Help! Child licking chapped lips

[Chelley00]

This is going to sound so odd, but we need help with our DS9. He has started licking chapped lips, but not just lips, it's all around his mouth, to the point where it's bright red and now scabbing. Parts of it are starting to look infected.

I don't know how to get him to stop. He knows it's bad, he knows it hurts when he eats now, but it's just like it's now this habit he cannot break.

Any ideas of something we can try to get him to stop? We've tried Vaseline, probably 5 different types of chapstick, rewards (if you don't lick your lips while at school today it's an extra "ticket" on our behavior reward system) and have even gone as far as punishment (no ipod if you lick your lips today) etc. Someone said to try something bad tasting but stuff stings when he uses it and it makes him cry. It looks now like it needs Neosporin but I'm afraid he will lick it off.

It's been going on all winter and it's just getting worse. I'm really worried he's going to scar. He's taken to hiding his face in his coat when we go places he's so embarrassed about it now

 

[The Mystery Machine]

If it is bright red and scabbing, I recommend a trip to the dermatologist for prescription stuff.

Other than that, use A&D ointment constantly when he is at home. Or people here have talked about the coconut oil stuff at Trader Joe's.

Until you can clear up the soreness he will keep licking for relief of his symptoms. It is a painful and irritating condition to have.

 

[njmom47]

This is going to sound so odd, but we need help with our DS9. He has started licking chapped lips, but not just lips, it's all around his mouth, to the point where it's bright red and now scabbing. Parts of it are starting to look infected.

I don't know how to get him to stop. He knows it's bad, he knows it hurts when he eats now, but it's just like it's now this habit he cannot break.

Any ideas of something we can try to get him to stop? We've tried Vaseline, probably 5 different types of chapstick, rewards (if you don't lick your lips while at school today it's an extra "ticket" on our behavior reward system) and have even gone as far as punishment (no ipod if you lick your lips today) etc. Someone said to try something bad tasting but stuff stings when he uses it and it makes him cry. It looks now like it needs Neosporin but I'm afraid he will lick it off.

It's been going on all winter and it's just getting worse. I'm really worried he's going to scar. He's taken to hiding his face in his coat when we go places he's so embarrassed about it now

We had this issue with ds (the raw lips and all around his mouth) but not so that there was scabs. Maybe a trip to the doctor is in order since you've tried so many other things and nothing is working.

 

[jenben8426]

This is going to sound so odd, but we need help with our DS9. He has started licking chapped lips, but not just lips, it's all around his mouth, to the point where it's bright red and now scabbing. Parts of it are starting to look infected.

I don't know how to get him to stop. He knows it's bad, he knows it hurts when he eats now, but it's just like it's now this habit he cannot break.

Any ideas of something we can try to get him to stop? We've tried Vaseline, probably 5 different types of chapstick, rewards (if you don't lick your lips while at school today it's an extra "ticket" on our behavior reward system) and have even gone as far as punishment (no ipod if you lick your lips today) etc. Someone said to try something bad tasting but stuff stings when he uses it and it makes him cry. It looks now like it needs Neosporin but I'm afraid he will lick it off.

It's been going on all winter and it's just getting worse. I'm really worried he's going to scar. He's taken to hiding his face in his coat when we go places he's so embarrassed about it now

My son actually does this too when it gets dry and cold. The only thing that has worked for us is to just continually put vaseline on it. At first he hated it and would immediately try to take it off (he actually has autism and didn't like the feel), but we stuck to it just putting it back on. Eventually it would go away. I might contact your pediatrician and ask him about it. My son now will go and put on vaseline by himself, but it took him a long time to do that. I'm sorry you are having this problem it is no fun to see your child in pain!

 

[Hannathy]

Third the DR. After he goes to sleep if the Dr doesn't give you anything go in and put a lot of Vaseline on them

Make sure he is drinking enough dry lips are a sign of dehydration

and when you can ( have to get the teacher on board for school hours) have him chew gum or suck on hard candy , lifesavers so his mouth is busy doing something else and not so tempted to lick

 

[skylizard]

Ditto about taking him to a doc. I have very dry lips too and find that the neutrogena lip balm is the only one that stays on longest despite my licking. But his sounds like its more severe and might need something stronger.
Also make sure it's not something he's doing that's stress related. I have a bad habit of biting my lips when I'm stressed and they end up turned red and scabby too.
Sorry he's going thru this

 

[elphaba91]

Other suggestions instead of lip balm would be papaw ointment or Bepanthen cream. Both work very well!

 

[cabanafrau]

Neosporin actually makes a lip treatment that is very good at healing chapped lips. It's in a white pot like Carmex or Blistex comes in. Of course the real issue is getting him to stop licking them, but that's a different issue. Good luck.

 

[PrincessKsMom]

Ah yes, the third lip. I remember those days well. Make sure he is hydrated, Vaseline at night when he's sleeping and, for during the day, we used the Avon Lip Conditioner. It's like a clear lipstick so it wasn't as noticeable or greasy as Vaseline. And maybe some Oil of Olay on his entire face, so his skin isn't drying out. We have many, many years of class photos where the third lip is predominant. Good luck!

