any suggestions please? sore/cracked lips

[Elsie70]

Hi, I am quite a newly diagnosed type 1 (about a year ago), which I am slowly getting to grips with. For the last couple of weeks I have had terrible dry, cracked lips. They feel tender and sore. I thought it was just the cold weather but its gone on a while and I have tried Vaseline and makes no difference. Have looked online to see if it is a symptom of diabetes and spoke to a pharmacist who had no suggestions either?

 

[novorapidboi26]

I wouldn't say its a symptom, although with any open wound, blood glucose levels will effect the heal time.....ie if they are unstable and high, it will take longer...

how are your levels......?

have you got any skin conditions?

 

[Elsie70]

Hi, have no skin conditions, generally fit and healthy, not ever suffered with this before. My levels are very erratic though; had one 2.6, but generally range between 8 - 27

 

[novorapidboi26]

Could just be your levels then and of course the cold weather........there may be something medicated that you could buy over the counter...

 

[Kaylz]

I was plagued with the corners of my mouth being cracked and weeping for years before I was diagnosed, I had various creams and ointments from the GP that would kind of clear it but as soon as it was finished it would come back in no time, as soon as I started insulin and my levels were in control I haven't suffered it since, my OH has very chapped lips (he bites them though so worsens it himself) but he's recently started using the O'Keefe's Lip Repair Stick and it is making the world of difference for him (he tried Vaseline for months and it didn't help, he isn't diabetic) xx

 

[Thebearcametoo]

Vaseline is sort of neutral and a barrier so helps protect against wetness that then dries and cracks or protects against cold if you’re outside but it doesn’t actually nourish anything. It might be worth trying a Shea butter one or a burts bees one. Body shop do various lip balms that aren’t medicated but soothe. You do need to use them frequently to stop the cycle of drying and cracking and to break any habit of biting your lips too. Winter tends to be worse for dry lips generally even without diabetes. Have a look in boots/body shop/Superdrug for something with some moisturising content in it. If they doesn’t work there are medicated ones to try too. I would avoid anything with peppermint in though as that stings.

 

[PhoebeC]

Once your levels have a smaller range it will probably be less of an issue. As others have said anything with Shea, cocoa or honey will help, Vaseline is good for protection as others have said but not the healing bit, really any good lip balm should do something.
Body shop or lush should be able to help you if you ask them in store

 

[trophywench]

Every pharmacy in the land sells the modern equivalent of Lipsyl and I have to say it tastes a lot better than it did when I was little! LOL

 

[Inka]

I find Blistex Intensive Moisturiser best. It’s a white-ish cream in a tiny tube. I use it last thing at night and anytime during the day when the whiteness won’t be noticeable (it gets absorbed slowly). Vaseline and similar products can be quite drying, I find. If you want a non-visible lip balm to use too, look for one without petroleum by-products. There are a few around and they’re much kinder and nicer than the cheapie options.

Also, make sure you’re not dehydrated, especially if you have high sugar levels, and take a good multivitamin and mineral. Sometimes deficiencies can cause lip problems.

 

[Robin]

Another vote for Blistex Intensive Moisturiser here! If my lips crack, I tend to come up with a cold sore if I don’t protect them quickly, so something quick and effective is essential. Blistex, in the small white tube, seems to do the trick for me.

 

[trophywench]

I use Blistex too - keep a tube in our Moho because sunshine always sets my cold sores off which is exceedingly annoying. But once you've got the herpes zoster gremlin, it's always going to rear its ugly little head whenever it's most inconvenient, just cos it ruddy well can.

 

[Chatterbox]

Anything with liquid paraffin in is great for dry skin I was told. I was wasting loads of dosh on useless products before then.

 

[KookyCat]

Another vote for Blistex here, it even sorted out my nephew’s bleeding lips when he was given retinol for acne. I don’t have many issues with lip dryness these days but if I get ill or I’m dehydrated they will flare up. Vaseline is just a barrier so won’t sort out the underlying issue, so if you don’t fancy Blistex then any oil based balm will work. I avoid petroleum because it’s a barrier cream and you want something to sink in and calm the dryness, so maybe an oil based balm from lush or the body shop or EOS from Boots or Superdrug for a few days, then oil based in the evening to condition and Vaseline during the day to stop them dehydrating? Liz Earle Superbalm is also really good.

just a thought also, have a look at toothpaste, mouthwash etc. I have an allergy to sodium Laureth Sulfate which caused sore cracked lips, angular chelitis, and dermatitis. It’s rare so I’m not suggesting it’s that, just that they can be very irritating so mild and gentle might help whilst your lips are healing (sensodyne original has no SLS). Also as I found out when diagnosed really sore dry lips can be symptom of B vitamin deficiency and anaemia both of which I had so worth mentioning to the doc as well just in case. Hope they feel a bit better soon, it’s not fun when your lips are sore