I have an awful issue with repetative biting of my lips and I can’t stop, my lips bleed every day and I’m really embarrassed about it but I still can’t stop. It’s crazy.
Has anyone managed to stop a repetitive behaviour and how did you manage it?
Had anyone else got the same issue?
Can you recommend a good product like a lip mask or anything? I’ve tried every lip balm even tried sticking plasters to my lips when at home, with healing cream underneath. I’m kind of at my wits end with it.
There are many super expensive lip mask products out there but I would take a recommendation if anyone has a personal success story.
Nail biter here but I hear you. The more I look into nail biting the more I realize it is linked to OCD and has a self harm aspect to it. We aren’t necessarily cutting but we are worrying (ha, see the double use there) our skin to the point of pain.
I’ve been a nail biter, nail skin picker for 35ish years, to the point that my hands are the parts of my body I am most insecure about. What’s helping me is moisture. I keep a huge tub of nail lotion on my coffee table and massage it in every moment I can. I also try to trim dead skin from my fingers rather than pick at it but it does come down to an OCD like behavior. My ultimate fix would be anti-anxiety meds, according to Dr. Google.
It’s worth a look around the internet to learn you aren’t gross or weird, just a lip biter, same as I am with hands. Note your trigger times so you are aware, I used to bite my inner cheeks until they bled and somehow managed to stop that. I read a lot about it. I’ve mangled my thumbs to the point that they may never be back to normal (habit tic nail deformity) but I won’t stop. It might be a mild OCD or anxiety for you too.
I also used to bite my lips and accidentally found the most unlikely solution… Invisalign! It’s impossible to bite your lips if you have plastic on your teeth.
Something like this will serve a similar purpose -
See through tooth guards are almost invisible and put simply, work.
Literally the only thing that gets me to stop completely is my tongue ring. I took it out for a few years and randomly put it in and the biting stopped. Not a healthy solution for most I’m sure.
I pick my lips a lot and the skin around my nails too. I used to pull out my hair a fair bit and wiggle my nose compulsively. It was such an effort to stop. OCD/anxiety driven.
Only tips:
Awareness of not wanting to do this, try to remedy the tic with awareness. Hard hard hard, but the more you become aware you don’t want to do it the more you stop yourself.
Keep lips super smooth with tonnes of balm. I always have about eight lip balms around the flat in clear sight to use wherever I am. Soft lips = less places to niggle at.
Drink lots of water, stay hydrated.
Avoid lip products with fruit or menthol or tingly additives in as that actually just irritates the lips more.
Products:
O Keefe’s Lip Repair overnight balm - slightly grainy like a scrub.
Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Lotion (absolutely phenomenal and thick and long lasting). Doesn’t taste good either…
Neutrogena plain balm.
