and rashes due to various causes, e.g., eczema, dermatitis, or allergies to cosmetics, soaps, or detergents.7 Thus, it should be efficacious for many common causes of chapped lips (allergic and irritant dermatoses, repeated licking, and climate-related conditions).

Recommendations :
The best advice the pharmacist can give to patients with chapped lips is to:
1. Keep the tongue inside the mouth, and stop licking the lips.
2. Examine all products used on the lips to see if they might contain allergenic ingredients.
3. Stop the use of any lip product containing potentially erosive ingredients, such as salicylic acid or possible allergens/irritants that do not function as protectants.
4. Consider using a gentle lip balm containing FDA-approved protectants. To care for minor dermatoses, use a balm with hydrocortisone in a vehicle consisting only of protectants.

PS: Dr Dan's Lip Balm is actually pretty good. I have like the worst lips and I hope this isn't considered advertising...if it is I'll just take this part out
http://www.drdanslipbalm.com/

-EDIT-

THE SECRET TO ALL CHAPPED LIPS: CARMEX.

Carmex is the best

right before bed... exfoliate with a toothbrush and then put vaseline... or blitex daily conditioning treatment sort of thickly on...

don't use like fruity lip balms or chapstick... they are not moisturing enough. you will still end up with dry yucky lips

even if you breathe through your mouth at night in the morning your lips are still fab... usually there is still a bit of lip balm on my lips when i wake up.