Lower lip and under lowerlip redness and soreness

[coltrane18903]

I'm sure many of you have the same problem. I was wondering if there's any kind of ointment or gel that can be applied to make it heal fast. Thanks for any advice.

[Minatar12]

I've never had the problem on saxophone, but I did playing clarinet in a pit orchestra, because we played for hours and hours. What I did was take a small piece of saran wrap (is that how you spell it) fold it so it was a little bit thicker then normal, and place it over my bottom front teeth. It sort of acts as a cushion for your lower lip, and I noticed that I could play much longer with it before starting to experience any pain from pinching.

[MS]

Long term answer is to learn to use your air in a way that gives the air stream more control and finesse with your lip cushion/grip.

Short term answer is to get your dentist to make you a very thing plastic guard to cover your four front teeth. Others have mentioned things you can buy in sports stores. folded paper and many other things will work temporarly.

[coltrane18903]

Thanks for you responses but, what i meant was soreness and redness on the front and below my lips. Where the reed touches my lips and under my lips. I asked my pharmacist today and she thinks it might be a skin infection caused by the reed. My skin peels off under my lips after a couple of days. I bought some neosporin to see if it helps. Any other tips would be appreciated.

[spike]

Hi Coltrane, what you have is an irritation where the lower lip comes into contact with the reed, I've been suffering from this for over a year now and have only recently found some medications that seem to work, the stronger cream to be used only at night contains Hydrocortisonacetat in a paraffin/vaseline basis, during the day i keep the skin supple with a mild stick type lip moisturizer (also paraffin/vaseline based), and apply it at hourly intervals or whenever the lip appears to be getting dry. The night cream is called FICORTRIL and is primarily for eye infections, the day cream is called EUCERIN, however, they are both European products so you may not find them in your neck of the woods. Also if you play cane reeds you may want to try smoothing the part of the reed that is irritating the lip with a very very fine sandpaper. Important is to keep the lip moisturized at all times so it doesn't have chance to dry up and crack. Hope to have helped you, I know the pain. regards - spike

[Stencilman]

I had lower lip skin irritation when playing new LaVoz reeds and Fibracells. The sores would not heal from one practice session to the next. Once I broke in a LaVoz reed, the irritation would go away. With Fibracells, my lips stayed irritated and would not heal between practice sessions.

I had no trouble after I started giving each reed a little "polishing" on top with some 2000 grit sandpaper using strokes from the vamp to the tip. I have to smooth the Fibracells once a week or so but the natural reeds don't seem to need subsequent treatments. You might want to try this in addition to the suggestions above.

[Bartleby]

I, too, had trouble with soreness under my bottom lip, particularly after practising clarinet for hours on end. My solution was to grow a beard. No more problems.

[Bloo Dog]

I think Stencilman has the solution to preventing or aggravating an existing condition.

There's a problem with extended use of paraffin-based lip balms. They have a tendency to aggravate condition because the paraffin lodges in the cracked lip and prevents quick healing of the lip. It soothes but does not heal the lip. The hydrocortisone in prescription balms will provide relief but not a cure unless you allow your lips to completely epithelialate before you resume playing. The polished reeds will minimize irritation once your lips heal.

I began playing music in fourth grade on a clarinet. I played with what I have seen described as a "double embouchure." That is, I played with both the upper lip and the bottom lip covering my teeth. I added the alto sax in sixth grade, and maintained the same embouchure. In tenth grade, I added the oboe and the baritone sax to the arsenal. My lips always hurt.

I quit using the double embouchure on sax, but retained it on the oboe. That lent some relief. I loosened my embouchure on saxophone. That helped a lot too, but when I began playing professionally and practicing like a madman, my lips remained in a constant state of low-level (but acceptable) irritation. Polishing the reeds as Stencilman suggested helped a lot.

One more possibility which you may want to explore (if you aren't doing it already) is to try out some of the Rovner-type ligatures. Though I don't care for them, they seem to perform best with a looser embouchure.

[top_gun25]

to laymans terms on spikes post: if you live in the us, use whats called
HYDROCORTOZONE cream. buy at local pharmacy/drugstore

you are biting to hard and causing the reed to rub the lip and irritate it.(i am guessing as i can not see the actual sore)
i would use STERISOL or some other sterilezer to keep the reeds from infecting your lips when you play. Mouthwash(Listerine works best) would work well.

Try this. it may help. if not.... well back to the drawing board then..

But i do think that it is the reed rubbing and to much pressure. its a combination effect. one causes the irritation the other the inside soreness.