What is the best thing to use for chapped lips while on oxygen?!
Question: I was told that you can't use petrolium jelly [ vasoline ] on your lips while on oxygen. If so what is safe to use for chapped lips while on oxygen?
Answers: I was told that you can't use petrolium jelly [ vasoline ] on your lips while on oxygen. If so what is safe to use for chapped lips while on oxygen?
Oxygen and petrolium products don't mix. Could cause a fire or explosion. At my hospital, we use Xenaderm. It provides a protective covering. No petrolium in it. It provides and protective coat and promotes healing. It's used for pressure ulcers but we also use it on lips. Of course if the patient has both chapped lips and a pressure sore, we clearly mark one tube "For Lips Only."
I've never heard that you should not use petroleum jelly on your lips while using oxygen.
I've taken care of many patient's that use Vasoline on their lips while using oxygen.
At our ICU, we put petroleum jelly on patient's lips while who are using many different types of oxygen delivery methods - including patients who are high oxygen flow masks and patients who are on ventilators. (This is a large, Level 1 Trauma Hospital not a little country hospital.)
Perhaps try Chapstick or lanolin?
Try neosporin or polysporin.
You are correct, petroleum products in the presence of oxygen are combustible, not just in the presence of an open flame, but just the 2 components alone. Petroleum + oxygen can cause your skin to burn which would make chapped lips worse.
RN