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Carmex For Eczema On Lips

Could I Be Allergic To Seafood Or Peanuts Or Other Foods

How to Make Lip Balm

When I say allergic lip reactions, most people immediately think about foods. They might think of seafood allergy, or peanut allergy, or dairy allergy. But those kinds of foods usually trigger what are known as Type 1 allergy, also known as IgE-mediated, immediate type allergy.

Just as the name suggests, immediate-type allergies occur within minutes to hours after exposure to a trigger. In other words, you eat shrimp, and within hours your lips start to get red and swollen and itchy.

Thats a completely different immune system pathway than allergic contact dermatitis. In ACD, it classically takes 2 to 3 days before the rash shows up. It can actually show up as quickly as a few hours after exposure to trigger, or as long as 7 days after the trigger, but on average you’ll see it 2-3 days after the trigger.

And just to make it even more difficult to figure out, once the rash is there, it can take up to 8 weeks for your skin to get back to normal. And that holds true even if you’re never exposed to that same trigger again. In other words, even if you never use that same lip balm again, it could STILL take up to 8 weeks for your lips to get back to normal.

Relief & Comfort Ingredients

Benzocaine
Works on contact to relieve pain and itch caused by cold sores.

Benzocaine can function as a topical numbing medication used to temporarily reduce and relieve pain, itch and discomfort from cold sores.

Camphor
An old-time remedy that continues to produce soothing relief.

Camphor is an age-old traditional medicine. It was probably the odor that led to its use. Camphor is a mild pain and itch reliever. Camphor is a compound that shares many properties with Menthol, such as the cooling effect that temporarily relieves minor itching, irritation and pain.

Menthol
Cool and refreshing, invigorating and soothing

Menthol fires up cold-sensing nerves in the skin responsible for that well-known cooling sensation known as the tingle. Obtained from peppermint oil, Menthol refreshes, revitalizes, and enlivens skin.

Phenol
A mild topical pain reliever

Historically, Phenol was the first antiseptic used in surgery. Today, Phenol is recognized by the FDA as a safe and effective topical pain reliever and is used topically to temporarily relieve pain and irritation caused by cold sores and fever blisters.

Salicylic Acid
Helps to reduce the buildup of dry, dull skin

In very small, yet effective amounts Salicylic Acid helps to gently remove dead, cracked, peeling skin, without damaging the new layer of skin that is constantly renewing itself. This skin cell turnover results in healthy, soft, smooth skin underneath.

How Can I Prevent Eczema On The Lips

You may not be able to prevent eczema from developing on your lips if you have atopic dermatitis elsewhere on your body, but you can reduce your risk by:

  • Avoiding lipstick, lip balm or other cosmetics that contain fragrances or dyes.
  • Cutting down on alcohol consumption.
  • Drinking plenty of water.
  • Keeping your lips moisturized with petroleum jelly.
  • Not licking, scratching, biting or sucking your lips.
  • Selecting mouthwash and toothpaste without alcohol or harsh antiseptics.
  • Skipping very salty or spicy foods.

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What Causes Eczema On My Lips

There are several causes of eczema on your lips. Here are some of them:

The environment. Sometimes, things in the environment that you come into contact with, like the wind, can irritate your lips. Also, if you’re outdoors often and have fair skin, you could get eczema on your lips from the sun. If this happens, parts of your lips might feel like sandpaper. Youâre most likely to get this condition if youâre between your 40s and late 80s. If your work involves a lot of outdoor time, like if youâre a farmer or fisherman, your risk will be higher.

Foods and other products. Itâs also possible that a product youâre using, like your makeup, is causing eczema on your lips. Some lipsticks have ingredients, like nickel, that can irritate your lips. Oral health products, like mouthwash and toothpaste, can be irritants, too. Some ingredients, especially flavorings, can cause a reaction. If your lips are irritated after you eat a particular food, for example eggs or shellfish, you might be having an allergic reaction.

