Is lip balm habit actual? This is what specialists say — and easy methods to curb your compulsion.

Maya Richard-Craven applies lip balm each 5 to 10 minutes and as soon as spent $30 on a single lip balm, she tells Yahoo Life. The fixation, she says, is greater than skin-deep.

Richard-Craven describes herself as neurodivergent, a heavy smoker and somebody who has extreme nervousness, ADHD and trichotillomania, also referred to as hairpulling dysfunction. “For me, lip balm is an act of self-soothing,” the Californian says. “Lip balm stops me from smoking and from hairpulling.”

Morgan Shields is one other avid lip balm consumer. “I apply very first thing within the morning, after any snack or meal, earlier than and after exercises within the night, after brushing my tooth, after showering … let’s spherical [up] to 12 occasions a day,” says Shields, director of operations for the inventive company The All In Haus. 

Why? She merely hates the sensation of dry pores and skin, Shields says. Yow will discover a lip balm in each room of her home, she shares, in addition to on her desk, in her automotive and (two) in every purse.

Shields says this began when she was solely 3 years outdated, after a celebration spent ice skating and consuming spicy Mexican meals. “I’ve photos from that day, and I nonetheless look again at my pink mouth, realizing that’s when this extreme behavior started,” she remembers. “I dug by means of my grandmother’s purse, discovered her Vaseline and smothered my lips, and have by no means appeared again.”

The common particular person might not apply lip balm as typically as Richard-Craven and Shields do — however is it an issue in the event that they do? Is there a hazard to utilizing an excessive amount of lip balm? And when individuals say they’re “addicted” to their lip balm, is that really a factor? This is what specialists say.

Can making use of lip balm grow to be an habit?

The phrase “addiction” refers back to the expertise of physiologically craving a substance or conduct and being bodily depending on it. Might one thing as seemingly harmless as lip balm fall into this class?

“The reply is ‘relies upon,’ which is sadly not as satisfying as utilizing lip balm,” Vanessa Kennedy, director of psychology at Driftwood Restoration, tells Yahoo Life.

However on a fundamental stage, the reply isn’t any. It’s because habit often offers with a bodily dependency, and lip balm doesn’t result in that. “An habit sometimes entails dependence on substances that bodily alter mind neurochemistry, producing a excessive associated to a surge of the neurotransmitter dopamine within the mind,” Kennedy explains.

Additional, whether or not or not one thing is an habit comes all the way down to if it considerably interferes with and impairs an individual’s day by day life, based on Kennedy. Extra particularly, she says, this may appear like having issues in relationships, at work, in school, healthwise or with taking good care of youngsters due to that substance or conduct.

Kennedy doesn’t see lip balm use as one thing that might result in these issues, per se. However that doesn’t imply it’s essentially completely wholesome in each case. “Whereas lip balm doesn’t include chemical compounds that will result in one of these bodily habit, it will possibly grow to be a compulsive conduct or behavior,” she provides.

She additionally notes that individuals might have to make use of lip balm extra ceaselessly in the event that they’ve used merchandise that may be irritating, like ones that contain fragrances, preservatives or flavorings. “In case your lips grow to be irritated by these elements, your lip balm behavior can grow to be extra extreme,” she says. However once more, that’s not a cravings or dependence problem.

What are the indicators that frequent lip balm use may be an issue?

Whereas it’s not fairly an habit, Kennedy notes that making use of lip balm nonstop may cause stressors in an individual’s life that they might need to handle. “In case you discover that your lip balm use is costing an excessive amount of cash, you or others discover it distracting or it’s interfering with different wholesome behaviors, akin to socialization or enjoyment of actions, you may take into account some various behaviors to interchange your lip balm behavior,” she says.

So far as bodily indicators, lips which are macerated (the pores and skin is breaking down), extra-dry, peeling, burning or have zits round them are an indication an individual may be utilizing lip balm too typically, Dr. Jennifer Gordon, a dermatologist at Westlake Dermatology in Austin, Texas, tells Yahoo Life.

Is an excessive amount of lip balm unhealthy for the pores and skin?

To be clear, an individual can use a number of lip balm and be effective. Gordon says that often, individuals can use lip balm as a lot as they want (or need), and it’s secure. Her most important warning is concerning the type of lip balm. Shields, as an illustration, avoids medicated lip balms, noting that they can actually dry out lips or cause irritation.

“Watch out for added elements … like fragrances, colours, and many others.,” Gordon says. “Balms that include SPF can typically be not as moisturizing, so though it’s good to at all times shield your lips, take into account this should you’re making use of a number of occasions day by day and are usually not exterior.”

Different lip balm elements that may dry out the lips embody phenol, menthol and salicylic acid, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

Ideas for cutting down on lip balm use

If an individual’s lip balm behavior is one thing they need to work on, they’ve a number of choices.

First, Kennedy recommends working with a well being care supplier. “If there may be an underlying drawback together with your well being inflicting dry or chapped lips, it might be useful to seek the advice of with a dermatologist or doctor who can assist you retain your lips hydrated and wholesome,” she says.

If the behavior is extra of a behavioral, psychological or emotional compulsion, she believes the very best guess is to herald another conduct that’s wholesome and pleasing. “For instance, as an alternative of reaching for lip balm when your lips really feel dry or you’re anxious, you may attempt one other wholesome exercise instead of this, akin to consuming water or a green smoothie for hydration,” she says.

People might also need to dive deeper into what’s behind their lip balm use, particularly if it’s not solely a bodily concern. Kennedy says preserving a log of ideas and emotions skilled throughout that urge could be useful in figuring out what’s behind the compulsion. Is it nervousness? Boredom? Self-consciousness?

“Figuring out the sensation can assist you select methods that focus on this sense and provide help to substitute lip balm with another, akin to a leisure technique to calm nervousness or an exercise that redirects your consideration away out of your look and onto one thing else you care about, akin to ebook, film or productive work job,” she explains.

At any time when somebody does use lip balm, Gordon recommends making use of plain Aquaphor or Vaseline after they really feel like they want it. “Your physique ought to be good at homeostasis, however it will possibly at all times get out of whack with [dehydration], journey, climate and stress,” she says.

On the finish of the day, placing on a number of lip balm would not rise to the extent of a severe habit. However as Kennedy reminds individuals, “There are methods that can assist you cut back your reliance on lip balm and get extra engaged in different features of your life.”