# is lip balm addictive?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-lip-balm-addictive/134394>\
**Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\
**Created:** [October 29, 2002, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-lip-balm-addictive/134394 "2002-10-29T13:18:25Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![silverspawn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/41988e/32.png) [@silverspawn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silverspawn)\
**Post date:** [October 29, 2002, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-lip-balm-addictive/134394/1 "2002-10-29T13:18:25Z")

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Reading an older article - [http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a981225.html](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a981225.html) , and I’d been told that while the substances in lip balm aren’t addictive the way drugs are, but that because it provides the moisture to one’s lips, the lips/mouth stop feeling the need to moisturize themselves. So one adds more chapstick. So the natural moisture doesn’t come through. And so on.

It happened to me for awhile. The only cure is to quit cold-turkey.

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**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\
**Post date:** [October 29, 2002, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-lip-balm-addictive/134394/2 "2002-10-29T14:59:12Z")

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Maybe this is what’s happening with my cat:

[http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=141554](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=141554)

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**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\
**Post date:** [October 29, 2002, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-lip-balm-addictive/134394/3 "2002-10-29T16:03:56Z")

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Do not defile the Holy Lipbalm, Unbelievers!

Now, bow in humble repentence to the sacred flywheel, while I play my banjo.

😉