Red, sore lips

johnmacward · 30-08-2010 12:14am #1

Can't find a general "Health" section in this magnitude of boards.ie so Men's Health will do!

On and off I keep getting red and sore lips, it looks rubbish and can be, well, sore and annoying.

Sometimes they dry out and I'm tempted to lick them (which is supposed to be a BAD idea). Mostly they're just red and sore. Chapsticks like Burts Bee's don't seem to help or I really don't use them enough.

In general I have a good diet of vegetables and fruit and I tend to go for healthy meats and fish - tuna, salmon, chicken breast etc. In the last few months I have developed a great habit of getting my 2 litres minimum a day of water so dehydration shouldn't be the issue.

I haven't a clue what's causing this, anybody with any tips?

Galvasean · 30-08-2010 1:06am

Do you suffer from sinus problems, use nasal spray by any chance?
I'm currently experiencing similar symptoms. It's from spilling some of the liquid onto the lips.

the_syco · 30-08-2010 1:16am

johnmacward wrote: »

Sometimes they dry out and I'm tempted to lick them (which is supposed to be a BAD idea).

I like my lips all the time. On the rare occasion on a ice cold day they may crack, but I'd just lick them better. Never knew it could be bad.

Galvasean · 30-08-2010 1:19am

Human saliva has natural disinfectant in it. Those chapsticks however are designed to dry out your skin in the long run so you'll use/by more.

Ectoplasm · 30-08-2010 10:55am

My brother suffers from the same thing fairly regularly. He uses Blisteze for a couple of days and it seems to clear it up. I've no idea if it'd work for everyone though!

sea_monkey · 30-08-2010 1:30pm

what kind of toothpaste do you use?

i notice some types make my lips really really dry

johnmacward · 30-08-2010 1:41pm

Galvasean wrote: »

Do you suffer from sinus problems, use nasal spray by any chance?
I'm currently experiencing similar symptoms. It's from spilling some of the liquid onto the lips.

More towards the Winter I may have to use one, but at the moment no.

Galvasean wrote: »

Human saliva has natural disinfectant in it. Those chapsticks however are designed to dry out your skin in the long run so you'll use/by more.

The problem with saliva is that it's a natural enzyme and actually harms the lips. Or so I constantly read. I stick with wax based chapsticks as they're supposed to be pretty decent on the lips. The Petroleum / petrolatum types are supposed to be a no no so I don't touch them. Then again there's always 100 ****ing opinions.

EMF2010 wrote: »

My brother suffers from the same thing fairly regularly. He uses Blisteze for a couple of days and it seems to clear it up. I've no idea if it'd work for everyone though!

My big problem is never using them for long enough, usually they give a little relief straight off but then my lips dry out a little which I assume is not supposed to happen (but to be fair that could be natural removal of old dead skin, maybe it's actually good - it never hurts when they dry out like that) and then I stop using them. I'll try out my Burts Bee's for a few days rather than just a day!

sea_monkey wrote: »

what kind of toothpaste do you use? i notice some types make my lips really really dry

El cheapo Lidl stuff (Dentalux), but to be fair I used it throughout a good period as well so I'm not sure. Actually to be fair, I recently started using one with Whitening bull**** and maybe thats the difference. Hmmmm....

johnmacward · 30-08-2010 1:46pm

By the way, thanks a mill for all the quick replies. It's great getting "grassroots" advice from those who go through it. A doctor is a possibility but @ 65 lids, he's an expensive possiblity.

One other thing, I had a Hep A injection last week. From what I read it should either floor me with sickness OR I should be absolutely fine. But maybe it's a contributor... Ok, obviously we're getting into diagnosis and med advice here so reign me in when needed.

entropi · 30-08-2010 6:17pm

johnmacward wrote: »

The problem with saliva is that it's a natural enzyme and actually harms the lips. Or so I constantly read. I stick with wax based chapsticks as they're supposed to be pretty decent on the lips. The Petroleum / petrolatum types are supposed to be a no no so I don't touch them. Then again there's always 100 ****ing opinions.

The thing about saliva being a natural enzyme is that it is a combination of different substances, the enzyme being Salivary Amylase, which is there to begin the breakdown of carbohydrates so I'm not quite sure about it damaging the lips.

This sort of drying of the lips happens to most of us at some stage during the year regardless of diet/weather conditions...it only happened to me last week and they were back to normal after 2 days. I'm just gonna put it down to "one of those things".

Giselle · 30-08-2010 6:53pm

Galvasean wrote: »

Human saliva has natural disinfectant in it. Those chapsticks however are designed to dry out your skin in the long run so you'll use/by more.

This is true of petroleum based ones, they give short term relief but make the issue worse long term. You can buy beeswax based balms that really work long term and are very soothing short term, but beware if they contain petroleum jelly as well.

