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six.a
The lip care dispute
Addicts search for believers in the battle against lip balm
story by jennifer polsinelli photo illustration by christina neff
Many college students associate substance abuse with alcohol, marijuana or sleeping pills. However, Steve Spicer, Overland Park senior, has a different addiction.
"My poison is Blistex, and I can't stop using it," he said. "I've tried but failed."
Pharmacists said they had never heard of lip balm addiction, but the cracks on users' lips when they try to kick the habit prove the addiction is no joke to them.
There is even a Lip Balm Anonymous Web site
(www.kevdo.com/lipbalm/home.html) that offers a support group for lip balm addicts. The site lists several questions to help readers determine whether of not they have the profile of a lip balm addict. Ask yourself these questions: Has the use of lip balm interfered with your job? Do you feel depressed, guilty or remorseful after you use lip balm? Is your lip balm use causing conflict with your spouse or family?
Rachel McTarsney, Overland Park senior, fits the profile. McTarsney owns six tubes of lip balm: there's one on her night stand, one in her back pack, one in her bathroom, one in her purse, and two in her bedroom in Kansas City.
"I can't deal with the sweltering feeling of my lips without reapplying," McTarsney said.
The thousands of net surfers that click on to the Lip Balm Anonymous Web site will find 12 steps to recovery plus testimonials from people who have put 11 tubes of lip balm on all at once. The group's goal reads, "Our primary purpose is to stay free from lip balm and to help others achieve the same freedom."
The LBA Web site asserts the seriousness of lip balm addiction and its physical and psychological conditions. The site does not say that everyone who uses lip balm will get addicted, but like many addictions, some people seem to be more likely to become dependent.
The pharmacists from several area drugstores were baffled when told that such an addiction exists. When called, pharmacists' usually reaction would repeat, "Lip balm addiction?" (to make sure they heard it correctly), or they would say, "Lip balm what?"
tion.
"Applying lip balm can be a habit not unlike chewing nails or twirling hair," Rock said. "I really think the term 'addiction' is pretty strong and not appropriate."
He said constant application could also be symptomatic of obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Paula Begun, author of "The Beauty Bible," and a critic of the cosmetic industry, said, "The tingling sensation you get from those products usually comes from menthol, camphor, or phenol. All those things are drying and irritating. These ingredients are routinely used to make the consumer think something is happening. If you want a cooling sensation, drink some cold water."
Rock said drinking fluids, such as water or juice, would help keep lips hydrated and reduce the need for constant lip balm application.
Controlling a dry environment with a humidifier and wearing lip balm with UV protection outside will also help prevent chapped lips, Rock said.
Paul Woelbing, spokesman for Carma Labs, producer of Carmex, knows all about Carmex junkies. Every day, mail arrives at the lab from people wanting to know if there is an addictive ingredient in Carmex.
The Carmex Web site addresses this problem by saying, "As Carmex was originally developed as a remedy for cold sores, salicylic acid (a peeling agent to help cold sores) was included specifically for these properties. For those people who use Carmex as a lip balm, but find that they have drying problems, we recommend that they find another product such as Vaseline or unmedicated Chapstick."
McTarsney was in denial of her addiction until her boyfriend brought the subject to her attention. "The thought never entered my mind that I could be addicted to Lip Smackers. I've used every different flavor there is since I was in the third grade. Finally, my boyfriend asked if I would stop using blueberry because he didn't like the
"I can't deal with the sweltering feeling of my lips without reapplying,"
Rachel McTarsney Overland Park senior
taste. The sad part about it was we were on a road trip and that's all I had in my purse. He refused to kiss me for the 15-hour duration unless I stopped, but I couldn't." McTarsney said.
McTarsney's boyfriend, Scott Morrill. Denver senior, remembers the road trip clearly.
"I tested Rachel to see if she could stop using her lip stuff, kind of as a joke at first, but she wasn't able to," he said. "I asked her if it was possible to become addicted to Chapstick and she was as clueless as I was. We never even heard of lip balm addiction." Morrill said.
But McTarsney now thinks she has an addiction when her boyfriend challenged her to a test. She was unable to go without putting on her Lip Smackers within an hour and a half.
Julie Carlin, Overland Park senior, said she was a heavy Carmex user. "Everytime I use Carmex, someone always tells me that that stuff is addictive. It may be true, considering I apply it about 15-20 times a day. But as far as I know I'm not going to die by Carmex."
Rock said it was possible for constant lip balm appliers to develop allergic reactions to certain products.
"A maxim for life is anything in excess has potential negative effects," he said.
The addiction may be not recognized by medical science, but stories persist.
"I would encourage anyone concerned with their excessive use of lip balm to seek a medical opinion," Rock said.
Although I have wised up to the lip balm market's evil plan to lure in adolescents with the product — I still can't forgo my habit.
Years and hundreds of Chapstick tubes ago, I innocently started using lip balm to make my lips feel glossy and smooth. I didn't know back in junior high school that my attraction to lip balm would ultimately result in an addiction that couldn't be kicked.
Following is a lip balm testimonial from a Kansan staff member. The Kansan in no way supports or denies the existence of lip balm addition. It merely provides a forum to explore several viewpoints on the subject.
II've tried to trace the history of my addiction with little success. I started using lip balm everyday while on a ski trip nearly seven years ago. When I returned home, the empty void that once lined my pocket was replaced with a tube of lip balm.
Before long, I found myself reaching into my nocket about 50 times a day
My addiction to Chapstick has moved beyond the need to moisten my lips. It has turned into a nervous habit that I resort to when I'm bored or twint to think too hard.
I randomly reach into my pocket at various times throughout the day without realizing what I'm doing.
I have various lip balm brands of choice, however, in times of great need, I've resorted to cheaper brands.
Sadly, I've turned my car around and driven back home to retrieve a tube that I had forgotten. Once, near 2 a.m., I realized I was about out, so I went to the grocery store.
I have tubes of lip balm in my pocket, backpack, purse and on my key chain. I once cleaned out a bag for my friends and found four half-empty tubes.
Much like other addictions that people suffer from, mine controls me.
As years have passed, I need more to get the feeling I'm looking for. My favorite brand, Natural ice, used to tingle my lips after I rolled it on, but it hasn't tingled in years.