Permanently chapped lips

[oldbandnerd]

I'm a amatuer musician who's been playing now for approx. 5 years. During that time I have suffered with chapped lips that never would heal. Taking the adavice of other on here that it might be a metal allergey I changed my mouthpiece to a stainless steele or gold plated one.It seemed to help some but never solved the problem. I've tried every lip balm and ointment suggested on here and even a few nt suggested on here ..... ( raw coconut oil ). I finally got fed up with the suffering and went to see a dermatoloigist about it. His findings were very inetersting.

He determined it was not a metal allergey.I don't have two of the main symptoms ... itching and swelling. His diagnosis was the playing was the cause. I quite playing and my lips will heal. Not acceptable to me . So me prescribed two over the counter remedey's that I had not seen mentioned here and I would like to share them with everyone.

1.) Aquaphor - http://www.eucerinus.com/products/hb_aho.html" target="_blank
I bought some of this yesterday and I will say it soothed my lips immedeiatly. It felt sooooo
good to finally get some real relief . It's primary ingredient is petrolatum which seems to
be pure vaseoline and not much else. From what I coud fnd out it's the lack of any other stuff
such as lanolin,fragrances,dyes ..etc that seem to be the secret . They can be irritants.
2.) Dr. Dan's Lip Balm - http://www.drdanslipbalm.com/" target="_blank
This can only be bought online and is expensive. I ordered 4 tubes to get the discount. The
website offers a comparison page : http://www.drdanslipbalm.com/comparisons.html" target="_blank .
What I found interesting about this is I have seen it disscused here before that some of the
ingredients of most lip blams can actaully be irritating and they are mentioned on that page.


I will report back when I get the Dr.Dan's as to how effective it is. I hope this information will be usefull to others out there.

Tommy Yandle

[tubatooter1940]

Hello Tommy Yandle,
My dermatoligist didn't even venture a guess as to why I have the same lip problems you do.
Thank you for two new types of "magic mud" I can try.
I had to give up my trumpet and just play tuba because of the lips swelling up and overfilling the mouthpiece after some hours playing rock tunes in rapid succession.
The lips burn and swell after a four hour gig and break out in zits for the next two days. If I have to play six nights in a row I will be a bloody mess.
I believe playing just tears the hide away from the lip area inside the mouthpiece. It gets worse as I get older.
It helps not to blatt.
My dermatologist perscribed Desonide ointment (0.05%).
This does not prevent abrasion or swelling but it speeds my heal - up time by a whole day.
The guys still want me to play tuba at my age 67 but I wonder how long I will be able to do a proper job of it.
I learned a lot of tricks since high school to compensate for low lung capacity but I'm running out of gas, so to speak.
It helps to mike the old King thru a 300 watt self-powered speaker and play softly.
Still having big tuba fun.
Hope you are too!
Dennis Gray

[Thomas Maurice Booth]

http://www.chopsaver.com/" target="_blank

This stuff was invented/created by Dan Gosling, a professtional trumpeter in the Indianapolis area. I have used the stuff for a while and have no complaints. Check out the "What do doctors say about.." section, it sounds like this stuff may be what you're looking for.

TMB

[oldbandnerd]

I've tried Chop Saver too . It's great stuff but didn't help me anymore than my Burt's Bee's wax. I think if my lip problems were ordinary Chop Saver would do the trick .

[Karl H.]

Try Vitamin E. Pretty sure it can't hurt you, is cheap, and might help in other ways...

Just pierce the capsule and spread the goo all over dry areas. This is my go-to for years: it's how I get through 30 days of one-nighters, cold weather, and dry hotel air when on tour. Even works on your nose skin when you've rubbed it raw blowing snot out during colds...

Let us know...

Karl "moist in Hot Springs" H.

[peter birch]

have you been to your regular doctor to get your general health checked recently, to rule out things like anaemia, or vitamin defficencies? might be worth a visit.

[Rick Denney]

have you been to your regular doctor to get your general health checked recently, to rule out things like anaemia, or vitamin defficencies? might be worth a visit.

Also, my lips get chapped far more easily when I'm dehydrated, and the problem is less when I'm pushing fluids.

Rick "who learned this during triathlon training" Denney

[Mister JP]

Although you already know about Aquaphor, I'll just chime in my endorsement for this product. My daughters have VERY sensitive skin (runs in my wife's side of the family, and I'm a ghostly pale-skinned Irish readhead) and Aquaphor keeps pretty much all types of skin breakouts (lips, face, body) under control. We live outside Denver, and the climate here is extremely dry, so that only complicates the problem.

Aquaphor works.

[tofu]

--

[oldbandnerd]

I'm not sick or anemic. I drink lots of watere everyday. I take a multi-vitamin,fish oil,Vitamin E and B complex. I'm real fat but very healthy. My check up in November confirmed that. I have tried EVRYTHING !!! Including the vitamin E oil on the lips. None of it worked .

Aquaphor is the best stuff I have ever used. For the first time in almost 5 years I have found real relief. I am am on the second day of using it and played some this morning before going to work. My lips hurt as usual as soon as I got done playing. I applied some on lips before I left the house and 10 minutes down the road I realized my lips were not in pain.

