Help! Child licking chapped lips

[Chelley00]

He was just at the doctor a couple of weeks ago for something unrelated and she just told him that he needed to stop licking his lips and why and told me to try Vaseline since at that point the Chapstick wasn't working.

Thanks for all the suggestions. He says he doesn't realize he's doing it until it hurts after he does it.

 

[ORMom2Four]

My daughter had this problem, the Ped called it Lip Lickers Dermatitis (do a google search, tons of info on the internet about it)

We put Neosporin on her lips after she fell asleep because she would lick everything off when she was awake. It became a habit that she could not control.

Luckily it cleared up, but it took about 6 weeks.

 

[cepmom]

DD had this problem too and the thing that worked best for her was Aquaphor, for us it worked much better than the Vaseline. They even make it in a small tube made for putting on lips so she could take it with her and reapply as necessary. Good luck, its so painful and frustrating!

 

[Kerrio929]

My dd5 does this as well. We make her lather the plain blue Chapstick on her lips and she puts cetaphil on her whole face also. This seems to help

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

OP, is it just a habit, or has it turned in to a nervous tick? Not trying to make it in to something bigger than it is, but the methods you use to break him of it might be different if it is a manifestation of anxiety (like skin picking or hair pulling can be, for example).

 

[MamaLema]

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

DS10 is doing the exact same thing! He has been doing it many times a day for the last 4 months or so! Nothing I do or say has made him stop. Putting a band aid on the area between his upper lip and lower nose only works temporarily.

Every day he wakes up and the are looks OK, by the time I get home from work he looks like Bozo the Clown

 

[chisnpeke]

I did the same thing as a kid. Eventually I grew out of it but in the meantime keep his lips covered in Chapstick (medicated) and Vaseline.

 

[jara1528]

When my kids were little I would use Lansinoh. It worked really well. Like other posters I would put it on their lips and surrounding area after they were asleep.

 

[mumto3girls]

My oldest DD had this trouble in the winter for several years. She has finally outgrown it--at 13. She would say that her lips hurt so bad that she would lick them because the moisture made them temporarily feel better. Even after she understood that made it worse , she still had trouble stopping. We have many clown lips photos also.

If it looks like it might be infected I would take him to the doctor. Otherwise aquaphor helped my DD and fortunately, spring is on the way.

 

[usnuzuloose]

This may sound weird, but have you tried putting it on your lips when you put some on your child? Sometimes if they see you do it they may do it as well. Show him that your lips hurt and put it on and he may follow suit. Can't hurt to try.

 

[Donnainnj]

DD had this problem too and the thing that worked best for her was Aquaphor, for us it worked much better than the Vaseline. They even make it in a small tube made for putting on lips so she could take it with her and reapply as necessary. Good luck, its so painful and frustrating!

+1, we also put it on above her lip where is was red right before bed, and it was usually nearly gone by morning.
Donna

 

[Carina]

I second the penaten ( diaper rash cream) comment

Thick and white at home and before bed ( use old pillowcases or a towel on the pillow)

A more 'regular' type chap stick during the day when you are out ( to prevent the stigma of having butt cream on his face)

I know you are getting too much advice at this point but this REALLY works!

 

[shortbun]

Zinc oxide and major hydration. Also, we used this for severe diaper rash-aqua four mixed with maalox to take out the acid and relieve the burn. Get him in to see the doctor immediately with the ideas here/DIS and hope for a better plan.