Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

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?
169 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
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.
Helpful - 0
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
Helpful - 0
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!
Helpful - 0
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.
Helpful - 0
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.
Helpful - 0
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Allergy Community

Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Popular Resources
Find out what causes asthma, and how to take control of your symptoms.
Find out if your city is a top "allergy capital."
Find out which foods you should watch out for.
If you’re one of the 35 million Americans who suffer from hay fever, read on for what plants are to blame, where to find them and how to get relief.
Allergist Dr. Lily Pien answers Medhelp users' most pressing allergy-related questions
When you start sniffling and sneezing, you know spring has sprung. Check out these four natural remedies to nix spring allergies.