Behaviors. Your lips have a natural, oily film that helps them stay moist. When you lick your lips too often, youâre taking away that film, which causes your lips to become dry and cracked. Using tobacco can irritate your lips as well.

An underlying medical issue. If youâre not getting enough of a nutrient, like vitamin B12 or iron, that can affect your lips. Conditions that suppress your immune system, like diabetes or HIV, can also irritate your lips.

Abour Carmex Lip Balms

Carmex Cherry Lip Balm

The first lip balm produced by Carma Lab was the Carmex Classic, a medicated lip balm for cold sores. It comes in a jar, tube, and stick form. It was first designed by the brands founder as a remedy to his cold sores. He, later on, sold it in pharmacies door to door until the product became popular and sales exploded.

Since 1999 the Carmex Classic has been voted the #1 over-the-counter lip balm brand according to the Pharmacy Times magazine.

Over the years the brand has launched several other lines of lip care products. However, the classic formula still remains the most popular.

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Artificial Colors And Dyes

Red dyes are widely known to cause allergies in tattoo inks. Unfortunately, they also cause allergies in cosmetics. In the 1950s, a red dye called eosin was used to stain lips. It was the most common cause of cosmetic allergies. They later found that a chemical contaminant in eosin was causing the allergic reactions. As fashion changed and research advanced, a purer form of eosin evolved and the rates of contact dermatitis decreased dramatically. Since then, federal regulations have been passed to protect consumers from dyes. Unfortunately, even with regulation, dyes still cause reactions.

Avoid these dyes: D& C Red #7 D& C Red #17 D& C Red 19 D& C Red #21 D& C Red #28 D& C Red #31 D& C Red #36 Lithol Rubine BCA Quinazoline yellow FD& C Red 3 FD& C Red 40

How Is Lip Eczema Treated

If you have lip dermatitis, try to stop habits such as licking, biting or sucking your lips. You should also avoid irritants such as lip balms or lipsticks. Your healthcare provider may recommend:

  • Petroleum jelly or unscented, hypoallergenic moisturizer to soothe dry, cracked lips.
  • Steroid ointment to reduce inflammation.

In rare cases, people with severe lip eczema need oral steroids or a special prescription skin cream or ointment that prevents your immune system from overreacting to allergens.

Read Also: Eczema Cream For Sensitive Skin

What Is Eczema On The Lips

Eczema on the lips, also known as eczematous cheilitis, is inflammation or irritation on the skin of your lips. Its sometimes associated with atopic dermatitis. It can lead to dry, scaly or painfully cracked lips. Its a more severe form of chapped lips. Chapped lips are usually temporary, but eczema on the lips tends to be long term .

You can get lip dermatitis if you have an allergic reaction to a substance, such as toothpaste or lotion. Or people with lip eczema may also have atopic dermatitis elsewhere on their bodies. It isnt contagious, so it cant spread from person to person.

If Im Allergic To My Lip Balm How Come It Doesnt Burn When I Put It On

I Used Vaseline On My Face Everyday For One Week

Allergic contact dermatitis is one type of allergic skin reaction. The other name for ACD is delayed-type hypersensitivity. The reason its called “delayed-type” is because it’s delayed. In other words, the reaction doesn’t show up right away.

Instead, about 2 to 3 days later your lips start to develop a rash. For some people, that rash is in the form of redness and flaking. For other people, it takes the form of extreme chapping. Other people might develop swollen lips. And other people might even have the rash spread to the skin around the lips.

These are all signs of allergic contact dermatitis, and I am definitely seeing more cases than ever before of this type of allergic reaction on the lips. When allergic contact dermatitis occurs on the lips, it is also known as allergic contact cheilitis.

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When Should I See A Doctor

You might be able to treat eczema on your lips yourself if your case is mild. Sometimes, lip balms with petroleum jelly are enough. If those products donât clear it up, itâs time to talk to your doctor. They can run tests to find out if you need cream, ointment, vitamin supplements, allergy medication, or a different type of treatment.

