1 how do you sneeze? as were trying to keep them completely dry i find when i sneeze the lips stretch and tear a tiny bit. do you find the same thing its very painful!
2 when somebody makes you laugh and you smile a tiny bit does you lips move alot and maybe tear a little bit were it is loose?
3 you should try for a cycle not to clipper them what so ever would be interesting to see.
i leave mine completely alone let the skin grow wild! its very ugly and hard but i feel the longer the scabs stay on the better what do you think? i agree with your theory the top layer is trying to act as a barrier while the skin underneath try's to repair its self back to normal anyways im off have a good one!