The dry-heal case
Minimal product, just gentle cleaning and letting the lip form and shed its own light crust. Advocates argue it reduces the chance of trapping bacteria, over-hydrating and 'floating' pigment out, or reacting to an ointment ingredient. Downside: lips feel tight and chapped and some clients find it uncomfortable, and cracking a dry scab can pull pigment.
The ointment case
A whisper-thin layer of a bland ointment keeps the wound supple, reduces itching and heavy scabbing, and is more comfortable. Downside: too much, too often, or an occlusive product can macerate the skin, encourage pigment loss and delay the shed.
The usual compromise
Clean and lightly blot for the first day; a very thin balm 2–3 times daily for roughly 5–7 days while it flakes; then stop and let it finish dry, with normal lip balm only once fully closed. Whatever the plan, the rules that really move the needle are the same: clean hands, no picking, no soaking, no sun.