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Ways To Treat Cheilitis

Prevention is always better than cure. Lip balm helps to prevent dry lips from wind, dry air, salty foods, mouth breathing and habitual licking of the lips.

If you choose one with SPF, itll also protect the lips from overexposure to harmful UV rays which may dry out the lips even further.

Topical moisturisers and anti-inflammatory creams can alleviate the inflammation. Your doctor may also prescribe a steroid cream, antibiotics or antifungal treatment to help with healing.

Rubbing some natural nut oils and seed butters on your lips can also provide great relief for cracked and chapped lips.

Removing the suspected irritant from the patients environment is the mainstay of treatment. Patients should avoid lip balms that contain flavourings, preservatives, lanolin and other potential allergens.

The other things to avoid would depend on the result of the patch test. Topical corticosteroids are helpful in reducing redness and itch. Bland emollients such as petrolatum can be liberally used in combination with topical corticosteroids. If these measures are not helpful, the patient should consult a specialist dermatologist.

Cheilitis may arise as a symptom of iron deficiency according to the New Zealand Dermatological Society. Iron dietary supplements can help to correct the deficiency and in turn alleviate the itching and dryness.

Dry lips are a sign of dehydration. Make sure to stay hydrated from within by drinking eight to twelve glasses of water a day.

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Are There Other Substances That I Should Watch Out For In My Lip Products

There are definitely other potential triggers of ACD found in lip products. This includes moisturizing ingredients such as lanolin, which is found in Aquaphor, a popular lip moisturizer.

Other potential triggers are chemical sunscreens, which can be found in many lip products that list an SPF. And preservatives can also be an issue, especially in lip glosses and lipsticks. This may include chemicals such as formaldehyde and methylisothiazolinone.

Why Would Certain Foods Be An Issue For People Who Are Allergic To Lip Balms And Flavorings

Carmex Moisturising Lip Balm Cherry SPF15

The most common trigger for lip ACD that I see is flavoring additives. Some of these are natural, and they’re chemically related to certain compounds that are found naturally in certain foods. This blog post has more information about these substances as well as the foods that may be an issue.

The main natural substance that may cause issues in flavorings is called balsam of Peru. The main foods that contain balsam of Peru are cinnamon, tomatoes, citrus, and chocolate. Other foods and beverages may be an issue also, such as colas, certain liquers, and different spices such as vanilla and cloves.

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What Are The Symptoms Of Lip Dermatitis

Lip eczema can affect your top lip, bottom lip or both. It may also spread to the skin around your lips. Rarely, it invades the inner mucous membrane of your mouth. Some people dont have lip irritation for weeks or months, then symptoms flare up and get worse.

Lip dermatitis can make your lips:

  • Cracked or fissured.

Sustainable Cupuacu & Murumuru

Making up over 20% of the CARMEX Naturally formula, our pure Cupuacu and Murumuru butters are sustainably sourced from the Amazon rainforest, and so far have contributed to protecting over 1.5 million hectares of the rainforest and assisted over 10,000 families through a Sociobiodiversity Enhancement Program.

Cupuacu helps restore the lips natural moisture barrier and has twice the moisturisation properties of the classic shea butter, whilst Murumuru helps the lips to retain moisture and absorbs quickly to work from within the lips for maximum benefit!

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Final Thoughts Is Carmex Lip Balm Good Or Bad For You

Carmex contains a mixture of natural and synthetic ingredients so its not an all-natural product. It contains several moisturising ingredients and ingredients that help to soothe irritated lips.

Some ingredients found in Carmex are known allergens such as Citronellol, Linalool and Limonene so if you have sensitive skin you may get a reaction. Camphor and menthol which are added to soothe lips can also cause irritation and tingling sensation.

Mineral oils in Carmex help prevent moisture loss but they dont add any extra benefits, contain no vitamins and dont penetrate the skin to help it heal within.

