There is a reason chapstick companies make a lot of money. Most of us experience dry, cracked, and peeling lips from time to time. I, however, feel like I experience peeling, flaky lips quite a lot of the time. What happens is that because they are flaky, I start to pick at my lips as it really annoys me. This all leads to sores and even bleeding lips. It’s a really bad habit much like biting your nails is. I have found that I will often pick at my lips due to stress or boredom. It has gotten pretty bad actually. Some people see me and ask if I’d like to try this cold sore treatment they know. Imagine my embarrassment when I tell them it’s not a cold sore, it’s just my bad habit!
Even when I manage to leave my lips alone long enough for them to start to heal, when I start to feel the edges of the dead skin healing, I’ll pick at them again, making it bleed.... I feel rather compelled to pick off all the dangling bits of skin. At some point I knew I needed to do something. Where would you have gone for advice or treatment? Do you think my reaction to stress or boredom is weird or crazy? What bad habits have you formed when under stress?
Finally, my friend recommended that I should take a chapstick with me wherever I go and stuff it in my handbag. My lips need extreme moisture and they needed it constantly to heal. As long as the chapstick makes my lips feel smooth, I don’t feel that urge to pick at them. And if I do get an urge to pick at my lips, I hurry and apply more. I also have a little tub of Vaseline at my desk, at home and at work. Even though I feel like I've gotten better and I don’t feel the temptation to pick at my lips anymore, I still carry them with me at all times, just in case....
Have you ever had an experience where you've had to quit a habit? What helped you? How do you deal with the temptation to start back up again? Shoot me your comments, I’d love to hear from you!
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