My 4 year old has severely chapped lips/chin and won't leave them alone?

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   ChristinSposted 12 years ago

   My 4 year old has severely chapped lips/chin and won't leave them alone?
   
   We have used carmex, coconut oil with oregano oil mixed in, and burts bees.  Nothing seems to work for long because he wont stop licking his mouth so as soon as it starts to clear it comes back. Coconut and oregano oil heal it nicely, but not fully before he starts licking his mouth again.   Anyone else have a kid who does this and how do you break the habit?  I'm worried he'll get an infection, they are all cracked and terrible looking

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2. 71

   ExpectGreatThingsposted 12 years ago

   I don't have the perfect answer, but I do have a 4 year old with exactly the same problem! We use Vaseline. A LOT! This happened to her last winter also, so the solution for us is summer - when we won't have to run the dry-out-everything heater. We have a humidifier, but I'm not sure it helps very much.

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      ChristinSposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks, I don't use Vaseline because it's a petroleum by-product and the coconut oil has the same effect and actually has healing properties to boot.  Vaseline is a good barrier, but I don't think it actually heals it

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   peeplesposted 12 years ago

   I may sound like an awful parent for saying this but I have a son that does the same as yours. I started adding a small amount of cayenne pepper to our coconut oil. It took my son a few times to get the point but once he did the constant licking stopped. My son is 9 though. For a 4 year old you might want to just try something like garlic (which would also help healing) or something else with a strong or icky flavor.

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   1. 39

      ChristinSposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I thought the oregano oil mixed with coconut would be gross enough to stop it but it wasn't lol.  I like the idea of garlic - stinky, but probably effective hopefully, I'll give it a shot.  thanks

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   MizBejabbersposted 12 years ago

   Christin, there may be a problem underlying why his lips chap in the first place. he may be licking them because they are chapping, not causing them to chap. I speak from experience. I found myself doing that very thing that you describe your son doing, and it was miserable. I don't know where I read this, but I tried washing my lips with my usual soap and water and rinsing them with a mild vinegar solution. Then I applied the lip balm, whatever I was using at the time. The article I read said that the skin had too much base (mine was possibly from the soap I used) and that it needed a more acid PH. You might try rinsing his lip area with the vinegar water, and if he doesn't like it, tell him it tastes like pickles. It certainly worked for me. Good luck!

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      ChristinSposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks I will try the vinegar dilution and see if it helps if it flares up again.  The coconut and oregano oil is clearing it up nicely now.  I think his is nervous habit or something maybe.

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      MizBejabbersposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      It seems like oregano is acidic. So if he has a PH problem, it should be good for him. I'm glad to know about oregano and will try it, too.

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5. 71

   twig22bendposted 12 years ago

   I would check with a Pediatrician to find out if your son is dehydrated (not taking in enough fluids). He is probably is trying to ease the discomfort of the dry lips, which appears to be a habit of licking the lips.
   
   Encouraging him to drink plenty of fluids, such as juices and water might help. Mix juices with water in his sippy cup and keep it full and monitor how much fluids he is drinking. Hopefully with proper hydration the problem will stop.

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   1. 39

      ChristinSposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      He's well hydrated he drinks water and juice all the time so I don't think that's it, I think it's a nervous habit.  It's finally clearing a bit with the coconut/oregano/garlic oil blend. It's yucky so he doesn't lick it lol

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   tobimayaposted 11 years ago

   The best thing that I would suggest which is also something I used to have to do cause my lips would get chapped alot is I would gently scrub my lips with brown sugar. Sugar is a good agent for bringing moister to the skin. and at night before I go to bed I would put Vaseline on my lips. Which is good for repairing the skin, and help heal the cracks sooner. plus it will protect the cuts from getting anything into them to cause them to get infected.

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      ChristinSposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I agree with you on the sugar scrubs but not on vaseline. That is a petroleum byproduct and does nothing to heal skin. Coconut oil is natural and actually has skin healing properties and nutrients. Sugar is an awesome scrub though!

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