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Children's health

My son looks like a clown every Winter now!! Please help!!

25 replies

momofha · 18/12/2008 12:54

This is the second Winter in a row that my 3 year old son starts to lick his top and bottom lip and now also around the sides so much that he has a red rim going all the way around his mouth from his nose to his chin!! It looks terrible!! I have tried talking to him about stopping it but it is not working. I have used every type of cream and lip care known and all it does is take the redness away slightly until he starts licking it again and then it flares up all red again. Does anyone have any advice as I remember last Winter it lasted ALL Winter and I dont think I can look at his face like this for the rest of Winter!!

OP posts:

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mumblechum · 18/12/2008 12:56

put something horrible tasting on his lips? [cruel mother emoticon]

LoveMyGirls · 18/12/2008 12:57

My dd2 was picking and picking her sore lips until the other day I brought her a superman lip balm that attaches to her jeans. I warn you though she was putting it on so often it was all gone within a couple of days BUt her lips are now fine so that might work for you too?

momofha · 18/12/2008 12:58

mumblechum, I am with you there but what??? I have heard of that stuff you can put on nails to stop biting but not sure if that will work. He normally uses his sleeve to wipe off whatever I put on there too!!!

OP posts:

JackieNoCribForABed · 18/12/2008 12:58

DD has this from time to time - she had a ballet exam the other week, and the photo looks rather bizarre, with the big red mouth . She's almost 9, and I try to get her to carry lipsalve with her, but even that doesn't always help. No advice really, but you're not alone!

SixSpotBurnet · 18/12/2008 13:00

Vaseline? Repeated applications? All the time lots and lots? Plastered on very thickly?

Poor little kid, I bet it really hurts!

IwishIwasmoreorganised · 18/12/2008 13:01

Watching this with interest as we have the same problem - atm I'm slapping vaseline on him as often as posible

SixSpotBurnet · 18/12/2008 13:03

You could get some of that stuff in the little tube - can't remember the name but it is really good - and put it on at night when he is asleep so he doesn't just lick it off again. Ooh, wish I could remember what it is called - Blistex? Blisteze? Dead good and works quickly.

mumblechum · 18/12/2008 13:05

Obv. you couldn't do this when you're out and about but could you put Marmite (assuming he hates it) around his mouth while you're indoors or would he just wipe it off??

SixSpotBurnet · 18/12/2008 13:06

Mumblechum you meanie - it would sting terribly!

mumblechum · 18/12/2008 13:08

would it sting? Oh.

momofha · 18/12/2008 13:10

ha,ha, he loves marmite. I have tried vaseline and lip balm, you name it, he just rubs it off. I was wondering if the doctors would be annoyed with me if I went to them for some advice. I suppose they wont tell me anything new or offer any new stuff to put on then we have already discussed.

OP posts:

SixSpotBurnet · 18/12/2008 13:14

have you tried the Blistex/Blisteze/whatever it's called?

mumblechum · 18/12/2008 13:17

Oooh Oooh

How about that stuff you put on babies' bums? Check if it's toxic but if not, lather his face with it at bedtime and he won't be able to wipe it off.

Tadaa!

JackieNoCribForABed · 18/12/2008 13:18

Sudocrem, you mean? Might work.

momofha · 18/12/2008 13:22

yes i have tried blistex and as well as Sudocrem. It definetly does help as he wakes up in the morning with just a little redness. I suppose I am looking for a magic bullet that doesnt mean I have to chase after him all day with a pot of Sudocrem!!!

OP posts:

Cadmum · 18/12/2008 13:22

My 11 year old DS still has this for part of the winter. We have also tried everything (except nappy rash cream). Ridiculous behaviour and no real solution in my post but plenty of sympathy.

I am sure that it must hurt.

ummadam · 18/12/2008 20:51

I had the same problem when I was little and hated it. Don't scold him as he really can't help it, it feels sore and everyone looks at you and it is really really horrid. The only trick is to stop the cycle early as by the time it gets really sore it is too uncomfortable not to moisten your lips. Sudocrem was the only thing that worked but was very very white so i only used to use it at home, put a good layer on before bed and that really helps. Blistex tastes lovely so that makes me do it more but the Nivea SOS lip balm is fantastic and I always have some with me now. let him lick his lips but encourage him to just get the lip part rather than the surrounding skin as doing that can relieve the urge without making it sore.

ummadam · 18/12/2008 20:52

ps. the doctor won't mind at all (well i wouldn't anyway) but I'm one and I haven't managed to find any other way to solve it so if you find one please let me know

Lubyloo · 18/12/2008 20:54

DD starts doing this when she has a cold. I put on Elizabeth Arden 8 hour cream and it really is miraculous.

ummadam · 18/12/2008 20:54

pps. DON'T use hand creams, aqueous cream or anything perfumed on the broken skin even if it is an emergency and you have gone out without anything else. It feels like your lips and the skin is on fire and always makes it 100x worse (voice of experience!)

dingdongDOZYMAREishigh · 18/12/2008 20:57

burts bees no paraben lotion - have used sudocrem for the past 2 winters, and for the past month have been using the burts bees - it is fantastic!!!

Desiderata · 18/12/2008 20:57

Mine gets this too, but I'm not convinced it's do the with the cold weather .. at least not in his case. He's just turned four, and it seems to flare up on his top lip at the drop of a hat .. sometimes even when he's been inside for hours.

It's very difficult with three/four year olds to put an application on their faces, as momofha knows only too well.

They just rub it off.

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msmithy · 09/01/2009 17:15

I had the same problem with my son,he used to have sore lips all the time, then I found this lip balm and oil from fleur de terre, and it seems to have helped! liked it because it was natural with no chemicals like so many and they actually gave me free samples so I could try it out. also, the oil didn't wipe off so easily but wasn't greasy I use it myself now
try it maybe, here s the link
www.fleurdeterre.co.uk

floaty · 09/01/2009 17:54

II have this with two of mine one 15 and one7!Repeated applications of vaseline during teh day plus sudocrem at night are good.Also a high protection sunbloc like you use for skiing .Also we found neutrogena lip salve good. amonst the normal ones.Recently have been using fat face lip salve which seems good but may be rather adult.

2pt4kids · 09/01/2009 17:57

DS1 does this.
I smother him in E45 through the day and vaseline thick at night once he is asleep.
Seems to do the trick after a few days of keeping at it.

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