CHARLOTTE, N.C. —  A school district in North Carolina is telling parents their children need a doctor's signature before they can bring lip balm to school.

One mother of a student at the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools told Spectrum News she was advised this week not to make an issue of what her son looked like after his lip balm was confiscated.

"His entire mouth is red, just raw from him licking his lips all day," the mother said, who asked for her identity to be concealed.

She said a teacher later sent an email explaining her son's ChapStick had been confiscated.

"My child's lip moisturizer was considered a medication, and [they said] that I would need to complete a form," the mother said.

The mother explained she was told CMS requires a medical authorization form with a doctor's signature as well as a questionnaire indicating how often the student should take the medication. The school's nurse supervisor, later responded to the mother’s objections, explaining that ChapStick has ingredients to soothe and heal cracked lips, and is considered medication.

CMS never responded to Spectrum New’s repeated emails requesting an explanation. However, Holly Smith, a pediatrician with Signature Health in Charlotte tried offering one.

"These over-the-counter products get classified as over-the-counter medications in the school's mind," Smith said.

Dr. Smith says dry skin is moreso a side effect of the blustery, bitter cold weather, not a medical condition.

"And it doesn't really require a doctor to make the diagnosis," Smith said.

Despite that, she said it's very common for doctors to sign these type of forms when it comes to lotions and lip moisturizers.

"It takes time out of our day, of taking care of patients, to have to stop and fill out a form,” Smith said. “Some practices will charge for various forms to be completed.”

Spectrum News did not find any mention of this policy anywhere in the CMS Parent Student Handbook other school districts in North Carolina have similar policies.