Lip rash

[luvmyfam444]

HELP!
My 7yo dd has this new habit of sucking her bottom lip, and licking her lips down to her chin. We are not sure why she is doing this. Help please with stopping this and also clearing the rash on her chin/lips. THANKS

 

[kristen821]

maybe she is doing it because her lips and skin under her lips are chapped and licking them gives her temporary relief when really it is making it worse. Try lotion and chapstick. You might want to tell her that if she licks the lotion and chapstick she may get sick and see if that stops her from licking it. It may also just be habit and there is no reason for it. To get my son from sucking his thumb at 5yrs. my mother bought him a gameboy if he stopped for a week he did and got his gameboy and never sucked his thumb again. You can try bribing her although a gameboy is a little much but some incentive may help.

 

[disykat]

A friend of mine who wasn't used to working with small children got a new job where he worked with them. He mentioned this one kid who had a horrible rash thing around his mouth. He was absolutely flabbergasted when I told him he probably got it by licking his lips. I've taught K/1 and usually saw at least one of these "rashes" a year.

I agree with the above poster that it just sort of becomes a habit started when they try to deal with chapped lips. If you can't get it to go away with behavior modification, maybe it's gotten infected? Be sure to enlist the help of any teachers to help her stop. I usually winked at kids as a secret signal to remind them to stop licking, etc.

 

[anewvance]

Wow, I could have written that post except it's my 4 year old dd doing it. It's whenever the wind blows and gets cooler here. Since it's normally hot and humid we don't worry. The past few days have been cooler with pretty good wind so she's been suffering. Just been putting balmex on her bottom lips constantly, it does look sore!

 

[wdwmom2]

The rash could just be dry, irritated skin. But it also could be impetigo, in which case, she may need to be seen by a doctor. Below is a link.

http://www.webmd.com/content/article/8/1680_54521.htm

 

[Texan Mouseketeer]

When my son started the licking habit, we found this ointment called 'Bag Balm' recommended by our pediatrician. It is meant for chapped lips, helps heal it and the skin underneath if they are licking that and it tastes bad so they don't want to lick it anymore. A few days of that and the habit was gone!

 

[Cindyluwho]

When my son started the licking habit, we found this ointment called 'Bag Balm' recommended by our pediatrician. It is meant for chapped lips, helps heal it and the skin underneath if they are licking that and it tastes bad so they don't want to lick it anymore. A few days of that and the habit was gone!

Hahahaha...You're talking about the "Bag Balm" that's in the green metal container? I'm so sorry for laughing but Bag Balm is meant for cow's udders when they get chapped from cold/dry weather and milking. Yes, it really works on chapped hands and lips but that isn't it's original use. I'd check with your Dr. before using it on a baby's mouth, there are lots of antibacterial ingredients in it.

 

[Nicolepa]

Our Pediatrician said to give them a tube of chapstick and have them put it on as often as they could (every 20 minutes or so). She also prescribes bactoban for the rash. She says every parent needs a tube of bactoban in their home.

 

[Texan Mouseketeer]

Hahahaha...You're talking about the "Bag Balm" that's in the green metal container? I'm so sorry for laughing but Bag Balm is meant for cow's udders when they get chapped from cold/dry weather and milking. Yes, it really works on chapped hands and lips but that isn't it's original use. I'd check with your Dr. before using it on a baby's mouth, there are lots of antibacterial ingredients in it.

I know. Sounded wierd, didn't it! But, my pediatrician was the one who recommended it. My son was 3 at the time.

 

[Buckalew11]

My sister's roomate sweared by Vicks Vapor Rub on a badly chapped lip and the skin below the lip. However, if it is extremely red and raw, I wouldnt use it. Once the Vicks is on you stop licking, I'm sure--menthol doesn't taste too good!