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I read under the "taking care of your lips topic" that many of you were using Carmex. So I thought I'd make this its own topic so everyone can be aware of what carmex does. To all the brass players using Carmex...STOP!!! Blistex and Carmex both have camphor, which is bad for your muscle tissue and causes detorioration (over time) of your lip tissue when you buzz. Woodwind players don't have this problem and can use Carmex without risking anything. But when applied, Carmex and Blistex seal off your skin from the outside, which stops your lips from producing natural moisturizers. Because of this, you have to use it constantly. You'll find your self applying more carmex to your lips every 10 minutes! This, over time, causes the lip tissue to deteriorate. A good lip balm to use is Burt's Bees because it has natural ingredients such as Vitamin E and cocoa butter, which enhance your own lip moisture and don't seal them off. In cold and windy weather I use Burt's Bees and and have never had a problem.

Thought I'd add this.. Carmex is OK to use, but only use it when you need it. Like using it when you have a cold sore..just apply it to that one spot and it makes the sore less painful. But using it on a regular basis is what causes damage to the tissue. Also..Chopsaver contains natural ingredients too and is good for your lips. But be warned that some people have allergic reactions from chopsaver. I've never had any problems with it. But currently I use Burt's Bees and it is great. Again, I only use it when I have to. Using any lip balm product on a regular basis can't be good for your lips.

Is Preparation H acceptable?

TubaTinker wrote:Is Preparation H acceptable?

For those who get swollen lips from too much playing it should be fanbloodytabulous.

TubaTinker wrote:Is Preparation H acceptable?

It depends on the ingredients. Let me see what we got here...

Active Ingredients: Glycerin USP (14.4%) (Protectant), Phenylephrine HCl USP (0.25%) (Vasoconstrictor), Pramoxine HCl USP (1%) (Local Anesthetic), White Petrolatum USP (15%) (Protectant)

Inactive Ingredients: Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, BHA, Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium, Cetyl Alcohol, Citric Acid, Edetate Disodium, Glyceryl Stearate, Laureth 23, Methylparaben, Mineral Oil, Panthenol, Propyl Gallate, Propylene Glycol, Propylparaben, Water Purified, Sodium Benzoate, Steareth 2, Steareth 20, Stearyl Alcohol, Tocopherol, Vitamin E, Xanthan Gum.

Is there is anything in this list that can cause tissue to deteriorate?

sugawi wrote:

TubaTinker wrote:Is Preparation H acceptable?

Active Ingredients: Glycerin USP (14.4%) (Protectant), Phenylephrine HCl USP (0.25%) (Vasoconstrictor), Pramoxine HCl USP (1%) (Local Anesthetic), White Petrolatum USP (15%) (Protectant)

Inactive Ingredients: Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, BHA, Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium, Cetyl Alcohol, Citric Acid, Edetate Disodium, Glyceryl Stearate, Laureth 23, Methylparaben, Mineral Oil, Panthenol, Propyl Gallate, Propylene Glycol, Propylparaben, Water Purified, Sodium Benzoate, Steareth 2, Steareth 20, Stearyl Alcohol, Tocopherol, Vitamin E, Xanthan Gum.

Is there is anything in this list that can cause tissue to deteriorate?

NOPE

TubaTinker wrote:Is Preparation H acceptable?

Just be sure and clean the applicator first.

bloke wrote:agreed.

Habitual Carmex/Blistex is a very bad idea, but it isn't my business what other tuba players do to themselves. After all, more "focal dystonia" (or whatever quasi-scientific name you want to give to "screwed-up chops") for you means more gigs for me.

Surely not for the last time, I'll say this: focal dystonia is a brain thing, not a chops thing. It's a brain thing that "manifests" as a chops thing, but I know people who have it who have non-chop muscle sets misbehaving; like the local used-to-be-top-notch trumpet player whose head wags back and forth wildly as his instrument approaches his face. Doesn't have anything to do with his chop muscles; it has to do with his brain. Since it doesn't manifest in his chops, it's easier to see that it's a brain thing. Like epilepsy; you see muscle weirdness going on but paying attention to the muscles does not help. You wouldn't walk up to a person having an epileptic seizure and tell them "Why don't you just stop doing that, and work on using your muscles correctly?"

Have you given Warren Deck your opinions on his focal dystonia? Too bad that you seem to lack any sympathy for conditions you don't understand.

MA

[quote="bloke"]agreed.

Habitual Carmex/Blistex is a very bad idea, but it isn't my business what other tuba players do to themselves. After all, more "focal dystonia" (or whatever quasi-scientific name you want to give to "screwed-up chops") for you means more gigs for me.

bloke "While you're at it, smoke a few joints and drink a half pint of 'Old Crow' right before your next gig...Your bandleader has my email address."


get your tongue pierced too....

STOP PRESS -- FOUND: A GREAT USE FOR CARMEX!!!

On one occasion when I went camping with the Scouts a couple of summers ago, in spite of my best efforts, I did get into some poison ivy. Not serious. but just enough to be really irritating on one wrist. Another Scouter (adult leader) smeared the rash with Carmex. By the next morning, you could not tell I had ever had poison ivy.

Now, if it will do that to poison ivy on a place of relatively non-sensitive skin, think about what it must do to your chops. I'll stick with ChopSaver.

bloke wrote: . . . . One of my siblings has - over the last decade or more - been developing (now severe) hand tremors. It is just now beginning to creep into their speech. Even though this is occurring in their brain, it's still a physical condition. . . .

The brain is the most discriminated-against organ. I wish the best for your sibling's health, Joe.

Blistex makes something called DCT in a pink tub that has vitamin E and cocoa butter in it. That's what I use.