I’d bet it’s less of anything specific they put in the balms, and more that if we’re geting external sources of things, that interferes with the feedback loops that cause production. So for example, if someone is taking anabolic steroids in large doses, that messes with the feedback loops, their testes quit producing testosterone, and their testes shrink.
I would imagine there’s something similar going on with lips and sebum production. Put enough balm on often enough for a long enough period, and then stop abruptly, and you’ll likely have a period where your lips are chapped because your body has to reestablish that feedback loop and produce more of your own natural grease.
I have extremely dry skin, particularly my hands. So bad, the pads of fingers split open which is very painful and seem to never heal. I tried EVERYTHING under the sun. Some helped a bit, but often very temporarily. My mother-in-law asked if I had heard of CeraVe a couple years back. I had not. She gave me a tub of the moisturizing cream. Let me tell you, that shit is miraculous! It didn’t take long for my split fingers to heal up, and the overall health of my hands to improve greatly. I put it on mostly 1-2 times per day and I’m good. I’ve only had one finger split since. It has also improved the skin on the rest of my body.
My lips have never been problematic, but my wife does have that problem. I’m buying her some. I swear by CeraVe now!
Glad to read so many positive review about CeraVe - I recently received a sample of their facial cleanser and I’m always worried that new products will trigger a reaction.
About 6-7 years ago (pre-COVID), I suddenly developed cracking and irritation at the corners of my mouth and eyes. My doctor said I needed to change my facial cleanser. Since then use a soap-free cleanser that keeps my skin happy and I no longer have to worry about getting cracks at the corners of my mouth.
I’m glad it’s now better! I grew up in upstate New York and during the winter I got extreme chapped lips. Even now when I visit during the winter, by the end of my visit my lips are starting to feel dry.
Coming back, as get past South Carolina and move toward and through Florida, I can feet the moisture in the air start to remoisturize my lips in real time.
You know, after having created this thread and written about how I think beeswax was the culprit in the recent irritation attack, I thought back about all the balms I’ve tried through the years with no luck in curing the main problem. I looked up the ingredients on all of the balms I could remember having tried (Chapstick, Blistex, etc.), and every one of them had beeswax. It’s possible that my 40 year issue with peeling flaking lips was caused by constant contact with this allergan. Fook me.
