Lip balm

The sensitive skin of the lips is one of the most sensitive areas on the face. Everyone knows the uncomfortable feeling of dry and chapped lips. To avoid this, they need special care Lip balm.

What is lip balm?

Lip balm is supposed to supply the skin with fat and moisture and make it soft and supple. It can be used to care for the lips or to treat dry, chapped skin on the lips.

In addition, various products also offer a sun protection factor as a barrier against UV radiation, anti-aging substances or medicinal active ingredients against diseases of the skin. Lip balm is often a more intense product than a simple lip balm and has a direct effect on acute problems.

Application, effect & use against chapped, dry lips

The skin of the lips has hardly any sebum or sweat glands and therefore cannot form a film of lipids and water. Your outer horny layer is very thin and the low proportion of the skin pigment melanin offers little protection against the sun's rays.

In addition, the sensitive skin of the lips is exposed to numerous environmental influences every day. Lips dry out quickly and become brittle and cracked, especially in strong sunlight and in cold weather or heated air. In extreme cases, often also with malnutrition, the skin around the mouth and the corners of the mouth becomes sore or tears. In addition to factors such as nutrient supply and climate, skin aging also ensures that the collagen content and the fatty tissue in the lips steadily decrease. This makes the lips appear narrower.

A lip balm can help, which, in addition to its moisturizing effect, is also enriched with anti-aging ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, antioxidants or peptides. It also often contains skin-smoothing substances that fill in small wrinkles or stimulate collagen formation and thus make the lips look fuller.

Cracked skin is susceptible to pathogens. A bacterial or fungal infection can then develop on the lips and in the corners of the mouth. Herpes simplex viruses, which are responsible for burning cold sores, are common. If these are announced, early treatment with a virus-inhibiting preparation can effectively reduce the severity of the cold sore. Lip balm with lemon balm, which is available in pharmacies, has also been proven to be effective.

Herbal, Natural & Pharmaceutical Lip Balms

Lip balm is made from oils, fats and waxes that are enriched with additional nourishing and calming substances such as dexpanthenol and bisabolol or the skin-protecting vitamins E and C.

If the balm has a very creamy consistency, there is often water in the recipe. Hyaluronic acid or urea often have a stronger moisture-binding effect in these products. Paraffin, a distillate made from petroleum, is popular with manufacturers as a fatty ingredient in lip care products.

The widespread basis for skin care products is tolerable and inexpensive. Many manufacturers use herbal ingredients for their lip balms. Fats and oils such as cocoa and shea butter, olive or almond oil are obtained from renewable raw materials and should come particularly close to natural skin fat.

Lip balm is available in jars from which the product is removed and applied with the fingers, in tubes and in its most popular form, the lip balm. Depending on the type of application, lip balm is available in drugstores, perfumeries or pharmacies in different price ranges. There is an extensive range especially for different needs and for protection from the sun or extreme cold.

There is a balm especially for men that does not shine on the lips and therefore does not attract attention. In contrast, shimmering or tinted products combine the benefits of a lip balm with a color accent.

Risks & side effects

With continuous use of Lip care products A habituation effect can occur, and the dryness can persist despite regular use. Real physical or psychological addiction, however, cannot develop.

The impression of constantly having to re-apply cream can arise if the proportion of caring substances is too low. It is also possible that the composition of the fats is not optimal or that a product that provides more moisture should be used.

If malnutrition, an infection with herpes viruses, bacteria or a fungal disease lead to sore, cracked skin, cracks or even weeping wounds, a commercially available lip balm cannot permanently combat the symptoms. After consulting a doctor, a special product should be used that combats the causes and supports the skin in healing.