Lip balm is used to moisturize and protect the lips. According to the provided reference, lip balm, also known as lip salve, is a wax-like substance applied to the lips for several key reasons:
Reasons to Use Lip Balm
- Moisturize dry lips: Lip balm helps to hydrate and alleviate dryness, which is a common problem, especially in harsh weather conditions.
- Relieve chapped lips: Lip balm soothes and heals cracked or broken skin on the lips.
- Address angular cheilitis: This condition causes inflammation and cracking at the corners of the mouth. Lip balm provides a protective barrier and promotes healing.
- Treat stomatitis: Lip balm can offer relief from the discomfort of stomatitis, which involves inflammation of the mouth and lips.
- Manage cold sores: While it doesn't cure them, lip balm can help moisturize and protect cold sores, preventing them from drying out and cracking.
Common Lip Balm Ingredients
Lip balms typically contain a blend of ingredients designed to protect and hydrate the lips. Some common ingredients include:
- Beeswax
- Carnauba wax
- Camphor
- Cetyl alcohol
- Lanolin
- Paraffin
- Petrolatum
These ingredients create a barrier on the lips, helping to lock in moisture and protect against external factors like wind and cold.
