- Lip balm
-
"Chap stick" redirects here. For the lip balm brand, see ChapStick.
A tube of ChapStick
Lip balm or lip salve is a wax-like substance applied topically to the lips of the mouth to relieve chapped or dry lips, angular cheilitis, stomatitis, or cold sores. Lip balm often contains beeswax or carnauba wax, camphor, cetyl alcohol, lanolin, paraffin, and petrolatum, among other ingredients. Some varieties contain dyes, flavor, fragrance, menthol, phenol, salicylic acid, and sunscreens.[1][2][3]
The primary purpose of lip balm is to provide an occlusive layer on the lip surface to seal moisture in lips and protect them from external exposure. Dry air, cold temperatures, and wind all have a drying effect on skin by drawing moisture away from the body. Lips are particularly vulnerable because the skin is so thin, and thus they are often the first to present signs of dryness.[4] Occlusive materials like waxes and petroleum jelly prevent moisture loss and maintain lip comfort while flavorants, colorants, sunscreens, and various medicaments can provide additional, specific benefits.
Lip balm can be applied where a finger is used to apply it to the lips, or in a lipstick-style tube from which it can be applied directly.
Lip balm was first marketed in the 1880s by the creator of ChapStick, Charles Browne Fleet,[5][unreliable source?] though its origins are commonly traced to earwax, which was used as lip balm prior to that.[6]
Notable brands
Addiction/dependency
Some, such as Dr. Holly Phillips, claim that lip balm can be addictive[7], but others claim that some (or all) claims about lip balm addiction are merely urban legends. Lip balm manufacturers sometimes state in their FAQs that there is nothing addictive in their products or that all ingredients are listed and approved by the FDA.[8][9] Snopes found the claim that there are substances in Carmex that necessitate reapplication, such as ground glass, to be false.[10]
References
- ^ "ChapStick Classics". Wyeth. http://www.chapstick.com/productdetail.aspx?BrandProductId=51. Retrieved 25 May 2010.
- ^ "Medicated Lip Balm". Blistex. http://www.blistex.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=91&Itemid=84. Retrieved 25 May 2010.
- ^ "Original Carmex Jar". Carma Laboratories. http://www.mycarmex.com/our-products/original-carmex-jar/default.aspx. Retrieved 25 May 2010.
- ^ "Lip balm". Patriot Brands. http://patriotbrands.com.au/cosmetics/?projects=4_5g_lip_balm_tube_lip_ice. Retrieved 10 October 2011.
- ^ "The History of Chapstick - The History of Carmex". About.com. http://inventors.about.com/od/cstartinventions/a/chapstick.htm. Retrieved 2010-06-30.
- ^ "Softer Lips This Winter". New York Times, About.com. http://beauty.about.com/cs/facialskin/a/lip_care.htm. Retrieved 2008-03-14.
- ^ "Avoiding Lip Balm Addiction". CBS. http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=3606001n. Retrieved 1 October 2011.
- ^ Blistex FAQ
- ^ Carmex FAQ
- ^ Lip Balm entry on snopes.com
Routes of administration / Dosage forms Oral Buccal / Sublabial / Sublingual- Mouthwash
- Toothpaste
- Ointment
- Oral spray
- Oxygen mask
- Oxygen concentrator
- Anaesthetic machine
- Relative analgesia machine
Ocular / Otologic / Nasal - Nasal spray
- Ear drops
- Eye drops
- Ointment
- Hydrogel
- Nanosphere suspension
- Mucoadhesive microdisc (microsphere tablet)
Urogenital - Ointment
- Pessary (vaginal suppository)
- Vaginal ring
- Vaginal douche
- Intrauterine device (IUD)
- Extra-amniotic infusion
- Intravesical infusion
Rectal (enteral) - Ointment
- Suppository
- Enema (Solution • Hydrogel)
- Murphy drip
- Nutrient enema
Dermal Injection / Infusion
(into tissue/blood)- Intracavernous
- Intravitreal
- Intra-articular or intrasynovial injection
- Transscleral
- Intracerebral
- Intrathecal
- Epidural
Additional explanation: Mucous membranes are used by the human body to absorb the dosage for all routes of administration, except for "Dermal" and "Injection/Infusion".
Administration routes can also be grouped as Topical (local effect) or Systemic (defined as Enteral = Digestive tract/Rectal, or Parenteral = All other routes).Categories:- Skin care
- Drug delivery devices
- Dosage forms
- Self-care
- Lips
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