let me put it this way... when the skin is ready to fall off it will.. if you feel you can persuade it to come off by using your fingernails, then it's up to you. What you should notice is underneath the dead skin isn't raw. I've had bits fall off my top lip and all over my bottom and they haven't grown back. If you can't remove the skin by pulling then don't, this is healthy skin. If an area of the lip needs development, the skin will overgrow there. If it doesn't it won't. Your lips started out exactly the same as mine, thats why i posted about it on the 5th day when i realized it was working and not another failed attempt. How long have you been using it btw?