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I have an elder sister who has a problem with skin dryness and chapped lips. She asked me to find ways to solve the issue. While researching for a remedy for her, I found Blistex, a medicated product that helps prevent dryness and chapping. I recommended it to my sister, but she stuck me by asking a question, can you put Blistex on your lips if you have faced the same problem?
My straightforward reply was yes and in general. Anyone can put Blistex on their lips in case of moisture loss, lip skin irritation, cracking of lips and herpes. Blistex Lip Ointment is one of their clinically proven products to treat lip problems (especially dry and chapped lips).
In order to explore the correct use of Blistex on your lips, you need to stay with me to understand the usage, types, advantages and side effects etc.
What is Blistex Made of: Active Ingredients and Excipients
Blistex is called Blistex topical as it is a combination of elements like allantoin, camphor and phenol.
Allantoin is a protectant to the skin, while the other two relieve the pain, itching or irritation that the skin may acquire due to some reason.
Talking about the basic ingredients of Blistex, you need to be sure of what you are basically talking about. I mean, the product ranges from medicated balms to moisturizers.
So the ingredients vary for every product, but if we talk about it in general, Blistex has two types of ingredients which are active and inactive.
To give an example, I would invite you to have a glance at the packaging of Blistex Medicated Mint Lip Balm and its ingredients.
A List of Active Ingredients
Here is a list of active ingredients with the ratio and purpose to add to the balm:
| Ingredient | Percentage | Purpose |
| Demithicone | 2.0% | Lip protectant |
| Oxybenzone | 2.5% | Sunscreen |
| Padimate | 0.06% | Sunscreen |
The inactive ingredients are usually more in number than the active ones as they regulate the process of the drug and help more in the absorption of the cosmetic.
The list is long here, but the ingredients here need more attention if you want to know how Blistex works for you.
Inactive Ingredients in Any of the Blistex May Include
● Beeswax
● Camphor
● Cetyl alcohol
● Cetyl palmitate
● Euphorbia cerifera wax
● Flavors
● Isopropyl myristate
● Isopropyl stearate
● Lanolin
● Lanolin oil
● Menthol
● Methylparaben
● Mineral oil
● Ozokerite
● Paraffin
● Petrolatum
● Polybutene
● Propylparaben
● Red 6 lake
● Theobroma cacao seed butter
● Titanium dioxide.
You can learn about all the products on www.blistex.com. To be more specific, the ingredients which actually deal with lip problems are a few:
● Lanolin
It is a wax secreted by wool-bearing animals and combats dry skin.
● Menthol
It is obtained from oils of peppermint and it has a form of waxy substance. It counters the irritation of the skin by its cooling effect.
● Camphor
It is a powder from the bark of the camphor tree. It reduces the pain of cold sores and burns on the skin.
What is Blistex Used For?
As I made you look at the product’s ingredients, the reasons to use it automatically came to light. However, to list down the main reasons, here we go:
● Moisturizing the dry lips
● Relieving the itching of cracking on lips
● Protecting lips from sunburn
● Healing the cold sores
● Retaining the moisture of the lips by locking it in
● Smoothing the lip surface for cosmetic application
● Treating the early stages of labial herpes simplex infection
How Does Blistex Work?
Blistex works on cracking and dryness by hydrating the lip cells. The succulent base in the lip balm locks in the moisture.
It tones or softens the lips by giving antioxidant protection. Including SPF with minerals blocks UV rays to help avoid chapped lips.
Can You Put Blistex on Your Lips? What does it do to your lips?
Yes, you can put Blistex on your lips when they are chapped, lost moisture, cracked or have early symptoms of herpes simplex infection. The variety of Blistex lip care products meets different needs of your lip skin issues.
This lip balm is enriched with a waxy substance, SPF to protect from sunburn, menthol to soothe the irritation and camphor to cure cold sores.
These ingredients help your lips stay moisturized and protected from sunburn, cracks, dryness and cold sores. The moisture is locked inside the outer skin of the lips. The beeswax helps to retain the moisture.
