Why does licking chapped lips make them worse?

aphex

Moderator<br>All Things Apple
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Jul 19, 2001
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Im confuddled by this perplexing question.
rolleye.gif


Anyone know?
 

B00ne

Platinum Member
May 21, 2001
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remember your biology class in school, you start to digest your food already in the mouth (with the help of the dunno the word (spit)), thats why u r supposed to chew well. And when the protective layer is gone (chap lips) the spit makes it worse.....
 

eLiTeGoodGuy

Golden Member
Jun 6, 2001
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Saliva is an acid, and if your lips are already irritated and chapped, licking them and putting the acidic saliva on there irritates it more. Licking non chapped lips does a little damage too, but it's so miniscule that it is completely not noticeable. You can get chapped lips by licking your lips and not wiping them with something. Not instantly, but over the course of a few days it's possible. Healthy lips heal faster than chapped ones, thats why it seems that you only mess up your lips by licking them when they are chapped.
 

Basilisk6

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Jan 25, 2001
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Originally posted by: B00ne
remember your biology class in school, you start to digest your food already in the mouth (with the help of the dunno the word (spit)), thats why u r supposed to chew well. And when the protective layer is gone (chap lips) the spit makes it worse.....

This is exactly right. Saliva is a rather powerful digestive substance, and when you lick your lips, the saliva on your tongue begins to digest the surface of the lips, albeit slowly. But when your lips are chapped, the process happens much more quickly than normal. Just look up "licking chapped lips" on google, and you'll get a better, more scientific explanation.
 

db

Lifer
Dec 6, 1999
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Removes any oil, etc which keeps skin protected and supple.
You'll see what I mean if you rub an oily part of your face (nose, forehead, etc) with a finger, and then rub that on your lips.
 

aphex

Moderator<br>All Things Apple
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Originally posted by: pyonir
the @ on your p00nometer is in the wrong position isn't it?


By golly gosh, your right.
 

aphex

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amnesiac

Lifer
Oct 13, 1999
15,781
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Originally posted by: aphexII
Originally posted by: pyonir
Originally posted by: aphexII
Originally posted by: pyonir
Originally posted by: aphexII
Originally posted by: pyonir
Originally posted by: aphexII
Should i just get chapstick then?

yes.

what flavor?

regular medicated.

No cherry? I think my girl would like kissing a cherry.

why don't you ask her.


i shall.

Whee.
 

melly

Diamond Member
Feb 5, 2002
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leave it to a bunch of males to advise using lipbalm, and *medicated* nonetheless!

lipbalm actually creates a problem, and medicated just means it has added menthol. any menthol is bad for your skin, apparently. that tingling sensation you feel is your skin actually burning.

i used to be a lipbalm junkie, and the only decent one now that i use once in a while is herbal blistex.

hope this helps!