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Avatar universal

my lips

Last july I started noticing little bumps on the edges of my lips. They woud always feel chapped and get irritated. I went to the Dr and was sent to a dermatologist. I was told that they were just glands that got irritated and to try some allergy medicine. It has been over 6 months and it comes and goes. The bumbs ae always there but they bother me all the time. Sometimes even burn. I stay away from spacy foods now and am almost afraid to eat. I drink through a straw and only use vaseline sparingly on my lips now. All the Dr's tell me there is nothing wrong, it is common for people with "full" lips. I'm not very comfortable with that because I feel them all the time and it affects my day to day living.  I've noticed them to bother me more during menstration... what can I do besides lay back and take it....
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Avatar universal
I'm 15 and I have full lips and I thought that there was something wrong and went on google  and Bing and it said that I have a cold sore I was so scared and I know cold sore are simplex 1 herpes that scared me because I'm not sexualy active in any type thank you so much because now  I know its not that
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Avatar universal
I have the exact same symtoms as you guys described. It started when i kissed someone. i went to see my doctor. Blood test and culture test came up negative.  I am genital herpes positive and i know how herpes is. But this thing it has no explanation. I have my lip line swollen (upper one) most of the time i feel like i have a spider thred on my lip. (if this would be herpes it would go away when i take famcyclovir) it did't.  My doctor said it could be nerve damage. But she doesn't really have an anwers for that. I am bored of this situation. I haven't kiss no one since then, is this contageous?
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Avatar universal
I am a male 30 and I've had this issue for 15+ years with the peeling, itchy and mainly burning and peeling lips.  I used constantly peel them with water also and it was annoying and not comfortable.  Nobody else would really notice this as it wasn't that easy to see.

I have finally found the combination of things that really makes this much much better about 5 years ago. It only occassionally flares up for a day or two and still is much more manageable.

I am pretty sure this irritation is related to year-round and seasonal allergies both and that is your issue, but you cannot avoid it and medicines with antihistimine help but only a little.  Colds will also make it worse or any time you are dehydrated.

This is a combination of secrets and is really easy. If it works for you too, you will feel just fine most of the time.  Take a simple over the counter (even generic cheaper) antihistimine to help also (I take Walitin -Walgreens). First, morning and night and in between if you have the chance, you take a wash cloth and wet it and scrub gently over your lips and it will feel much better and remove any excess skin that you would want to peel before you did my method. NEVER peel them again as this excites the whole condition.  And DO NO Overlick them either.  Keep well hydrated and drink lots of water.  Keep lip balm on your lips but only the ones that don't make it work. This is key for me as I played with too many.  The only one that really works correctly is Mary Kay Satin Lips Balm.  I thought it weird to use a MaryKay product before but it is just lip balm.  Find someone who sells it and at the pace I use it it is very affordable like $30/year.  I use this 2-3 times a day (especially in morning and night).  I would only use this but that would get more costly...do it if you can.  In between, I use Vasoline petroleum jelly that is in the tube with a colored cap (Grocery store or Target) as it is so cheap and I can do all during the day.  Repeat this very easy process and you will have so much less trouble and this is easy and cheap.

I can feel tree pollen allergies acting up today with some nasal drip and my lips are burning a little (probably only like 1-3 days a month now that are very noticeable), but I'm not worried at all as I'm doing the normal and it will be gone soon.  

Try changing habbits and following this and you'll feel better.  Hope this helps anyone.
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1656931 tn?1302617825
I am also having problems with the same things.  It started out with chapped lips, then occasionally swelling, and now it looks like water blisters forming around the lining of my lips that itch and somewhat burn.  I asked my doctor 2 days ago about this in which he suggested a dermatologist.  I have used all kinds of chapsticks and NOTHING has worked up to this point.  It's only been going on for about a month now but is so frustrating!  I  am ready for this to be over already!  Any suggestions you have would be greatly appreciated.

Aggravated to no end!!!
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Avatar universal
I have had some of the same problems. I thought i had extremely chapped lips until they got so bad that the chapstick only made them worse. Eventually I got a secondary bacteria infection twice before I realized I could only put vasoline on my lips. Although my lips got better from using the vasoline, the rash didn't stop coming back. The dermatologist diagnosed me with some kind of allergy but tests for everything came back negative. Eventually I was able to narrow it down to toothpaste on my own. I got extremely quick positive results from switching to baking soda. Unfortunately, I think i might also be allegic to listerine as well. My current theory is that i'm allergic to the artificial flavoring in chapstick, toothpaste, and listerine. I'm also taking zyrtec twice a day, and when I stop taking it things seem to also get worse. After two days of avoiding all three of those things and taking the zyrtec regularly everything seems to be cleared up completely tonight. If it can stay that way for a couple days then I'll know I've found a solution. Wish me luck in the morning!
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Avatar universal
Hi there, I was experiencing most of these symptoms. I did not have any spots on the inside of my mouth but i did get blisters after eating spicy foods especially peppery ones. In addition to the blisters, it itched (quite a lot), got swollen and dried over (painful).