Taking everything into account, Carmex lip balm does offer some benefits but its not the best lip balm you can use to moisturise and soothe your lips as it contains several synthetic ingredients. Mineral oils and synthetic fragrance are of particular concern here. Its better to moisturise your lips with natural-based ingredients to nourish your lips deeply.

Who Gets Eczema On Their Lips

MY SHOWER AND BODY CARE ROUTINE 2022| FOR DRY AND ECZEMA PRONE SKIN |

Eczema on the lips tends to be a common skin problem in children, but adults can get it, too. It may affect people who:

  • Excessive lip licking, biting or sucking.
  • Irritants such as those found in lipstick, lip balm, toothpaste or mouthwash .
  • Loss of lip plasticity , often due to age or exposure to hot, dry conditions.

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The Thermal Water Wonder

Over the past few months Ive tried out a range of products from Avène and La Roche-Posay . Whether youre looking for an eye cream, body balm, sunscreen or foundation to soothe your scales, these two French skincare alchemists have it covered with their simple, nourishing formulas based on soothing thermal water and a significant lack of unnecessary ingredients. Both brands have recently introduced innovative packaging to eliminate the need for potentially irritating preservatives. Im a big fan of Avène XeraCalm A.D ., £16.50, and LRPs Toleriane range .

What Are The Side Effects Of Carmex Lip Balm

According to Dr.Bowe, Carmex is composed of many irritating ingredients that are likely to cause inflammation on the lips and surrounding skin in people who already have sensitive lips.

Now, that statement might scare you, but this is only caused by some ingredients present in Carmex, such as Camphor or methanol, and its only affecting people with sensitive lips or skin.

These side effects caused by Carmex are, in many cases, also the reason which makes people apply Carmex repeatedly to soothe the sensitivity, so Carmex might not be what youre looking for.

You can also experience a tingly feeling in your lips if you are allergic to Camphor or methanol. According to studies, many people are allergic to both Camphor and methanol, or either of them.

However, Dr. Whitney Bowe says, Only a few people are sensitive to methanol and camphor so that they may feel tingling. However, most of the people can use the Carmex lip balm without any problem.

If you are allergic to any of the ingredients present in the Carmex lip balm, you are likely to experience any of these symptoms.SwellingBleedingSkin irritation

In severe cases, sensitivity to any of these ingredients may cause peeling of lips outer skin. As a result, you may become more irritable and restless.

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Biossance Squalane Rose Vegan Lip Balm

This balm melts into the most silky, smooth product. The hydrating heroes are the sugar-cane derived squalane, rose absolute, ceramides, and hyaluronic acid. And the slight plumping effect that makes lips oh-so-desirable? That comes from the Wakame algae. Also, dont let the rose scare youthis balm is fragrance free as well.

Aquaphor Lip Repair Vs Carmex Lip Balm: Which Balm Is More Effective

Organic Carmex: Best Natural Products

Aquaphor lip repair is the go-to lip balm for a full effect. It helps heal your cracked or chipped lips by softening them and leaving them hydrated. Dermatologists also recommend treating eczema. In addition, Aquaphor lip repair is excellent for sensitive skins too!

For sensitive lips, you should go for the Aquaphor lip repair balm. However, unlike Aquaphor that is favorable for sensitive lips, Carmex lip balm may be too much for a sensitive lip. As indicated, it has a tingly effect on sensitive lips because of its ingredient, menthol, and camphor. These irritating ingredients may also cause inflammation on your sensitive lips if frequently used. As a result, it may end up causing more damage.

How Do You Know Which One to Choose?

You must purchase a balm that will be effective in healing your cracked or chapped lips.

There are various factors to consider when buying a suitable balm. Here is what you should know to purchase a suitable balm:

Reviews.

Reviews are one of the essential guides when purchasing a lip balm that will be effective. It will give you basic information on the products effectiveness and what people have to say about it. In this case, various reviews indicate that Carmex is not the best product to purchase, especially for sensitive lips. It leaves an irritating effect and can also cause inflammation on your sensitive lips.

Recommendation by Dermatologists.

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