Cocoa butter ones are supposed to be good, like this one. And remember your lips can be sensitive to the sun which might be the cause of your dryness, so one like this with an spf might help.

http://www.superdrug.com/Lip-Balm/PALMERS-COCOA-BUTTER-LIP-BALM-4G/invt/379131

johnmacward · 30-08-2010 10:02pm

Master of Nothing wrote: »

This sort of drying of the lips happens to most of us at some stage during the year regardless of diet/weather conditions...it only happened to me last week and they were back to normal after 2 days. I'm just gonna put it down to "one of those things".

It's been so on and off for me throughout the year and it's around this year that it started so there's a good chance I'm deficient in something, allergic to something or doing something stupid. For about 3 weeks recently my lips cleared up and what a difference in pain and appearance. So when it comes back it makes me pissed off! I know it can be ok, I've just gotta stop doing something or start doing something else.

johnmacward · 30-08-2010 10:18pm

Today I applied Burts Bee's throughout the day, about 4 or 5 times - basically each time it dried out. My lips stayed cool and didn't hurt and the swelling went down, there's still a little redness but there's a good chance they'll look a lot better tomorrow and I'll go with it for another day or so. This stuff works well. As usual I kept well hydrated throughout the day, 4 pints of water minimum and a good lot of fruits and veg.

My biggest problem in the past was not using enough Burts Bee's. My lips would get bad, I'd apply a little and they'd improve a little and then I'd stop! I'll keep it going until they look normal again.

In regards saliva, I should be clearer about what I read. The overall story is, licking your lips (when they're sore) is not a good idea according to below and elsewhere. The enzyme in saliva can irritate causing more licking (and it's definitely true that you lick them when it's sore) and when the saliva evaporates it can take the moisture with it making the overall problem worse.

If I think it through, when my lips are ok (as they partially are at the minute) I don't feel the need to lick them anyway, hence I don't do much damage. When they are bad I DO, and it does worsen.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chapped_lips#Treatments

mfceiling · 30-08-2010 11:08pm

Don't laugh but..........if you run your finger behind your ear you will get your natural oils on your finger and then put them on your lips....it works...really!!

Novella · 31-08-2010 2:14am

I recommend Carmex lip balm. It's pretty cheap, between 3 and 4 euro and does the trick for me anyway and I've probably tried every lip balm under the sun!

johnmacward · 15-11-2010 2:38pm

I had to come back and let all know how I got on. Carmex is just about the only thing that works for me so to those who recommended it at the time, kudo's. I ignored your advice at the time but twas wrong.

This frosty weather really fudged up my lips a few days ago, severe cracking, redness, swelling, pain - wasn't nice at all. I splashed them with water a few times and the instant relief was great but the repercussions we're enormous, it kept getting worse.

I put Carmex on one night and everything was improved the next day. I also kept applying small amounts of it through the next day and they we're actually healing! Yes, healing. That never actually happened before - I know they're getting better when they're more pink rather than red, they're smaller in size and I don't feel them anymore.

I was wrong in what I was saying about Burts Bee's (for me anyway). It never actually healed, just gave cooling relief. Carmex has actually healed them to a great degree. The real test is the weather ahead. It's about 2 degrees at the moment.

Cheers for all the advice, your a good bunch!

johnmacward · 15-11-2010 2:42pm

mfceiling wrote: »

Don't laugh but..........if you run your finger behind your ear you will get your natural oils on your finger and then put them on your lips....it works...really!!

Hey, the oils off my nose worked as well. Only problem was I'd use it up pretty quick. Never thought of behind my ears.

Hazys · 15-11-2010 3:54pm

Carmex is by far the best.

15-11-2010 8:34pm

You're sure it's not just the cold weather? Mine have been getting a bit dry and cracked from it, myself.
I use vaseline on them and it seems to do the trick.

Big Pussy Bonpensiero · 15-11-2010 10:07pm

I've found that Vaseline works for everything (dry skin related!)!! But yeah, carmex is probably the best.

Bottle_of_Smoke · 16-11-2010 12:36pm

Its just the cold weater. Labello or savlon work very well.

thankswhore · 17-11-2010 5:35pm

i use the nivea for men lip balm because it doesnt make your lips shine like a pair of varnished seaslugs

Wolfe Tone · 17-11-2010 6:04pm

A relation of mine rubs e45 cream(the one you use on your hands and stuff) on his lips. He swears by it.

BopNiblets · 18-11-2010 2:52am

I was just going to mention the E45 chapstick thingy, does the job, although it doesn't feel as waxy as the normal ones.

DS333 · 18-11-2010 11:59pm

I find Vaseline is the best. I use it 4 or 5 times a day. All the others dry my lips out.

KnifeWRENCH · 19-11-2010 5:30pm

I've had dry sore lips frequently ever since I was on Roaccutane a couple of years ago. Never had the problem before that, but now can't get rid of it.

