Q. I have found a very helpful use for Burt’s Bees peppermint lip balm. My nose got really sore the last time I had a cold. Applying the lip balm to my nose and upper lip gave me instant relief. My nose healed within a couple of days.
A. Burt’s Bees Lip Balm has a beeswax base with no petroleum products. So far as we know, this type of short-term use should not pose any hazards.
We usually discourage people from using products with a petroleum jelly base in or near the nose, because we are concerned that inhalation of petrolatum might lead to lung inflammation in susceptible individuals. There is more information on alleviating cold symptoms in our Guide to Colds, Coughs and the Flu.
