Is it Possible to Be Allergic to Lip Products? #AskDrSandy

Question: Hi, I know you deal a lot with skin, but I was wondering if it’s possible to be allergic to products just on your lips. I believe I have a form of contact dermatitis, but just on my lips. It seems like my lips are allergic to everything, even pure oils like coconut, Vaseline, etc. But I can apply these products anywhere else and they seem fine. My lips get bumpy and very dry after, and no product seems to work. Thank you!

Answer: Lips are a very special type of skin- actually they are called mucosa. They are like your skin but missing the top dead layer known as the stratum corneum.  Because of this they can get irritated easily. It’s most likely that you are getting irritated by ingredients in products and are not allergic. Once lips are irritated it’s hard to get them back to baseline- it’s a vicious cycle as you have to eat, drink, brush your teeth, all of this accumulates irritation and results in continued irritation.  The best solution for this is in my book and it’s called the product elimination diet and I have one specifically for the lips in chapter 6. Hope this helps. Mint is the foremost irritant when it comes to lip irritation so the first thing to do is stop your toothpaste, as 99% are mint. Try Tom’s of Maine fennel toothpaste,  it helps and no mouth rinse or mint gum!