SELF-CARE

Pucker up! Here comes relief for chapped lips and cold sores

With Old Man Winter just around the corner, pharmacies will once again be the magnet for many consumers in search of products to relieve their chapped lips and cold sores. Here's a sampling of some of the products manufacturers are unveiling:

Mentholatum Co., Orchard Park, N.Y., is launching Softlips Moisture Enriched Lip Protectant. Connie Ervin, Mentholatum's senior marketing manager, told Drug Topics, "The changing seasons can leave your skin very thirsty for moisture, and the thinness of the lips' skin causes it to lose moisture. Replenishing moisture is the key to keeping your lips' skin healthy. Softlips Moisture Enriched Lip Protectant has a moisture-holding formula and a honeydew melon flavor that adds moisture to the lips."

The suggested retail price for a .07-oz. slimstick of Softlips Moisture Enriched Lip Protectant ranges from $1.79 to $2.99. The product, which is aimed at women, will be touted in a freestanding insert with coupons this month. In addition, Mentholatum has launched a sampling program in pharmacies.

Mentholatum's Natural Ice lip balm line features updated graphics. The line includes original, cherry, and sport with SPF 30.

Blistex, Oak Brook, Ill., is launching two new items: Blistex Pro Care lip balm and Blistex Pro Relief. Both products are available in an oval contour stick. Pro Care packaging is gold, and Pro Relief comes in blue.

Pro Care contains ceramides, glycolipids, and phospholipids to help maintain the lips' smoothness, elasticity, and barrier properties; gamma linolenic acid, an Omega-6 nutrient; green tree extract; SPF 30 with avobenzone (also called Parsol 1789); and vitamins A and E to nourish and smooth lips. Pro Care is recommended as a base before lipstick or lip color is applied. Each .16-oz. oval contour stick has a suggested retail price of $2.49. Pro Care is designed to appeal primarily to women but is gender-nonspecific in usage and product benefits.

Blistex Pro Relief is the second new entry from Blistex. The medicated lip balm is intended to provide maximum soothing and healing for dry, irritated lips. One of the ingredients in the product is pramoxine HCl, a topical analgesic/anesthetic. The firm claims this ingredient soothes and relieves lips without numbing or tingling.

Ingredients also include microsphere liposomes filled with glycerine, lecithin, and actual moisture; sodium hyaluronate to attract and hold moisture next to lips; and vitamins C and E. Each .16-oz. oval contour stick of Blistex Pro Relief has a suggested retail price of $2.49. Although the product is neutral in color, it is also designed to appeal primarily to women.

Bayer HealthCare Consumer Care Division, Morristown, N.J., is introducing Campho-Phenique Cold Sore treatment. The product, which contains pramoxine HCl and white petrolatum has a suggested retail price of $3.99 to $5.99 and is intended to temporarily relieve pain, itching, and dryness as well as soften scabs.

Wyeth Consumer Healthcare, Madison, N.J., is offering new over-the-counter remedies for chapped lips and cold sores. ChapStick All Natural is one new entry. The product, which will be touted in a TV and radio ad campaign, contains vitamin E, mango butter, jojoba, candelilla, and sunflower extracts. The firm claims the product is free of artificial preservatives. The suggested retail price is $1.83. Wyeth is also offering ChapStick Cold Sore Therapy. The product is intended to temporarily relieve pain associated with fever blisters and cold sores and to help heal them. Ingredients include allantoin, benzocaine, camphor, and white petrolatum. The suggested retail price is $4.88.

Not to be outdone, Swabplus, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., is introducing Swab Plus Overnight Lip Revitalizer Swabs with aloe vera and vitamin E. The treatment consists of prefilled cotton swabs that contain aloe vera and vitamin E. The company is also unwrapping Swab Plus Maximum Strength Lip Treatment Swabs for cold sore and fever blister pain relief.

Finally, Pure Pharmaceuticals Inc. of Los Angeles, is offering Pure Lip Remedy Acute Cold Sore Treatment with Zinc, for a suggested retail price of $7.99 for 5.5 gm. The firm also is introducing Pure Lip Prevention. The suggested retail price is $5.99 for 7 gm. The product is intended to provide daily lip maintenance, with zinc for lips prone to cold sores.

Sandra Levy

 

Sandra Levy. Pucker up! Drug Topics Dec. 8, 2003;147:58.