My child ate Chapstick or lipstick. Are lip products toxic? Lip products are considered nontoxic in small amounts. Ingredients in lip products vary between the type and brand, but may include oils, waxes, perfumes, coloring agents, pigments, lanolin, antioxidants, preservatives and emulsifying agents.
What to Expect at the Emergency Room
The health care provider will measure and monitor the persons vital signs, including temperature, pulse, breathing rate, and blood pressure. Blood and urine tests will be done. The person may receive:
- Activated charcoal to prevent the poison from absorbing into the digestive tract
- Fluids through a vein (by IV)
- Medicines to treat symptoms
For an allergic reaction, the person may need:
- Airway and breathing support, including oxygen. In extreme cases, a tube may be passed through the mouth into the lungs to prevent aspiration. A breathing machine (ventilator) would then be needed.
- Chest x-ray.
- ECGÂ (electrocardiogram, or heart tracing).
- Medicines specifically for allergic reactions.
Recovery is very likely. The ingredients are generally considered to be nontoxic.
Marcdante KJ, Kliegman RM, Schuh AM. Poisoning. In: Marcdante KJ, Kliegman RM, Schuh AM, eds. Nelson Essentials of Pediatrics. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 45.
Meehan TJ. Care of the poisoned patient. In: Walls RM, ed. Rosens Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 135.
Updated by: Jesse Borke, MD, CPE, FAAEM, FACEP, Attending Physician at Kaiser Permanente, Orange County, CA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
LIP BALM ADDICTION #shorts
FAQ
What happens if you swallow lip balm?
Is lipstick harmful if swallowed?
How much lip balm you ingest?
Is it OK to lick lips with lip balm?
Can you eat too much lip balm?
While it is generally safe to accidentally ingest a small amount of lip balm, consuming large amounts of lip balm can cause digestive problems. Some lip balms may also contain ingredients that can be harmful if ingested in large quantities, such as petroleum jelly or menthol.
Do lip balms have side effects?
Lip balms that contain camphor or menthol have a higher risk of side effects, but this is still unlikely due to the small amounts of these ingredients in the products. If someone eats or experiences worrisome side effects from a lip cosmetic product, get guidance from Poison Control immediately.
Is lip balm bad for dry lips?
If your lips feel dry, apply some balm! Just make sure you’re prepared to apply it again … and again. Lip balm is rumored to be bad for dry, chapped lips. Some people claim that lip balm will dry out your lips more and make you addicted to using it. Dermatologists confirm that there’s some truth to that, but it doesn’t mean that lip balm is bad.