Is Lip Balm Addictive?

    Some people may not believe that something as simple as lip balm, an item you use on a daily basis, could become addictive. There is nothing chemically addictive that causes your body to depend on it, but people become dependent in other ways.

    According to the article "Addicted to Lip Balm? Science Says it's a Real Thing!" it is possible to become addicted even if it isn't chemically, plus "lip balm addiction is a real thing for many people". The article suggests that there are four components for lip balm to become addicting. 

    The first reason lip balm can become so addictive because it's psychological. The example they used is gambling. There is no chemical making you dependent, but you get into the habit of using it so often, you use it without even realizing. 

    The second component as to how you can become addicted is forming the habit. Just like the habit of biting your nails, this can just become a regular thing to constantly apply lip balm.

    The next explanation is that sometimes the lip balm you use can cause an allergic reaction. Some of the symptoms of an allergic reaction to a lip balm are dry and chapped lips. This only tells your mind that you need more of it, starting the habit of constant use.

    The final reason you can become addicted has to do with the flavorings. The flavorings may smell nice, but they can encourage you to lick your lips more often than normal. Licking your lips causes them to become more dry and more chapped quicker than normal. This also ends up causing you to use more of the lip balm causing the start of the cycle, or newly formed habit.

    The results of these four reasons cause an addiction to lip balm to form. You could be addicted to lip balm and not even realize it. I personally believe it is possible to become addicted, because I do become dependent on it myself during the winter. I use the lip balm a couple times to help and it becomes an ongoing habit during the season. Do you think you're addicted? Do you think it's even possible to become addicted and dependent on something like lip balm?