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Allergic to Lip Products?

I am 18 years old, and I have never been allergic to anything in my life. As part of my nightly routine, I've always put on lip balm before bed. However, late last year, my lips started to get more dry and chapped than usual, even itchy. They felt like sand paper and often developed tiny bumps. If rubbed hard enough, the bumps would produce a clear liquid. The edges of my lips also sometimes felt very raw and red. These symptoms would last around a week.
At the time, I had been using just plain Burt's Bees Lip Balm for many weeks. When I got the symptoms, I used a bit more of the balm than I usually did, thinking it would help the dryness. When nothing seemed to be working, I stopped using it altogether. In time, my lips healed, and I switched to Softlips lipbalm in both vanilla and peppermint flavors. I showed no reaction from their usage for about a month. Then, I started getting the same reaction that I got from the Burt's Bees Lip Balm. That was when I figured I was developing an allergy to lip balm. Over time, I also realized I was getting the same reaction even faster from lipstick and lipgloss. That meant I was allergic to all lip products across the board.
I began researching into the symptoms and the ingredients in lip products, especially ones that commonly produced allergic reactions. With that knowledge in mind, I've tried many other balms these past months, including ones by Blistex and Kiss my Face. I'm even allergic to plain Chapstick. At first, I would not show any symptoms at all, but they would eventually show up within a few weeks, sometimes days. I even tried alternating the balms every night, which helped slightly but I would eventually get the reaction again. Nowadays, I only wear lip balm every few nights because I can't stand having chapped lips, but never multiple nights in a row. Even then, there's always a chance of my reacting to it.
I haven't been able to pinpoint the exact ingredient that I'm allergic to, and I'm hesitant to spend any more money to try more products. I haven't changed anything about my diet, makeup, facewash, mouthwash, or toothpaste, so I am very certain that it's the lip products. After my research I've also found that other people have had the same problem.

Has any product been found that works but doesn't trigger a reaction from people with my allergies?