Is Blistex Vegan?
No, looking at a specific range of Blistex would tell you that the ingredients don’t invite vegans to buy it. Like the one named Blistex medicated lip balm. It has a blend of vegan and non-vegan ingredients.
● Beeswax
● Lanolin
These two ingredients are straightforwardly derived from animals, so the product is not for vegans.
However, some ingredients like cetyl alcohol were previously derived from sperm whales, but now it is discontinued. Now, it is derived from palm oil which is vegan friendly.
The permission of animal testing by some countries on the Blistex products also stops vegans from buying Blistex.
Is Blistex Good for Sunburned Lips?
The SPF element in the Blistex products is enough to protect you from sunburn. The SPF number indicates the amount which can protect you in certain areas against harmful sun rays.
Plus, the SPF-containing Blistex products like Blistex Medicated Balms (Regular, Berry, Mint), Deep Renewal, and Five Star Lip Protection help you fight against cold sores, which often come with sun exposure.
Can You Put Blistex on Different Organs Except for Lips?
The Blistex products are for the lips alone. Using the products on any other part of your body like the face, nose, mouth, eyelids or inside the mouth or nose can lead to rashes, itching, hives or sores.
Measures in case of emergency:
In that case, rinse the affected area immediately and seek medical assistance if the irritation prevails.
How Fast Does Blistex Work on Cold Sores?
The effectiveness of Blistex cold sore cream depends on how well you know what happens through the cream and how. The cream contains docosanol as the main ingredient and has a white texture.
Before knowing how it works or how fast it works, let’s see the application method and instructions.
The cream must be applied 5 times daily or so after every 3 hours in waking time. Its results usually appear in 4-6 working days. If not, go for your derma expert.
Tip: If you already find a blister on the lips, you may not find Blistex in happiness as its effectiveness is during the early stage of the infection.
Points to Consider
● Blistex will not work on patients with serious illnesses like aids etc.
● It can not help the people whose immunity has weakened due to the treatment of a severe illness.
● The application of the cream will not work if you are using some other cream at the same time.
Last but not least, if you find that your application of the cream is doing no good to you, stop using it and see the doctor.
Blistex Topical side effects
The common side effects that may occur are:
● Leftover white residue on the lips
● Tingling feeling on the lips after applying it.
These two are pretty common and the second one happens only because of the mint of menthol. The feeling resembles the feeling you may acquire after using Carmex lip balm. You need not worry about these side effects.
Other side effects may include Breathing issues, hives, swelling on the face or any other body part like the throat etc. You need an urgent call to your dermatologist if any such thing occurs.
You may acquire these symptoms because of any topical agent in the Blistex balm. It can be because the specific element would not suit a person with a chronic issue.
FAQ
Is Blistex a drug? Is it toxic?
Yes, as a drug is a medication to address a disease for a limited period, you are right in calling Blistex a drug. It is a combination of elements, among which phenol is a toxic agent to the heart.
How quickly does Blistex work?
The response of Blistex depends on the ways and precautions of using the medicine. Knowing more about its active and inactive ingredients and reading the manual carefully would help you know how fast it would work for you.
How should I use Blistex topical?
The things you consider while using Blistex topical are many. You need to read the manual carefully and do as said. Apply it with clean hands.
Remove the excess cream with a tissue. When using lipstick after applying Blistex, wait for 5 minutes. Don’t apply the cream more than 4 times a day.
What should I avoid while using Blistex topical?
Avoid using the balm on any other body part except the lips. Avoid carelessness while using it and call your dermatologist if itching occurs and continues due to misuse.
My Final Opinion
As I once heard, Dress your lips in the brand; the Blistex lip balms would help your lips stay soft, moistened, protected and rosy. Like any other body part, they must be treated with care. With their deep locking moisture control, Blistex products would do wonders for you. Stay beautiful!
Disclaimer: The information included at this site is for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a health care professional. Because of unique individual needs, the reader should consult their physician to determine the appropriateness of the information for the reader’s situation.
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