[oldbandnerd]

That's a an inetersting ideal of taking the Advil I never thought about that. A tuba playing doctor. How cool is that ?

I am on day 3 of using the Aquaphor. Most relief I'v had in a very long long time. Incredible stuff !

[sloan]

Another hint....In addition to the lip balms, take 3 or 4 Advil (or generic ibuprofen) about 1 hour prior to playing. This keeps the down inflammation caused by playing. I know the bottle says 2, but I am a physician and when I write a prescription ( or just tell folks to buy over the counter.....depends on their Rx plan) we always use 600 to 800 milligram tabs...(Advil is 200 mg.). Just don't take on an empty stomach. Try it, it works for me as I have this problem as well. Good luck.

Don't you want to know what other meds he's on? Ibuprofen is about as safe as it gets - but I know that I've been advised to avoid it.

Also, 800mg is fine and dandy when you are under a doc's care - but I'd stick with the label info if not. Especially if we're talking about a chronic situation (say, two playing/practice sessions per day, 6 days a week).

My guess is that 50% of all players with this problem fall into two categories:

a) inadequate hydration: the fix is easy - drink, drink, drink - more than you think you need (water, of course). [even that advice is not good for some people]

b) "hooked" on lip balms. I've seen many players who eventually get to the point where they need their favorite lip balm just to get back to where they were before they started using it.

The other 50% probably need to see someone IN PERSON to have the problem evaluated.

[mclaugh]

Another hint....In addition to the lip balms, take 3 or 4 Advil (or generic ibuprofen) about 1 hour prior to playing. This keeps the down inflammation caused by playing. I know the bottle says 2, but I am a physician and when I write a prescription ( or just tell folks to buy over the counter.....depends on their Rx plan) we always use 600 to 800 milligram tabs...(Advil is 200 mg.). Just don't take on an empty stomach. Try it, it works for me as I have this problem as well. Good luck.

Um ... does your malpractice insurer cover dispensing medical advice to people you haven't examined and whose medical history you don't know?

Don't you want to know what other meds he's on? Ibuprofen is about as safe as it gets - but I know that I've been advised to avoid it.

Also, 800mg is fine and dandy when you are under a doc's care - but I'd stick with the label info if not. Especially if we're talking about a chronic situation (say, two playing/practice sessions per day, 6 days a week).

Tommy, listen to Sloan on this one. Ironpen may be a medical doctor, but HE IS NOT YOUR DOCTOR.

People who take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (other than aspirin) such as ibuprofenmay have a higher risk of having a heart attack or a stroke than people who do not take these medications. These events may happen without warning and may cause death. This risk may be higher for people who take NSAIDs for a long time. Tell your doctor if you or anyone in your family has or has ever had heart disease, a heart attack, or a stroke;if you smoke;and if you have or have ever had high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or diabetes. Get emergency medical help right away if you experience any of the following symptoms: chest pain, shortness of breath, weakness in one part or side of the body, or slurred speech.

If you will be undergoing a coronary artery bypass graft (CABG; a type of heart surgery), you should not take ibuprofen right before or right after the surgery.

NSAIDs such as ibuprofen may cause ulcers, bleeding, or holes in the stomach or intestine. These problems may develop at any time during treatment, may happen without warning symptoms, and may cause death. The risk may be higher for people who take NSAIDs for a long time, are older in age, have poor health, or who drink three or more alcoholic drinks per day while taking ibuprofen. Tell your doctor if you take any of the following medications: anticoagulants ('blood thinners') such as warfarin (Coumadin); aspirin; other NSAIDs such as ketoprofen (Orudis KT, Actron) and naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn); or oral steroids such as dexamethasone (Decadron, Dexone), methylprednisolone (Medrol), and prednisone (Deltasone). Also tell your doctor if you have or have ever had ulcers, bleeding in your stomach or intestines, or other bleeding disorders. If you experience any of the following symptoms, stop taking ibuprofen and call your doctor: stomach pain, heartburn, vomiting a substance that is bloody or looks like coffee grounds, blood in the stool, or black and tarry stools.

Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor will monitor your symptoms carefully and will probably order certain tests to check your body's response to ibuprofen. Be sure to tell your doctor how you are feeling so that your doctor can prescribe the right amount of medication to treat your condition with the lowest risk of serious side effects.

Your doctor or pharmacist will give you the manufacturer's patient information sheet (Medication Guide) when you begin treatment with prescription ibuprofen and each time you refill your prescription. Read the information carefully and ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions. You can also visit the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) website (http://www.fda.gov/cder" target="_blank" target="_blank) or the manufacturer's website to obtain the Medication Guide.

— Medline Plus.

See also:

Mayo Clinic

drugs.com

webmd.com

[oldbandnerd]

Ok ..... I got my Dr. Dan's lip blam last week : http://www.drdanslipbalm.com/" target="_blank . Finally something that actually works ! I can put it on after playing and my lips will heal. I put it on at night before I go to bed and right after I play. During the day I may use the Aquaphor once or twice if at all. It feels good to have normal lips again.