 

[redrosesix]

This is going to sound so odd, but we need help with our DS9. He has started licking chapped lips, but not just lips, it's all around his mouth, to the point where it's bright red and now scabbing. Parts of it are starting to look infected.

I don't know how to get him to stop. He knows it's bad, he knows it hurts when he eats now, but it's just like it's now this habit he cannot break.

Any ideas of something we can try to get him to stop? We've tried Vaseline, probably 5 different types of chapstick, rewards (if you don't lick your lips while at school today it's an extra "ticket" on our behavior reward system) and have even gone as far as punishment (no ipod if you lick your lips today) etc. Someone said to try something bad tasting but stuff stings when he uses it and it makes him cry. It looks now like it needs Neosporin but I'm afraid he will lick it off.

It's been going on all winter and it's just getting worse. I'm really worried he's going to scar. He's taken to hiding his face in his coat when we go places he's so embarrassed about it now

DD did this too -- so bad it looked like she had a clown mouth.

What worked for us was zinc oxide ointment while at home (yes, the thick white cream used for diaper rash and sunburns on lifeguards' noses -- we used Penaten Cream, which is really gentle). No way she'd lick that so it pretty much broke the habit. Vaseline during the day at school etc.

While she did get the habit back from time to time -- it only takes a couple of hours outside for the lips to get chapped and then it gets worse very fast -- this solution healed her skin and stopped the habit every time.

Hope this works for your son -- it's terribly painful.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

My sister always had problems with chapped lips. To the point that she, also, was red and raw around her mouth. She used Bag Balm. Really.

http://www.bagbalm.com/

 

[holycow]

After he goes to sleep if the Dr doesn't give you anything go in and put a lot of Vaseline on them


this. My DS had the same problem last year.

 

[tina.tina]

If my kids have anything going on, after they go to sleep at night, I put Carmex on them (even DD almost 13). I think it would be a good idea to keep something with zinc on it on your DS's skin while he's awake at home.

I remember doing this when I was in first grade but I'm not sure why. I saw DS8 doing it a few times this winter and made sure to fuss about it so he wouldn't do it enough to make it as sore as mine was.

 

[mom2rtk]

One of my sons did this a lot when he was younger. I was repping for Cetaphil at the time and knew a lot of dermatologists were recommending it to their eczema patients, so I decided to dab some on his lips. It really helped a lot. I used it on the lips and entire irritated area surrounding them.

 

[Southernmiss]

After he goes to sleep if the Dr doesn't give you anything go in and put a lot of Vaseline on them
this. My DS had the same problem last year.

If my kids have anything going on, after they go to sleep at night, I put Carmex on them (even DD almost 13). I think it would be a good idea to keep something with zinc on it on your DS's skin while he's awake at home.

I remember doing this when I was in first grade but I'm not sure why. I saw DS8 doing it a few times this winter and made sure to fuss about it so he wouldn't do it enough to make it as sore as mine was.

Keeping vaseline or carmex on their lips at night is what I would suggest. Also works for redness under the nose from blowing.

 

[Deb in IA]

I advise against using Vasaline.

There have been some reports that ingesting it may be related to breast cancer.

Try Crisco instead. I figure it is at least made to be eaten, and should be safer.

 

[iluvallthingsdisney]

I'm not a doctor and this is only a suggestion. I would keep him home from school for a few days and just constantly watch him and keep reapplying Vaseline every hour. Once it's healed help him to apply a coating in the morning before he goes to school. Have him reapply at lunch time and then again when he gets home from school and then again at bedtime. I would also maybe put a humidifier in his room. The air could be really dry. Best of luck!!!

 

[bittybabygrower]

Neosporin or A/D ointment...he may stop because it won't taste the best, if you use just a moderate amount it won't hurt him. Also try Burt's Bee lip balm, it really helps. But if it is looking funky I'd take him in, it could turn to an infection. Poor guy

 

[fortwildernessishome]

My son used to do this too, although not to the point of scabbing. I think it would have gotten to that point though, if I wasn't on top of it daily. Every night, once he was asleep, I would put a thick coat of eucerin cream on the skin above his lip. Sometimes, I would go in and do it 2-3-4 times a night. When he got up in the morning, the skin looked so GOOD. However, when he got home from school it always was red and sore looking, so I would repeat the process all over again at night. I had totally forgotten about those days until I read your post! Good luck with your little guy!

 

[TheIncredibles!]

My oldest is a child with special needs with sensory issues. He is constantly doing this to himself and won't tolerate any balm etc during the day. We wait till he's asleep and really goop him up at night. We use neosporin or A&D ointment.

If your son will tolerate ointment during the day make sure you put a nice even coat in the morning, especially after bath/shower and maybe send a tube into the nurse and make him go there a few times a day to get it reapplied.

The issue is it hurts and itches once it starts and it's natural to touch it/lick it etc.