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Avatar universal

Burning lips, better but, still problems

My problem with my lips started last January. They began to feel extremely dry,chapped and the doctor told me to use aquaphor but they didn't stop feeling chapped,and eventually some little white skin globules (don't know how to describe) began forming mostly on my bottom lip. I would wipe them off and it would be okay but then they'd reform.  They also tried hydrocortisone.The dermatologist considered yeast, mucous, did a lip biopsy,skin patch test, he never found nothing on the biopsy but on the patch test found an allergy to p-tert-butylphenol.(my regular doctor did all kinds of tests too, and found nothing.) My lips got better on their own maybe after a few months, but he told me to stop using the medicated chapstick(it contained phenol.) He told me maybe the allergy to phenol in the chapstick started it all.  So I thought the problem was gone entirely, and I was using only regular chapstick (which took some getting used to because it burned slihtly when I used) Everything was fine until recently (September) it began again, really painfully chapped, felt as though my lips were sunburned, prickly heat, and like the top layer of my skin was gone. As far as I know, I hadn't reintroduced anything, &the climate changed little. I hadn't used the medicated chapstick only the regular.  So I read at this site and asked the doctor when I saw him if it could be cheilitis but he told me nothing showed on the biopsy but inflammation, and that it didn't look like cheilitis.  he told me it could just really chapped lips made worse by an allergic reaction to the regular chapstick. He changed me over to just vaseline and synalar for two weeks.  At first, right after using it the white soft skin (which got really soft and white when wet) went away, I was so excited. But it stayed so chapped I could hardly stand it. tonight is the 10th night,they feel better than they have in a month, barely feel chapped. But those soft white skins still come and go. They changed though, maybe from the synalar? and seem better, and almost yellowy and a little drier, but after getting wet they again become white and soft.  I just want to know, will this to continue? Should I see another dermatologist? Someone thought it could be an allergy to my toothpaste, and told me that steroids would not work for that. Can they check for those kinds of allergies?  In the last two days my lips went from burning all the time, to being able to close my lips and talk again! It seemed in the morning they were the best.  Where the lips meet seems to be the worst of the problem, and my top lip was bright red only where it met my bottom lip.  I  want to find out if this is an allergy or not, and if so rule out whatever it is so I never need to go through it again. It is an incredibly painful thing, you forget how much you use the mouth until something like this happens!  I didn't even want to kiss my baby during the last two weeks because it hurt so much! In case it matters, I am 31, from MA.Thank!
23 Responses
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Avatar universal
I found out the cause of my burning lips. I had little blisters also, and one area of swelling.  My letter is up above, when I wrote to the Dr. for help in June. I was allergic to the Methylparaben and all " parabens" in lipsticks and also lip liners.  This Preservative is also in all Cortisone creams, and Benadryl creams.  It is in ALL make-up, foundations,shampoo, moisturizers, creams, eye shadow, mascara, etc.  I am still recovering and can only wear Vaseline. Spicy foods burn like fire !  My lips sunburn really easily now, I am allergic to all sun blocks, so I wear a mask outside. I've ordered some special make-up from Cosmetics Without Synthetics, online, including some lipstick I want to try, but not until I heal from this. If I can wear lipstick outside, the sun won't burn so easily.  My Dr. ordered a special "clear Zinc Oxide" sun block , called Microfine Zinc Oxide, from a Compounding Pharmacist, it will be mixed with a preservative free base. It requires a prescription. All Commercial sun blocks have Methylparaben or Propylparaben them.
Helpful - 1
Avatar universal
I also have a problem with my lips. It started in June 2001 when after I eat some buffalo wings (cayenne pepper sauce) my lips started to burn immediately and they got red and on the next day I got that swelling lips and than some cracks on the following days. I went to the emergency because I couldn't open my mouth that was hurting a lot. They prescribe me hydrocortisone, but I think it didn't help very much. It took more than three weeks to heel. The funny is that I used to it the same food for 2 years and never happened before. So I quit eating any kind of pepper but couple months later it happened again, all I remember was getting some tomato sauce. I took than the same medication, with same slow results or maybe none. For 1 year I've been kind of paranoid about eating spicy food I've tried to avoid almost anything spicy. In October 2002 I've decided to have again the same Cayenne Pepper I used to have before. I tried 3 times, 2 weeks period between each time and nothing happened. But on the fourth time I got the same burning and red lips, but now very mild reaction, not strong like the first with a little peeling. It took again like 2 weeks to recover.  And now December 2002 after eating some mashed potatoes with ground meet and vegetables (not spicy), it stated again, the strong way.  Now I can't figure out if it is about the food. And I also changed the lipstick I was using on each time that happens and sometimes I wasn't using any lip balm. Maybe the lipstick I started to use again with combination with the food may cause this reaction! Anyway... every time I have this problem is immediately after eating something, and some different food.  Please if someone can give me any information that could help me, I'll appreciate. This is a nightmare that never ends. Thanks! ***@****
Helpful - 1
Avatar universal
A related discussion, Burning, irritatin glips was started.
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Avatar universal
A related discussion, prickly lips and other spots, burning sensation was started.
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A related discussion, burning lip symdrome was started.
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Avatar universal
A related discussion, Burning lips was started.
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Avatar universal
So I see most of the posts on this discussion are rather old but Ive recently been having the exact same problem and I **** know what to do. It's so irritating. One minute I will feel ok and then I eat or drink something and poof my lips are swollen, red, and burn. I've been spending so much money on chap sticks and nothing is working at first I thought maybe it's a new supplement I was taking, stopped taking that and nothing changed, then i thought I was dehydrated, nothing is helping I don't know what to do!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
A related discussion, lips dry and burning gum was started.
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A related discussion, burning lips was started.
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A related discussion, burning lips was started.
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Avatar universal
A related discussion, Any one know what I have going onBurning lips and red. was started.
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Avatar universal
Yes, Menthol and Phenol and even Peppermint oil can burn your lips. Carmex, Blistex, Cold sore treatments, and all those lip salves contain these. Very bad to use. My Dermatologist told me that. It sometimes takes weeks or months to recover.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I am a 34 year old woman, and for the past 6 months or so I have experienced periodic swelling and dryness of my lips.  For years I have religiously used Carmex on my lips every night, which I have just read is a big no-no.  During the last 2 weeks, my lips have been swelling more, and I have developed very small blisters on my upper and lower lips, mostly at the edges, but not the corners.  They ooze a clear fluid and are moderately uncomfortable.  I have been using Vaseline for a couple of days with no real success. I wonder if you have ever used any products which contained camphor or phenol as these seem to be irritants.  My lips were already rather full, and when they are swollen they are downright comical....I would appreciate any feedback anyone could offer.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I also have lip problems and I can't figure out any triggers for my problem.  

