Re: avoiding water

The reason I thought toothpaste was the problem is because the toothpaste I use affects the severity of the peeling. If I use harsher toothpaste the healing areas will become extremely painful, dry and bleed. It irriates the wound essentially.

With organic toothpastes this does not happen at much, but it still happens to a lesser or greater degree. I believed for a long time that a contact allergy was causing this. Of course it's absurd to think this now especially since if this was a contact allergy the inside of the mouth would be affected, not just the lips.

I believe what is happening is that the more abrasive toothpastes are doing a better job at stripping off the already compromised skin. My opinion right now is that which toothpaste you use DOESN'T MATTER, because toothpaste is not responsible for the peeling. The peeling is a wound trying to heal. Why so long ? Well because of where it is, we are talking about an area of the body which is constantly wetting and drying, being exposed to bacteria and food and all the elements + being constantly on show and being picked at. If you had a cut on your hand you would apply a plaster, you would cover the area to stop it from being knocked or bumped to allow a scab to form and for it to heal. This is what the lips are trying to do, we are not giving them a chance to heal.