I went to a doctor today and he put me on Ad-muc: once in the morning and by night. In addition, he recommended taking Trihemic for 30 days. For allergy, I was put on 1/2 claritine for two weeks. That was basically his treatment - the ad much really helps and i usually use vaseline for the dryness but I'm trying to lessen to amount of that I put on my lips.

I'll try to keep you all posted on how things go.
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Avatar universal
Did you ever get any treatment?  Did your symptoms come and go?
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Avatar universal
I was having the same problems you all described. It started out a few years ago where every now and then I would get little tiny bumps on my lips and it would go away. The last year I had 2 very bad episodes where I got the tiny bumps, then they would go away and my lips would become very red and swollen, sometimes I would have red dots, and then every night and morning they would just peel and peel. It was painful and VERY embarrassing. I saw many doctors and they just kept saying it was a contact allergy to a lip product or food or toothpaste, etc. I tried to figure it out and logged everything but nothing ever made sense. I just had a bad episode last week and went to a new dermatologist. He did a biopsy of my lip and the results came back as GLANDULAR CHELITIS. This is a rare disorder (not as rare as docs think when I see how many people are having problems with the same symptoms) Anyway, I have used nothing on my lips except vaseline twice a day for 10 days now and so far I have been good. I am going back to see my doc in 2 weeks to try and come up with a treatment plan as there are no specific treatments. He even send my results to the mayo clinic. This is a very scary and frustrating thing. I am hoping to be able to learn how to keep it under control. My best advice to you all is to see a doc and have a biopsy (I know that sounds awful but it took a second, I had a stitch for a week, and now you cant even tell where it was done). YOU WANT TO RULE OUT CANCER and keep this under watch as constant irritation to the lips can lead to bigger problems. I feel like I am now at least on the road to getting some help...here is my email if any of you need someone to talk to. I know that no one I know understand what I am going through...***@****
****Another tip...TAKE PICTURES...my lips always seemed to be doing different things so I had been taking photos to show the doc!
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Avatar universal
Hey you all... I too still have some of the same problems like the peeling lips, swollen lips for about 2 yrs. After doing some strenuous research on the Internet, it seems to me that everyone is experiencing lip eczema. So here's what I found. "Eczema is a Greek word and means " to boil over". It is where skin is inflamed, red, and sore. The skin cracks easily. The use of most commercial lip salves made with Petroleum, liquid Paraffin etc will go a long way to making the lips drier.

Most of the foods we eat, the chemicals and even too much sunlight can have an impact on our body especially if we are not hydrated enough. Basically, what I'm saying is all these things weaken our immune system and that is what causes our lips to be like this.
The skin is the first place to show when we have a toxic overload and it can only do good to make sure the bowels are clean and working efficiently to help clear the Eczema up ASAP. If you still don't understand keep on reading!

Your body is equipped to handle some amount of detoxification on its own but problems occur when there is an overload of toxins due to increased acidity. Your organs like your liver, kidney and colon start to slow down. This is when toxins start to show up on your skin, manifesting into a condition called Eczema.

So, in order for your skin (outward appearance) to heal, you must give your body a chance to remove the excess waste and to repair itself. For an eczema condition, you would need to detoxify your body, correct vitamin and mineral deficiencies and restore healthy digestion.

Thank you for reading this, I hope that I can help myself and as many people suffering from this annoying condition.