I use Vaseline. I find the green one (the one with Aloe Vera) better than the normal one.

Taco Corp · 21-11-2010 3:50pm

Had a similar problem earlier in the year. It got so bad I ended up going to a dermatologist. He said that some people can be allergic to some of the ingredients in things like Carmex. I had tried that and it didn't work. He suggested putting water on lips and use Vaseline and it worked. It wasn't the only thing, he did prescribe a mild hydrocortisone as it so bad. But all in all, Vaseline is the best and the cheapest.

By the way, don't lick your lips, just makes in worse.

Leelaa22 · 21-11-2010 5:45pm

Novella wrote: »

I recommend Carmex lip balm. It's pretty cheap, between 3 and 4 euro and does the trick for me anyway and I've probably tried every lip balm under the sun!

Ive a friend who swears by that stuff too. where I can some?

ballsymchugh · 21-11-2010 5:51pm

dry lips is an early sign of dehydration too, you may just not be drinking enough water.

CiaranMT · 22-11-2010 5:16am

I find that any chapstick/Vaseline/Blistex will work as long as you apply it regulalry enough. Keeping a layer of stuff on to keep drying air off, while the lip heals underneath is what works for me.

johnmacward · 26-11-2010 2:08pm

Cheers for all the replies, although I haven't been receiving any notifications and the topic doesn't appear in my CP - odd! I decided I'd pop by anyway.

Some extra stuff to mention, the Carmex has been up and down. The fact is I could get wedded to it, I used it for a while and it kind of helped but as soon as I'm out in the cold and I have no Carmex on it all comes back. It didn't truly heal the lips either even when I was slopping it on a couple of times a day and a big blob at night.

Maybe it's just pure weather but I'm beginning to believe my lips are weak or something else is happening, like nutritional deficiency.

I've really increased my water intake getting at the very least 2 litres a day (maybe the odd bad day), given up caffeine, cut out crap, eating a lot more fruit, veg, salads, nuts and so on. I'm thinking of taking it to the doctor and get a blood test or something done because I'm not exactly feeling myself at the mo.

Weirdly, whenever I eat steak they improve quite a bit!

johnmacward · 26-11-2010 2:13pm

KnifeWRENCH wrote: »

I've had dry sore lips frequently ever since I was on Roaccutane a couple of years ago. Never had the problem before that, but now can't get rid of it.

I use Vaseline. I find the green one (the one with Aloe Vera) better than the normal one.

I think I might be in your boat, I think my problem coincides with the decision 2 years ago to change my diet for the better and start exercising. That's the only difference I can think of.

Sauve · 29-11-2010 12:18am

The key is to ALWAYS put something on your lips before going outside in weather like this.
It'll provide a barrier against them drying out in the cold. The dry air inside from extra central heating chaps them too....

johnmacward · 29-11-2010 1:40am

Sauvignon82 wrote: »

The key is to ALWAYS put something on your lips before going outside in weather like this.
It'll provide a barrier against them drying out in the cold. The dry air inside from extra central heating chaps them too....

Yeah, I'm finding thats the damn reality. The problem with Carmex was it was glossy looking and upon applying it to fairly healed lips they would turn bright red again. I'm a bloke so it wasn't my cup of tea, but on a suggestion from someone else I'm using Palmer's Cocoa Butter stick and not only is is pretty effective (maybe even better than Carmex) but it doesn't look so obvious on my lips. It also tastes and smells exactly like white chocolate, and I mean, who the hell doesn't like white chocolate! I have to apply it a little more frequently throughout the day as it absorbs pretty quick (hopefully a good thing!) but I'm finding it's pretty effective.

Overall, I'm finding some mornings I'm looking a bit pasty, sickly, in general (skin, eyes, complexion) and others I look a little better, so I'm thinking there's possibly something else wrong with me, something deeper that's effecting me overall and it's showing in terms of the lips.

Novella · 01-12-2010 1:36am

Leelaa22 wrote: »

Ive a friend who swears by that stuff too. where I can some?

Sorry, I only saw this now. You can get it in loads of places really, most chemists, Boots, Tesco.

johnmacward · 01-12-2010 11:38am

And if you're talking about Palmer's Cocoa Butter, I picked up a big fat stick in Boots for about €4. I'm still finding it pretty good and once again, big plus point, it smells EXACTLY like white chocolate. Like rubbing a milkybar all over your face.

Abi · 01-12-2010 9:49pm

The last few days my lips have been very dry and chapped, I can't stop biting them! I'm going to try swing by the chemists in the morning, there was an intensive care lip cream I used to use, and it was amazing. It softens the lips as well as help repair them. I'm going to hazard a guess with 'Blistex' it was a small white and blue tube of lip cream with a nozzle on it.. works for me like nothing else I've tried.