I've heard that Vaseline is possibly the only solution, but because of my research I've been staying away from products with petroleum and petrolatum in them. Should I try it out anyway?
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Avatar universal
GUYS I FOUND THE LIPSTICK THAT I AM NOT ALLERGIC TO
I have been struggling with that issue for over 4 years from the first time I'd used lipstick. I cound not use any lip balm or lipsticks or even moisturizer products ( The body shop, Origins, Mac, Chanel, Eucerin,...) Then I found most of them include beeswax and fragrance. I tried to find non-beeswax, no fragrance and less ingredients lipsticks. Fortunately, LUSH IS MY LAST RESORT ( now I am 23). I am using KEY LIME PIE lip balm, PERSPECTIVE lipstick and POWERFUL lipstick. No allergy anymore.
I want to share to all of you who are suffering to give it a try. Hope it can help u too
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
GUYS I FOUND THE LIPSTICK THAT I AM NOT ALLERGIC TO
I have been struggling with that issue for over 4 years from the first time I'd used lipstick. I cound not use any lip balm or lipsticks or even moisturizer products ( The body shop, Origins, Mac, Chanel, Eucerin,...) Then I found most of them include beeswax and fragrance. I tried to find non-beeswax, no fragrance and less ingredients lipsticks. Fortunately, LUSH IS MY LAST RESORT ( now I am 23). I am using KEY LIME PIE lip balm, PERSPECTIVE lipstick and POWERFUL lipstick. No allergy anymore.
I want to share to all of you who are suffering to give it a try. Hope it can help u too
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I am experiencing the same thing.  I know what started it - I was in love with the lip plumper by ELF (that has a concealer stick on the other end) and overused it because it made my lips feel great.  Then suddenly one day they started swelling and had the dry cracked skin along the lip line.  I looked like I had been overdosed with lip injections so I went to the doctor who prescribed steroid cream.  The cream cleared up the problem but now I have a reaction with ANY lip product I use (even those that I have used for years).  I don't want to go around with colorless lips!  Can anyone recommend products (lipstick, tint, stain - anything with some color) that haven't caused a reaction?  I have found that coconut oil and aquaphor are fine for moisturizing but don't like the naked lip look.  Any recommendations/advice are greatly appreciated.   Thank you!
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Avatar universal
I have pretty much the exact same allergic reaction. My dermatologist said it could be a developed allergy to the mentholatum in lip balms. So I try to stick to ones without and with natural ingredients. She also recommended using Crisco, the baking oil, on my lips til they healed since it is the best natural moisturizer since it is vegetable oil. It works great and I've been using it for years. The downside is you need to put it in a small twist container and use your fingers which can be a little messy and it doesn't last long on your lips. When I find a decent lip balm (I'm always changing and trying new ones), I use the lip balm in the day and the crisco at night. But using it all the time works best. Also, if I try something that irritates my lips I always go back to the crisco and it helps heal without irritation. Hope this helps you because I totally feel what you're going through!
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Avatar universal
I'm 19 and a year ago my mom gave me chapstick. I put it on over night and woke up to lips 4x the normal size. They burned and itched. When I went to wash off any remaining chapstick, nearly all the skin peeled off of my lips. Within a few days I started breaking out with hives on my face and neck, severe enough that I had to be taken for immediate medical treatment. Ever since then, I can't use any chapstick or lip balm. The only thing I can use is unscented vaseline on my lips. It's gross, but it makes my lips super soft and I don't react to it.
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1 Comments
Didn't know why all those numbers and symbols posted with that sorry everyone
Avatar universal
I've been experiencing the same issues for about 5 months now- I first thought it was from eating mango since I heard that creates this type of reaction and I had eaten a mango that very first time. I eventually realized it was happening any time I used chapstick or lipstick- it doesn't happen right away, but typically about 3 days later and then lasts for a week. I've used these products for 29 years with no issues!  I've been using rubbing alcohol to dry out the bumps and then cortisone cream. My sister in law suggested Aquaphor which someone else in this forum said works, so I'm definitely going to get that as well.  I have an appt at the allergist this week but was wondering if anyone has tried a lipstick that doesn't have all of the typical ingredients that most lipsticks have? I've tried to self diagnose but lipsticks have SO many ingredients that I can't quite figure it out. I know that we all could possibly be allergic to different ingredients in these products but I'm just curious as I do like to wear lipstick to work events but it hasn't been worth it because the reaction is so painful! Thanks!
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Avatar universal
I used to always use Chapstick, then around the time i turned 17 I started having the same reaction. Swelling and bumps. And recently along with that, slits at the sides of my mouth like I ate too many salty chips. I just found out that it is possible to develop an allergy to topical vitamin E. A lot of lip products and skin care contain vitamin E. I learned this because after searching forever for a lip balm that wouldn't break me out (because I'm pretty sure the first allergen was petroleum jelly. So Vaseline doesn't help me, just makes it worse) at first I made my own lip balm and it worked fine. It was nice and glossy, but really liquidy and would spill out of the container I kept it in. When I ran out of that, instead of making more because I'm really lazy, I used two of the ingredients and switched them out. Sometimes I would use vitamin E capsules and just rub that on my lips. It was smooth and kept them moisturizer longer. I only needed it about once a day. And other times I would use palmers cocoa butter which contains vitamin E. All was fine, until one night after rubbing the vitamin E capsule on I woke up the next morning with familiar symptoms. So I stopped the capsule because I figured that had caused it since I used it the night before. All was fine. However these past few days my lips were starting up again and the cocoa butter is the only thing I use. And since it has vitamin E in it, and the last time I had a reaction was to the vitamin E I looked up if others had experienced vitamin E allergies. They had. But before looking it up, I rubbed aloe Vera on my lips to help them out. But when my vitamin e allergy was confirmed I also realized Aloe Vera contains Vitamin E. When I looked in the mirror my lips were slightly more swollen than before. So now I'm on the hunt again for something that works for me. No petroleum jelly, and no vitamin E.
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1 Comments
Forgot to mention I'm now 21
Avatar universal
I have chapped lips my whole life.  The only things that works for me is vaseline.  I am allergic to all lip balms with spf.  Last year my lips were sunburn so bad i had to go to the emergency room
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Avatar universal
Hello all, reading your messages really helped me cope with the weird lip rash I was experiencing. I used EOS lip balm for years and my lips began to become extremely dry, so I switched to burts bees and the same thing happened! My lips were covered in little bumps that burned and flaked horribly, I followed one of the ladies' advice and it had worked for me! I use blistex medicated lip ointment let it set and then using a warm washcloth in a circular motion left to right on the upper and lower lip I lightly exfoliate. Then I apply more blistex, and lightly exfoliate some time later, this is the fastest healing method I have found. I'm not sure what caused my reaction and how to go from here but my lips look almost back to normal!
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Avatar universal
I have been going through this as well and I just need a cure.  Right now I am using some prescription cream that I am not supposed to be using long time but I am.  The prescription cream is giving me acne around my mouth now.  I need help.
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2 Comments
USE VASELINE!! I have gone through the same thing over these past 5 years and Vaseline is the ONLY lip product that has worked for me. I have also taken benadryl(the pink tablets for allergies) and that is a huge factor in helping also.  
be wary of Vaseline. Petroleum jelly could be the thing that's hurting you.
Avatar universal
Hi All, I'm just so amazed that a problem which I have battled with for the last 10 years, is as common as described on this forum. A big thanks to everyone who has posted! I started off having the itchy, bumpy, oozing lip rash while in the last trimester of pregnancy for my 2nd child. I had similar symptoms on my face and around my eyes, and went to see a dermatologist, immunologist and skin allergist. They could not find anything, but they did feel that my cosmetic products were to blame. I have had a pharmacy compounded ointment and several topical steroids and an immunomodulator cream (Elidel) prescribed in the past. The ONLY solution was to stop using all lipsticks and glosses, and at some stage, also stopped Vaseline too. I now have permanent hyper-pigmented (dark) patches on my otherwise pink lips.

