Is lip scrub edible?

What should you check on the label?

Read the full label, including the ingredient list, directions and warnings. Treat any permission to lick off a product as specific to that product, not to every lip scrub. In the US, cosmetic products and ingredients generally do not need FDA approval before sale, with an exception for color additives. Being available to buy is not the same as being approved to eat.12

How should you use lip scrub?

Exfoliation means removing dead skin cells from the surface, which is a fairly modest job to have its own product category. A scrub does that mechanically, through physical rubbing. The following are general cosmetic and exfoliation precautions; follow your lip scrub's own directions for its application and removal.3

1. 1Wash your hands before handling the product.
2. 2Check your lips before applying it. Do not exfoliate open cuts, wounds or sunburned skin.
3. 3Apply gently, without aggressive rubbing, and remove the scrub as directed.
4. 4Follow exfoliation with a lip moisturizer that does not irritate your lips.
5. 5Close the container tightly and keep it clean. Throw the product away if its color or smell changes.

There is no universal exfoliation schedule. Frequency depends on the method and your skin; stronger exfoliation needs less frequent use. Sensitive skin can find mechanical exfoliation too irritating. Retinol, prescription retinoid creams and benzoyl peroxide can also increase sensitivity or peeling, making added exfoliation more irritating.3

What if your lips are already chapped?

Lip balm moisturizes while a scrub exfoliates, so sharing a bathroom shelf does not qualify them for each other's jobs. For dry, chapped lips, use a nonirritating balm several times a day and before bed. Very dry, cracked lips can benefit from a thick ointment such as white petroleum jelly. Stop licking, biting or picking at your lips: saliva evaporation makes lips drier, and biting or picking interferes with healing. Cinnamon, citrus, mint and peppermint flavorings can irritate chapped lips. With appropriate care, chapped lips should noticeably improve within 2 to 3 weeks; see a dermatologist if they do not.4

What if you already swallowed some?

Keep the container so a medical professional can identify the product. If you are unsure whether swallowing it was harmful, get medical advice rather than guessing from its name or flavor. In the UK, call NHS 111 for uncertainty about a swallowed substance. Call 999 or go to A&E if you think someone swallowed something harmful, or if they have severe breathing difficulty, a seizure or lose consciousness. Do not wait for symptoms when poisoning is possible; symptoms can take hours or days to appear.5

If poisoning is suspected, do not induce vomiting or give anything to eat or drink while waiting for medical help. Separately, stop using a lip product that causes burning, stinging or discomfort. For a rash, redness, a burn or another unexpected cosmetic reaction, contact your healthcare provider.145