Taco Corp · 01-12-2010 10:07pm

Abigayle wrote: »

The last few days my lips have been very dry and chapped, I can't stop biting them! I'm going to try swing by the chemists in the morning, there was an intensive care lip cream I used to use, and it was amazing. It softens the lips as well as help repair them. I'm going to hazard a guess with 'Blistex' it was a small white and blue tube of lip cream with a nozzle on it.. works for me like nothing else I've tried.

Don't bite them!! Vaseline is the best, I can vouch for that. And use a little water as well.

johnmacward · 02-12-2010 12:19am

Abigayle wrote: »

The last few days my lips have been very dry and chapped, I can't stop biting them! I'm going to try swing by the chemists in the morning, there was an intensive care lip cream I used to use, and it was amazing. It softens the lips as well as help repair them. I'm going to hazard a guess with 'Blistex' it was a small white and blue tube of lip cream with a nozzle on it.. works for me like nothing else I've tried.

Yeah, someone else mentioned that earlier. Even with the Cocoa Butter my lips aren't really healing - it's protecting them in the cold, in their current unhealthy state, but there not getting to a state of healed. I might give it a blast.

Surley wrote: »

Don't bite them!! Vaseline is the best, I can vouch for that. And use a little water as well.

Absolutely don't bite them, they'll bleed, dry out again, cause you the worst suffering and take quite a while to heal. I've had this lip problem so long I have great discipline in regards doing anything with my lips - licking them, biting and so on. In regards water - never put it on on it's own. I tried that one day - 5 minutes of glorious relief but 5 hours of horrific pain, it really dries them out.

Taco Corp · 02-12-2010 12:24am

johnmacward wrote: »

In regards water - never put it on on it's own. I tried that one day - 5 minutes of glorious relief but 5 hours of horrific pain, it really dries them out.

You're right, I should have said water and vaseline together.

Sardonicat · 02-12-2010 12:29am

Vaseline is by far and away the best. Get the little tin that's specifically for dry lips. The one with Aloe Vera is the best, as it's very soothing and has a better consistency. And keep re-applying frequently. When it's cleared up, stop using it.

johnmacward · 02-12-2010 1:10am

Surley wrote: »

You're right, I should have said water and vaseline together.

Don't get me wrong, you did in fact say "use vaseline and water as well". You just made me remember that painful day and I made the point separately. Water on it's own is a HUGE no no! No criticism here, and in fact I might try it myself.

A lot of people say steer clear of vaseline but an awful lot of others are saying it's great, so I might try it with the water - it wont kill me.

Abi · 02-12-2010 9:39pm

Surley wrote: »

Don't bite them!! Vaseline is the best, I can vouch for that. And use a little water as well.

I couldnt stop nipping at them

I normally use the vaseline, but I've been at my lips non-stop because of the cold - I figured they could do with something with a bit more of a kick (:

johnmacward wrote: »

Absolutely don't bite them, they'll bleed, dry out again, cause you the worst suffering and take quite a while to heal. I've had this lip problem so long I have great discipline in regards doing anything with my lips - licking them, biting and so on. In regards water - never put it on on it's own. I tried that one day - 5 minutes of glorious relief but 5 hours of horrific pain, it really dries them out.

I managed to get to the chemist today, and picked some of my lil miracle cream up

I was unsure of the name, but when I saw the packaging I was relieved it was the same stuff. Blistease is now blistex, and its the 'relief cream' that does the bizo. I've been dabbing a little on throughout the day, and I have to say the difference is unbelievable!

Its medicated, and has a reassuring tingle that its doing something good, definitely less dryness and even the areas I've been nipping at feel and look a lot better.

Sorry folks if it was mentioned before, theres a fair bit of reading in the thread

johnmacward · 03-12-2010 1:35am

Abigayle wrote: »

I couldnt stop nipping at them I normally use the vaseline, but I've been at my lips non-stop because of the cold - I figured they could do with something with a bit more of a kick (:

Don't worry, you'll get the discipline

Abigayle wrote: »

I managed to get to the chemist today, and picked some of my lil miracle cream up I was unsure of the name, but when I saw the packaging I was relieved it was the same stuff. Blistease is now blistex, and its the 'relief cream' that does the bizo. I've been dabbing a little on throughout the day, and I have to say the difference is unbelievable! Its medicated, and has a reassuring tingle that its doing something good, definitely less dryness and even the areas I've been nipping at feel and look a lot better.

Sorry folks if it was mentioned before, theres a fair bit of reading in the thread

This I might try as a solution to actual healing my lips. I'm doing everything right - good veg and fruit, plenty of water, lip balm when I go out so I think they should be at a healing stage, unless something horrible is actually wrong with me. Now at this point in time we are in suffering the worst weather of my generation so we're in a challenging time for lips but still...

Thanks for the reply as ever.

Red, sore lips

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