Researchers from France and the U.S. suggest lip balm could help fight COVID-19 by slashing droplet emissions—the virus's main transmission route. It doesn't replace masks or handwashing, though.
A study published October 2, 2020, by the American Physical Society backs this up. Manouk Abkarian of the University of Montpellier and Howard Stone of Princeton University tested it: a man repeated sentences in a sealed room while they tracked droplets.
Sounds like "p," "b," or "k" launched droplets up to two meters. Lip balm stopped saliva strands on the lips from breaking into those droplets.
Abkarian notes lip balm divides droplet output from key consonants by four. Effectiveness fades over time, however. With winter boosting the virus—and lip balm use—this simple step shows promise alongside core defenses.
Experts stress masks and handwashing as top priorities. They theorize super-spreaders have saliva with ideal viscoelasticity that maximizes droplets when talking.
Amid nearly 38 million cases and over 1 million deaths, every ally counts until vaccines arrive. Studies also endorse protective eyewear and visors, since the virus can enter through the eyes.
