Dependent on the use of lip balms

Make lipsticks dependent?
Dependencies can not only develop with known foods such as coffee, cigarettes or wine. For example, lip balms often claim to be addictive. The head of the Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology at Charité Berlin, Maja Hoffmann, explained to the news agency "dpa" how this applies.
Many people use lip balm on a regular basis, not infrequently giving the impression of an existing dependency. The question of whether lip balm make dependent, Maja Hofmann answers with "Jein". Because corresponding changes in the metabolic processes in the skin usually do not occur, but a psychic habituation effect of the user is often observed.

Lip care sticks bring a habituation effect. (Image: Dan Race / fotolia.com)

Getting used to the soft feeling
"You get used to the soft feeling of the lips," explains the senior physician to the "dpa". Therefore, after the use of the lip balm more often licked over the lips and they are dry again faster, so that again finds the lip balm application. With care sticks with taste, the effect could be even greater. A reduction of the own fat content of the skin is not determined by the lip balms however usually. "Only if you really cream a lot, you minimize the own sebum production of the skin," Hofmann told the "dpa".

Vaseline instead of lip balm
The expert from the Berlin Charité recommends "best to use petrolatum instead of lip balm", as no softening agents are contained here and the habituation effect is less pronounced. It would be even better not to get used to eternal creaming at all. A special lip care is usually not required for the skin of the lips. In case of torn corners of the mouth and lips, the use of natural home remedies rather than the use of a lip balm is more appropriate. (Fp)