Im not really sure, maybe it has to do with the acid. You can feel the stinging throughout the day. Maybe killing something on the lips feeding on the dead skin. Im desperate enough to try it. It seems rather ridiculous. It holds the skin on good enough that when I forced a peel I bled, That normally doesnt happen to me, It all just kinda falls off. For the first time Im excited about something working. Ill keep posting too. Far too many times someone has thought they found something, but turns out not. Usually by the 4th or 5th day you can tell. Luckily lemons are cheap.