Story of a Lip Gloss Lover

Hi,

I have posted here before but not with a full story and details of everything I've tried. I thought I'll share it all with you when my lips heal completely, but I'm getting nowhere so I'll share everything here and now.

My EC started a long time ago. I don't remember when exactly because I used to bite the skin off my lips, which was probably EC calluses in the first place (yuck!). My EC is because I used to bite and pick on my lips and then unknowingly use expired lip products on them. I was never aware that the stores in my country sell expired makeup until recently. Since then, I stopped using expired stuff and go to http://www.checkcosmetic.com
to check the expiry date of products before purchasing. I have stopped biting and picking my lips and haven't done so for about three and a half months.

I don't think I need to describe the condition, it's all the same - lips crust over and peel, revealing raw skin, and the cycle repeats. Most horrid skin disease ever, since we do so much with our lips. I had eczema on my feet before but that's gone now because I stopped wearing socks or keeping them wet. The EC, however, is just unbearable, especially because I'm a girl. Everyone and their mom point out to me I have something wrong with my lips and should use Vaseline. I just nod. It's so annoying!

To top it all off, I'm a lip gloss fanatic and love lip gloss TO DEATH. The sad part is, I can't use it because of my EC! I just pray and pray for the day it goes away!

I have tried all sorts of treatments, but only one has shown progress so far - leaving the lips alone and trimming off loose hanging calluses. When I go outside I put on some petroleum jelly to avoid questions. I'm also taking Vitamin B Complex and Evening Primrose Oil supplements, but these seem to have no effect on my lips. After following this method (also previously suggested by monsterlip and others), I noticed the portion affected by EC was smaller. Otherwise when my lips crust, they crust entirely, leaving no normal lip skin around.

I have tried brushing my lips to remove calluses, topically applying toothpaste (to kill germs), eye drops (to kill bacteria), various lip balms and even soap, none of which have made the condition better. I have also changed my diet and stopped breathing through my mouth, to no avail. I've just stopped any other treatment and am just hoping the "leave 'em be" method works.

What are you trying? What has and hasn't worked for you? Please share! Tweet