I am now in my 40's and I have spent LOTS of money on products and time researching and trialling several things, 'hypoallergenic brands', medications, and trials of lip balms and lipsticks over the years; but I always eventually develop the same symptoms. I even had a long period of time completely make-up free. Anyway, thank God, I can now use select face make-up products without any problems, and I have found over the years that my lips slowly adapted to my use of Vaseline as a daily emollient; I use the 100% jelly and also Vaseline Lip Therapy varieties (e.g Aloe Vera, Cocoa Butter) which I carry about and use a couple of times daily. I still get a reaction to lipsticks and glosses, some worse than others. Hence, I have completely ditched glosses and only use lipsticks for special outings (which I apply over the Vaseline film that I first apply on my lips). I have to wash it off asap when I get back home, and still have a mild reaction, which I have learnt to heal with application of the Vaseline jelly more frequently in the days thereafter.

I do notice that my lip reaction is worse when I'm dehydrated and less severe when I ensure lots of water intake. In very severe cases, I take some prescribed steroid tablets for 1-3 days, which fortunately has not been required for a very long time now, especially as I have learnt to prevent 'break-outs' and manage my lips better. I once read some years ago that mixing natural food dyes from the 'organic' food or baking section of the supermarket with an emollient base that works for you ( e.g Aquaphor, Vaseline, Shea Butter, Coconut Oil, etc) can be a non-allergenic source of lip tinting (as long as you are not allergic to the food dye!)

Keep on posting and let's hope for the best solutions for this allergy!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I think this may be allergic contact cheilitis and can be confirmed with a patch test. Stay away from any sort of lip products. Better you apply coconut oil on lips while at home. You can also apply honey as it has natural healing properties and it helps spreading of infection. It would also prevent dryness. Better you talk to an immunologist.
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Avatar universal
Did you find any colored lip product or lipstick without beeswax please?
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Avatar universal
Since 2012, I've had the same problem: small blisters, cracked corners, peeling..etc. from using any type of packaged lip product. I avoid using lip products. If I accidentally put my face moisturizer near my lips, they started to dry up and crack like the allergy symptoms. The only thing I use on my lips are Vaseline and oils like coconut, grapeseed and such. They are the only things that don't cause any reaction. My lips have restored its health now. I wonder why there is not much research for this allergic reaction. If you really want to put some color to your lips, you can DIY your tinted lip balm using Vaseline and some colored powder from blush. Heat the petroleum jelly and add the scraped powder in a small pot. You can mix the color and saturation to your liking. Let it cool down and there you have your own tinted lip balm. Nonetheless, your natural lips are already beautiful, why torture it with artificial colors and ingredients? x.
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Avatar universal
I have similar problems with my lips, especially in the winter. After much research on the internet, I found out that the culprit ingredient is Carmine. It causes blistering and acute chapping, that takes weeks to get over. It's a red/pink dye from bug-yes, to be exact, beetle shells. It's in so many things, not just cosmetics, food too. I have to read labels. Many labels say "may contain carmine"....then I skip it. Also, manufactures can boast that their product is "all natural", because technically it is, beetles are natural...yuck!!
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Avatar universal
I will spend some time reading through all the comments on this site when I have a moment because I have found that at nearly 50, as I start some researching, that  I seem to have a developed an allergic reaction to colourstay lipsticks (so far).  I have been able to wear anything on my lips forever and although I am a fairly sensitive skinned person, most things were OK and I am just very careful in the sun. I changed brand with no luck, and am avoiding wearing lipstick totally at the moment.  Put it on last night, just to go to a party, slight swelling, redness and tenderness today so it's not looking great.

Great to find somewhere to sit and read other people's advice and stories.,  Thanks everyone.


