Since the lips do not produce sebum to keep them nourished, they can easily dry and become chapped. They also don’t produce melanin which allows skin to tan and therefore can easily burn. Lip balm helps to prevent these undesirable conditions. Lip balm, also known as lip salve, is a waxy substance that is applied on the lips in order to provide a layer of protection against damaging elements such as sun, wind, cold temperatures, and even dry air.One may often suffer from dry or chapped lips, stomatitis, or cold sores, hence the need to protect the lips. In addition to these conditions, it’s also important to protect your lips on a daily basis from the damaging sun’s rays. The American Cancer Society recommends using a lip balm SPF 15 or higher. The higher the SPF, the better sun protection it provides. Frequent reapplication of the lip balm, approximately every two hours, will help to create a protective barrier on the lips. In a dermatological study, only 28% of participants wore any type of lip protection, including lipstick. Avoiding unprotected UV exposure can prevent lip cancer.
Lip balms provide lip protection by sealing in the moisture of the lips. Even if the surrounding environment is dry, lip balm prevents moisture loss and provides more lip comfort. The balm will help to prevent the lips from burning in addition to adding moisture to avoid chapping or dryness. But, there are concerns with the safety of lip balms.
Harmful Ingredients in Lip Balm
Many common lip balms contain synthetic ingredients that may be harmful to the body. One common ingredient is petrolatum, a petroleum derivative that has been linked to breast cancer. In fact, in 2004, this ingredient was banned by the European Union and is listed as a probable carcinogen in the European Union's Dangerous Substances Directive (UNECE 2004). Although not banned in the US, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) restricts petrolatum to less than 10 parts per million (ppm).
Other harmful substances produced from crude oil include saccharin, mineral oil and paraffin. Health concerns have also revolved around ingredients such as padimate, wite wax, tocopheryl, methylparaben and polyparaben. If you’re one who looks for the strongest or most potent products, be wary of those that claim to be medicated. For specific issues, they may kill bacteria or prevent infections. But, on a daily basis and for most purposes, menthol, phenol and camphor may simply irritate more than heal.
Natural Lip Balms
You can find natural lip balm products that do not contain harmful synthetic ingredients and can provide your lips with the needed protection. One example is shea butter lip balm, a moisturizing lip balm that not only hydrates the cells in the lips, but also helps the lips regain their elasticity. As the nourishing properties of the shea nut improve elasticity and the ability for lips to retain moisture.
You can identify natural lip balms by their ingredients. They are usually made from natural extracts. Some of the natural lip balm ingredients are carrot, avocado, hempseed, coco butter, aloe vera, jojoba, vitamin E, and wild crafted beeswax, among others.
When considering natural products, you also have the option of choosing an organic lip balm. Using a product with ingredients that were not exposed to pesticides or harmful chemicals is just another layer of protection for your lips and your health.