The site below is a great site for lip eczema..Check it out
http://www.myorganicskincareproducts.co.uk/eczema-on-your-lips
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Avatar universal
WRN
I had pre-cancer on my lower lip and had the freezing and then the laser treatments, but it has returned. They have me on a cream one week on/off. I think that this cream has caused my upper lip to have these fordyce spots. I think that the dermatologist who recommended nothing on the lips is probably right. I think that my upper lip is having a reaction to the lower lip. I have an appointment in October with my derm to see exactly what is going on.They also have me on SPF all the time. I am thinking that between the two my poor lips (not dry) are too moist all the time!! :(. I would highly recommend a derm........just in case it is pre-cancer!! Check out pictures on the web to see what may be closer to what you have.
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Avatar universal
I have had this in the past, but seldom do anymore.  I have been told it is angular chelitis or perioral dermatitis or lipstick dermatitis or a new form of cold sores.  My dermatologist told me to never pluck or shave hairs around the corners of my mouth where the oil membranes are more tender.  I take lowest dose vitamin B2 for about three days and then a complete B vitamin for a week and it usually goes away.  I do have to eat right however.  A lot of people have this nowdays.
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Avatar universal
I just wrote in today about the same thing. I am a 48 year old female and have the same problem. It happens randomly. It feels like a severe case of chapped lips. There are little bumps around the lips and they itch, burn and hurt. I have redness all around my lips also. It looks hidous.  I had this happen to me almost two years ago and then it cleared up on its own. Now it is back again. It's nice to know I'm not the only one. Good luck.
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Avatar universal
Try using 1 tablet cetrizine twice daily, whenever you feel your lips getting these bumps.
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Avatar universal
I had this problem (itchy bumpy peeling lips and eyelids) for almost two years until I was finally diagnosed as allergic to PETROLEUM products.  I stopped using any lotions/makeups/toothpaste anything that touches the skin of my face which has petroleum, and switched to all organic facial products, and this has finally solved the problem.  Also, I don't wear any polyester clothing, because it also makes me itchy although not enough to cause a rash.  Maybe this will help you!
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Avatar universal
Im a 17 year old girl who is definetly not sexually active. I have very swolllen and chapped lips.It been like that for about 2 months. my lips peel so much! they are weird dry like around my mouth like right on the line. they are also bumpy but not liquid filled. they burn easily. They have recently (in the past week) at first i thought i was allergic to mint based chapstick like burts bees cause they burned really bad anytime i tried to use it. I am addicted to chapstick because my lips get so chapped. I went to the doctors for a physical and asked about my lips and she just told me to use vaseline. I also thought it was from being burnt because i swim ALOT and i recently went to Guam but it started before that. They have gotten worse because the bumps showed up and the discoloration. this morning my lips were scabbed in spots but no blisters or anything. also had a sore throut this morning and getting sick. my lips cause me daily annoyance cause i never stop thinking about them cause they bother me so much! Help!!!!
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636562 tn?1223667445
Oh and for those who talked about the white/yellow clusters of bumps on your lips (and inside your mouth/lips),...I think those might be called Fordyce's Spots (or Fordyce's Condition).  Google it and look at some of the pics, that might be what you're describing.
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636562 tn?1223667445
I had a similar thing for years.  Mine actually started on my hands, specifically my fingers.  It felt like I had fever blisters / cold sores all over my fingers. None of the doctors could figure out what it was, I was told "Poison Oak" and "Herpetic Whitlow".  I was at my wit's end when finally I went to a Health Food store and explained my symptoms, the person there agreed that it did sound like a "Herpes Virus" related problem and told me to take Lysine.  I took the Lysine for about 6 months and it cleared up completely!!

Years later it started on my lips, first it was little fluid-filled bumps (clear fluid) and then progressed to blisters.  It was only on the edge of my lips and flared up occasionally when I had my period or during the spring when my allergies were bad.  

I continue to disagree with my diagnosis of Herpetic Whitlow, because the symptoms and description of that condition are completely polar opposites of what I had.....but the relation to the Herpes virus seemed very similar.

And remember, I know "Herpes" sounds so horrible....but it's a virus that takes many, many forms....not just the sexually-transmitted kind.  Chicken-pox and Shingles are caused by a Herpes virus as well.

I eventually found a doctor who diagnosed me correctly years after the flare-ups stopped, I found a doctor I trusted and liked and described my symptoms.  He showed me photos and described different symptoms that fit PERFECTLY with mine.  It's called Pomphylox.  He was stumped about it showing up in my lips....but the symptoms were the same.  As far as I remember, Pomphylox isn't related to the Herpes virus, but the Lysine (which is used to treat Herpes and cold sores) also helped my problem.

Not to say that this is what some of you might have.....but just so you know you're not crazy!!!  Doctors always thought I was crazy for making a big deal out of what most of them thought was something random like poison oak or contact dermatitis (FYI, I can roll around in poison oak and not have it bother me, so I know that was a bunch of hooey).  They shrugged me off when I told them that my flare-ups occured during stress, illness, periods, etc.

Hope some of this helps.
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Avatar universal
Sounds like it may be a case of herpes virus infection with the exception that it's not spreadable...
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Avatar universal
By the way. I have met someone a few months back and  he never got anything so I can say in my condition it is not spreadable..
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Avatar universal
Well it is now jan 09 and glad to say, I no longer have these problems. But I am seeing a new dentist for the last 8 months or so. Coinsidence that I haven't written anything regarding my problems since then? I still have the little granule things on my lips but they are no longer sore or burn or anything. I think a lot of it was the cream I was using though. I call it the "Miracle Cream" I even use my old chapstick again. Well Not the old one. That's kind of gross, but same kind. Or burts bees works great.
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419126 tn?1242412170
so my friend went to the doctor again, and she is being referred to a dermatologist. she was told by her doctor to NOT put anything on her lips at all before seeing the specialist. before her doc told her that she was using all sorts of lypsol, vaseline, even peroxide! OUCH!! there was one thing he said to use a little of in the meantime.... i'll have to ask her about it and get back to you guys.
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Avatar universal
Hi I aqlso am suffering from the exact same issues. I have been tol dthey ar efordyces granules but have noticed them flare up and sometimes go away, Yet it aleays returns to the same place or "spot" it waS AT BEFORE. strange. I also have dry mouth and sore throat Been tested for everything. Def could be Fungal. Who Knows? lips definitely burn. Also thought maybe HPV but I'm not convinced.
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419126 tn?1242412170
hahaha... sorry to confuse you, i put that because i think i spelt antihistamine wrong.
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419126 tn?1242412170
i forgot to add that her lips burn.
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