Vaseline lip balm is an affordable option that is widely available in most grocery stores and drugstores. It's often praised as a soothing agent for dry skin, a wound healer, and a moisturizer for chapped lips. But should you use Vaseline on your lips, and is it recommended?
1. Limitations of Vaseline on lips
Vaseline is classified as an occlusive agent, meaning it helps retain moisture. If you apply Vaseline to your lips before they become dry and chapped, it can help prevent dryness. However, using Vaseline to moisturize your lips is not the only effective way to restore lost moisture.
On the other hand, true humectants can retain moisture in the body locally on the skin and lips. Examples of humectants include: Honey, aloe vera or shea butter.
Moreover, Vaseline can be helpful for dry, chapped lips when used along with a humectant. Apply the humectant to your lips first, then seal it with Vaseline.
2. Side effects of using Vaseline on lips
Side effects of using Vaseline for chapped lips may include the following:
Vaseline can feel greasy and heavy on the lips.
If you sleep with Vaseline on, the oil can stain your pillowcases and sheets.
Although allergic reactions to Vaseline are rare, they can occur. Signs of an allergic reaction include swelling of the lips and a burning or stinging sensation on the lips.
In cases where the lips are chapped to the point of bleeding, Vaseline contaminated with bacteria from your fingers can cause an allergic reaction. Besides, you should notice that Vaseline can also clog pores around the mouth.
3. Other alternative treatments for chapped lips
If you are not allergic, Vaseline is unlikely to cause harm or make your lips drier. However, it may not be the best option for hydrating lips and preventing the delicate skin from becoming chapped.
Other things to try for dry lips include:
Try lip balms that contain natural ingredients like argan oil, coconut oil, cocoa butter, or shea butter.
Don't forget to protect your lips from the sun by using a product with SPF 15 or higher. There are certain moisturizing lip balms and oils that shield lips from UV rays, thanks to sun-protective ingredients zinc oxide and titanium oxide.
Some gentle lotions can work wonders on your lips. Ask your doctor about applying these medications to chapped lips.
If your lips are still dry and flaky, try using lip exfoliants. This will help slough off some of the dead skin so that lip care products can penetrate better.
4. Ways to proactively prevent chapped lips
The best thing for chapped lips is to prevent them from getting chapped in the first place. Everyone can prevent chapped lips in simple ways, such as:
Avoid constant mouth breathing: Mouth breathing releases warm air on the lips, which can dry them out quickly.
Don't lick your lips: When they’re dry, it’s tempting to add moisture from your tongue, but once the saliva dries, it actually leaves your lips drier.
Drink water: This is a great way to prevent chapped lips if your body is dehydrated.
Place a humidifier in your bedroom: The steam released into the air can help add moisture not only to the air but also to your lips and skin.
Avoid known allergens: Fragrances and dyes in some lip products can dry out your lips.
Apply sunscreen to your lips.
Gently exfoliate your lips: Use a lip balm or even a warm, damp washcloth once a week.
Avoid irritating ingredients: Cinnamon, menthol, and salicylic acid, which can actually dry out your lips.
In short, Vaseline is a widely available, affordable mineral oil that is often used to help heal dry skin and lips. Vaseline lip balm is known as a humectant, so while it can help seal in moisture, it doesn’t add moisture topically. Therefore, Vaseline works best when used with a moisturizer, such as shea butter or aloe vera, which can actually draw moisture into the lips. At the same time, if the lips are very dry, the patient can try exfoliating, using products containing moisturizers and avoiding licking the lips, drinking enough water and building a nutritional regimen, a comprehensive health care regimen in general.
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Reference source: healthline.com
