I think I used to experience sensations of burning more when I first got this condition, since I was fiddling with my lips a lot more then. Nowadays I try to leave them alone for the most part; but I do use moisturizer on my lips sometimes to relieve the sense of dryness that occurs when the skin is hard. But I do try to keep my mind off my lips more now than I used to.
No, I've never tried to go six months or more without any topicals. I wasn't even aware that it might be a good idea, since this is the first time I've ever encountered information about this condition.
Have you tried going that long without topicals? If so, what was your result?