Lips

[AlexA15]

Ok, I wasn't sure where to put this.
I'm experiencing problems with my lips. I notice that during sleep they keep splitting, breaking etc.
This is obviously a problem. I don't know whether to practice with a split lip or to let it heal before doing any other practice.
Any tips on how to stop these splits and breaking's?
Thanks
Alex
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Alex Argiantopoulos, 17
Grade 7
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[jf_trumpet]

Lip balm usually helps me. Chopsaver, Vaseline, or whatever they have at the chemists. My lip spilt after playing on a cold mouthpiece, so make sure you're warm enough, especially with the cold weather we hae at the mo. If you are playing outside a lot, consider a Kelly piece or get a lexan/delrin rim or top.

Takes a while to heal and your lip puffs up, so don't overdo it if you can help it! That'll just make it worse.

[trpthrld]

I've used Carmex on a regular basis for over 25 years. Always fixed whatever ailment I was experiencing, never had any downside effects.

It's also a wonderful preventative, like if I think my lips might dry or chap, an application overnight fixes everything.

My only gripe with Carmex is the jar it comes in - kinda bulky. I prefer the more solid Carmex that comes in the jar over the softer, tube-applicator kind.
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[Kofipoiss]

If lip balm can help, I suggest trying Dr. Hauschka natural products, that's the best I have ever used and it doesn't taste like a "Chemical product" either
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[tpter1]

To the above I might add (or ask) if you are keeping hydrated during the day. And suggest maybe the use of a humidifier.
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"Character is the backbone of human culture, and music is the flowering of human character". -Confucious

[Craig Swartz]

Definitely drink more water, especially during the winter when the furnace is running all the time. It'll help with the sinuses, too.

[jimh46]

You must use a lip balm if your lips are splitting, all the timne and especially at night.
I played with split lips during winter when I was growing up in England and it was miserable.

I use Chopsaver which may be available from one of the better music stores over there - e.g Phil Parkers in London.

I don't use petroleum based products because they seem to dry my lips even more - I prefer using natural products. You can usually find a Bees Wax based lip balm at a health store.

Regards
Jim

[Jon Kaplan]

I am in the middle of a 5 month round acutane. One of the dominant side effects of this treatment is extreme drying of the face an lips.

At first, my playing ability decreased significantly. As a college music performance student, this was obviously a debilitating problem and I was dying to find a solution. My lips sucked up any chapstick or aquaphor that I put on within 30 minutes, and they went back to being dry, cracked, and peeling.

After my weekly lesson with my teacher, he gave me a stick of Chopsaver. That was that. Instead of my lips just sucking it up, Chopsaver actively healed my lips and sloughed off the peeling skin. Within an hour things were back to normal. A plus: if you're a dry player like I am you can easily wipe it off just before playing.

I highly suggest you try it. Put it on after playing and before bed, and I bet you'll see improvement immediately.

My 2 cents.
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Jon Kaplan
BM Trumpet Performance (In Progress), Arizona State University

[ken_k]

After several long-term bouts with sore, cracked, split, swollen lips, I found that it was being caused by allergy to citrus fruits. My lips felt like they had been worked over with sandpaper and it took 30 minutes of gentle warm-up to get swelling down. If I set the horn down for a break, the swelling returned.

Thinking back I realized that my problems always coincided with those little "Cutie" oranges arriving in the grocery store. I tried every brand of chapstick, drinking huge volumes of water, visits to the doctor and dermatologist, trying to stop various medications and finally an allergist. I stopped gorging on the Cuties and three days later my lips returned to normal. This may not be your problem but diet can certainly be something to consider.
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[lpennel]

Chopsaver!
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[Catman37185]

You're just going to have to play through it, I'm afraid. My lips get all cut up during practice. Maybe try chapstick?

[ruotjoh]

Chopsaver is great stuff and will help you to recover faster. I'll second the effect of low humidity. It can dry out your lips and induce breaking. I'd take couple days off and let everything heal properly before playing.

[cheiden]

I'd be concerned about chronic lip problems and would talk to a doctor about possible causes (disease, diet, allergy,...). Beyond that I'm a big fan of DCT (by Blistex). I've been warned about extended use of Carmex though I'm not sure it's very different than DCT. FWIW DCT is one of the only products I've found that I can use while I play and it doesn't mess me up.
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[bmc]

Stay away from anything with Camphor or Menthol in it. It feels nice but it drys you out. The best stuff is A&D ointment from the drug store. I used it every winter living in Montreal and never failed.

[Larry Jess]

I have been advised against Carmex also. Really for cold sore application. Too much camphor in it to dry the lips out! I have been using a product by AVON called "Care Deeply" for many years. Allen Vizzutti turned me on to this. It has many good things in it including aloe. Best thing about it is that you can apply it at any time during a rehearsal or concert and it will not effect your playing. Other products are too waxy to be able to do that. I use it year round. Try it....it's also really cheap compared to a lot of other products.

Larry Jess
Principal Trumpet
Spokane Symphony Orchestra

[mrsemman]

If this is something relatively new to you, then, as was suggested above, it may have to do with the dry air from the furnace. You could try a humidifier, like the small ones sold at pharmacies for kids.
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[arnold1]

This is a wonderful forum that I have never found before.. It is interesting & valuable, that's great.. The forum seems to be interesting..
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[Ed Lee]

Personally, never had much of a problem in recent years with my lips, but do have Chopsaver in my "gitgo" pouch. Still, I now apply a drop of aloe to my lips just as my wife does as a base to her lipstick. Y'all know the rest of the story between she and I.