Ask the Addict: How Long Does it Take to go Cold Turkey?
We received this note from Joe G.
I recently decided that I was going to quit my 4-year Chapstick addiction once and for all, cold turkey. I hadn’t done much research on lip balm addiction, the only thing I knew was that it was a real thing, but I hadn’t seen your website until today. I’m currently in the 48th hour of no Chapstick, and the blood has started to flow out of my lips, but I’m still going strong.
My question is… how long should a cold turkey recovery take? Because while this website is certainly helping, I don’t know how much more I can take of this. If it’s a couple more days, fine. But if it’s any longer than that I might have to consider switching over to weening.
Great site by the way, informative, interesting, and humorous all at once!
Thanks Joe. We’re not sure what you’re talking about with the humor, but we’re always happy to hear from someone who is trying to kick the habit and get their life finally under control.
Cold turkey is a strange thing. There’s no set formula for how long the “withdrawal” of not having Chap Stick will last. But 48 hrs seems like well under what you should expect. I think 4-5 days or maybe up to a week would be most typical. But, seeing how your lips are bleeding, I would say that visiting a doctor might be wise.
It´s been 2 days since I stopped using my chapstick. I haven´t had cold turkey (I´ve been using chapstick just for 2 months 24/7), so I can´t say I´m really addicted. Actually, I never enjoyed using chapstick or its flavour, I just used it TO AVOID chapped lips…
The fact is that, ironically, my lips look really awful right now, worse than ever: chapped, cracked, blood, irritated all around my lips, have a “ouch!-feeling” every time I smile or open my mouth to eat… guess the skin on my lips got used to have some oily protection all day long, so they lost their natural hability to “remove old cells”.
My question is: will they ever get to normal again?? Will my skin recover its “natural protection”?? Will I have chapped lips for the rest of my life? Thanx!!
Yes, Tiffany, you lips should return to normal. As always, if there are issues be sure to see your doctor.
I am trying to give up my lip gloss addiction. I have used it for years, but not exactly how long. Maybe 15 years. I apply it several times an hour. I am trying to wean myself off. I am using it once every hour. Hopefully in a couple of days I will be down to once every 2 or 3 hours. Can I be sure that my lips will return to normal. Could I have done permanent damage? Any Idea of how long it could take. After 30 minutes they feel super dry and cracked.
I have been addicted to Chapstick the past 4 years. I’ve stopped using it for 29 hours so far. My lips are dry, burning, peeling, etc. Is this the normal reaction, and how long does this last (if anyone has been through this?)? I want to stop spending a small fortune on Chapstick and not be obsessed with always having it with me. I want to be free from this and move on.
I am currently trying the cold turkey method and after going strong for 15 hours, I couldn’t resist applying some good old Burt’s Bees acaeberry lip balm. I tried again after this and have now been going strong for a full nineteen hours. It is hard but I eat a tictac every time I want to apply lip balm. My lips are flaking and are going wrinkly and it feels like the blood inside my lips is fizzy. Any advice or tips? Think I’m going mental thanks xoxo
Hey .. i was using the coldturkey method and be strong for 1 day and still counting … my lip now is very dry and skin is peeling … i apply lipBalm( 100% pure beewax) in the morning and use toothbrush to scrub off the dead skin and it feel more comfortable .. I wanted to ask if it will really 100% returned to the normal state not dry peeling or cracked ? As when i am small i tend to lick my lip alot i scare then due to my Licking of lip my lip will not return to the normal state .. I am sick and tired of applying lipbalm every few min ….
I have been a full-on addict since the winter of 1992/1993, so for over 19 years of my almost 37 years on this earth. I quit cold turkey on Saturday, March 24th. It’s April 4th now (11 days, but who’s counting?), and I am still in agony. I keep waiting for my stupid lips to start taking care of themselves, and it hasn’t happened yet. All I can think about is how wonderful it would be to slather my lips with some chapstick.