bartyboo
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Avatar universal
What do you do for when you are in the sun?
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Avatar universal
I've been having the same issues since I was a young teenager (am 30 now), but within the past year, the issues just seem to be getting worse. Lately, I've had to take Zyrtec everyday because the reaction has been so bad. I started vaping last year after quitting smoking and thought that possibly the PG in the liquid was the causing factor. However, I stayed off of the vape for a week and my lips did not clear up. Vaseline works if all else fails, but I find that the best thing to do is not use anything, if at all possible, but moisturize your face twice a day with an eczema lotion (I use Aveeno) and then only use the Vaseline if absolutely necessary. I also like to use a little organic coconut oil at night if they are extra dry. Also, look at your toothpaste and/or mouthwash as well. I find that the super minty ones irritate my mouth really bad. I've been using children's toothpaste and mouthwash in a non-mint flavor (make sure it has flouride though) and that seems to be helping some as well. Hope this helps!
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1222076 tn?1423027749
I know this post is a few years old but a month ago I went thru this exact same issue. I have had dry lips since a kid. Im about to be 27 in a few days. I use to just use Vaseline for several years and couldn't use lipstick or lip glosses but my lips looked normal just always felt dry to me. I started using EOS and Burts Bees for a several months EOS worked pretty good then one day last month I went swimming at the lake with EOS on and sunscreen to protect my lips the next day I woke up to my lips feeling like sand paper. For a few weeks I tried cocunut oil, olive oil and vasaline. Nothing worked my lips were so dry and stiff it was very uncomfortable everytime i put something on it would dry up within 10 minutes they got to were they were swollen, had tiny bumps on them, and they were very inflamed even around my lips was red but the outside area itched. It got so bad after a few weeks I gave up and had to go to Urgent Care. The doctor wasnt sure what it was but told me to throw away all my lip products in case I was allergic to them or they were contaminated. She prescribed me antibiotics, fungal cream, and steroids. It took my lips a while to heal when they were healing they started peeling really bad. Now their finally looking normal, for a while I was scared to use anything but my lips still feel dry so I finally decided to give my baby lips by maybelline a try again. I have had it for a year but it made my lips feel dry before. Now it feels a lot better then nothing and it has some color to it for a bonus since I havent been able to wear lipsticks in several years. Im sure by now you found a solution. Just thought I would share my story in case anyone else is going thru something similar.
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Avatar universal
Hi,

Are you on birth control?  I had a similar issue and started a new birth control because my hormones were "unbalanced", and it seemed to solve the issue.

Just a thought!

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Avatar universal
I  am nearly 70 and had no problems with lip sensitivity until 6 months ago. My lips were increasingly dry and cracking, my dermatologist diagnosed chelitis and advised that I used hydrocortisone ointment 1% and pure vaseline and sent me on my merry way on a 6 weeks tour of Europe.Wow! pain and suffering! my lips ulcerated and I was drinking wine through a straw!(have to get your priorities straight) Being a ex nurse i applied myself to the problem and tried to research what was causing the problem. Ever tried to access the internet from a ship in the middle of the Agean?I settled on petroleum jelly as the common irritant  with maybe mint toothpaste and fragrances as a contributing factor.Eliminate,eliminate ,eliminate!!!Found a great natural lip balm in Greece(apivita) you may be able to get it on the internet,a fragrance free shampoo and a plain toothpaste without additives.Also found a brand of hydrocortisone 1% without petroleum.I was facing a wedge resection of about 1/3 of my lip to get rid of the ulcer, but it has now healed As of this moment I live in Hope Best wishes Robyn
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Avatar universal
I think you have what I have which is a BEESWAX allergy. Just stay away from anything that has beeswax in it and you should be fine. The bad part about this is that A LOT of skin care (lotions, body cream, body butter, moisturizer, etc) and lip balms, lip gloss, lipstick and lip anything does have that as an ingredient. I went through that for years and went in and out of the doctor, it got worse when I started using the Yes to grapefruit lip balms. I was misdiagnosed multiple times and got RXs each time. I researched this online as I know it wasn't what I kept being misdiagnosed with. After not having beeswax on my skin at all, I have not had any of these experiences ever. I believe it has been almost a year and this has never happened to me for as long as I can remember. I had to throw out more than half of anything I owned that had beeswax in it. Lotions, body butters, lip balms, lip sticks, lip glosses.
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Avatar universal
I used to use any brand of lipstick or Chapstick. My favorite Chapstick was Cococare, but one day that started to hurt my lips.  A few years later it's lipstick, and now even the CVS brand of Chapstick I'd been using. I still have not pinpointed the exact ingredients that are affecting me. That being said, I started to realize I can use lip balms and lip glosses, but not lipsticks or chapsticks. Even after just one use I notice before the next day, and then it takes a week for my lips to feel and look normal again. When I asked the dermatologist she advised using Aquaphor. I haven't tried it because (so far) I am okay with using the balms and glosses. At night I've started using the EOS lip balm with no issues over the last several months. I've reached out to Loreal to ask their advice regarding the ingredients in their
Iipsticks versus balms because I can actually use the balms with no problems.
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Avatar universal
I have had problems with my lips chapping and burning very badly. None of the lip products worked."Neutrogena Revitalizing Lip Balm".

http://www.drugstore.com/products/prod.asp?pid=340474&catid=300859&aid=338666&aparam=340474&kpid=340474&CAWELAID=120142990000042074&CAGPSPN=pla&kpid=340474

I have been using it for 2.5 yrs now and there's no irritation whatsoever.
Hope this help.


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