1st Symptoms are:  burning, stinging, red, & inflammed.
2nd Symptoms are:  very small blisters that open and ooze.
3rd Symptoms are:  healing, but very thin skin on the lips.
4th Symptoms are:  sometimes my lips feel normal again and at other times, the lip skin feels very tender and the lip skin feels unusually thin.  This is an ongoing problem (3 years).  

Have been using Abreva at the onset of the symptoms (always carry in my purse).  This seems to numb a bit and dry up the blisters.  It also makes my lips dry and the skin feels thin.

I have found that when I eat popcorn, the symptoms hit me (but not always).  I don't eat popcorn anymore, so I don't know what causes the lip pain and little blisters on the lip tissue.  

Any help out there?  I am getting tired of this problem.  Do I need some type of nutritional supplement?  Am I deficient in a vitamin?  I am a female in my late 30's and I am on the Atkins program, so I haven't had any bread.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
HELP ME GUYS!!  I am new to this whole "lip burning" thing.  Mine started last Sunday.  I didn't eat anything unusual or new.  First, I thought I hit myself in the mouth by accident because it looked like a busted lip...then the skin peeled off and then the red splotches because the skin was so thin and RAW and PAINFUL!!!  Ouch!!  It hurt to touch them, to smile, and forget lipstick or lipgloss!  OUCH x2!!  Only vaseline.  I tried hydrocortisone cream...that was a joke.  So, it's 7 days later and now there is "bubbling" or like little bumps under the surface of my lip skin...this is TORTURE!!  If anybody finds out anything that can help (I am going to the dr tomorrow...hmmm, we'll see....) please keep me posted!  THANKS! (and I would say "keep smiling"....but under the circumstances....uh....well, THUMBS UP!)
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
This comment is for everyone, especially the one who posted the question originally-"bannerson".  I have dealt with this problem since i was 10-years-old.  I'm now 20, and study at the Arizona State University. I know very well how frustrated every one of you might feel.  I would like to know what everyone has done, and how everyone is doing.  I have done and still am doing plenty of research regarding this problem.  Perhaps we can all learn something from each other.  For anyone who would like to contact me, my email address is: watzup_jeff***@****

Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
This comment is for everyone, especially the one who posted the question originally-"bannerson".  I have dealt with this problem since i was 10-years-old.  I'm now 20, and study at the Arizona State University. I know very well how frustrated every one of you might feel.  I would like to know what everyone has done, and how everyone is doing.  I have done and still am doing plenty of research regarding this problem.  Perhaps we can all learn something from each other.  For anyone who would like to contact me, my email address is: watzup_jeff***@****

Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I have peeling and puffy lips as well.  
I am sure that it must be a food allergy.  It happens when I drink beer or eat bread.  I think it might be a yeast thing but it happened again the other night.  The noodles in my spring rolls may have had wheat in them or it could've been the shrimp.  My suggestion is to search the web with the subject "oral allergy syndrom" because I have found a lot of helpful information that way.  I have had issues with other symptoms that I didn't even realize could have been linked with this lip peeling.
I now think I need to get allergy tested to find out exactly what the problem may be.
Good luck to you others suffering from the same problem!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I have the exact same problem, please someone help.  They are burning badly.  Please tell me what you found out.  I was at the site a few months ago and a few other site simpilar to this one. I changed my toothpaste. I stopped the chap stick. It is seemed to clear up but once again it has started up. All suggestion will be appreciated.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I also have a problem with my lips. It started in June 2001 when after I eat some buffalo wings (cayenne pepper sauce) my lips started to burn immediately and they got red and on the next day I got that swelling lips and than some cracks on the following days. I went to the emergency because I couldn't open my mouth that was hurting a lot. They prescribe me hydrocortisone, but I think it didn't help very much. It took more than three weeks to heel. The funny is that I used to it the same food for 2 years and never happened before. So I quit eating any kind of pepper but couple months later it happened again, all I remember was getting some tomato sauce. I took than the same medication, with same slow results or maybe none. For 1 year I've been kind of paranoid about eating spicy food I've tried to avoid almost anything spicy. In October 2002 I've decided to have again the same Cayenne Pepper I used to have before. I tried 3 times, 2 weeks period between each time and nothing happened. But on the fourth time I got the same burning and red lips, but now very mild reaction, not strong like the first with a little peeling. It took again like 2 weeks to recover.  And now December 2002 after eating some mashed potatoes with ground meet and vegetables (not spicy), it stated again, the strong way.  Now I can't figure out if it is about the food. And I also changed the lipstick I was using on each time that happens and sometimes I wasn't using any lip balm. Maybe the lipstick I started to use again with combination with the food may cause this reaction! Anyway... every time I have this problem is immediately after eating something, and some different food.  Please if someone can give me any information that could help me, I'll appreciate. This is a nightmare that never ends. Thanks! ***@****
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I also have a problem with my lips. It started in June 2001 when after I eat some buffalo wings (cayenne pepper sauce) my lips started to burn immediately and they got red and on the next day I got that swelling lips and than some cracks on the following days. I went to the emergency because I couldn't open my mouth that was hurting a lot. They prescribe me hydrocortisone, but I think it didn't help very much. It took more than three weeks to heel. The funny is that I used to it the same food for 2 years and never happened before. So I quit eating any kind of pepper but couple months later it happened again, all I remember was getting some tomato sauce. I took than the same medication, with same slow results or maybe none. For 1 year I've been kind of paranoid about eating spicy food I've tried to avoid almost anything spicy. In October 2002 I've decided to have again the same Cayenne Pepper I used to have before. I tried 3 times, 2 weeks period between each time and nothing happened. But on the fourth time I got the same burning and red lips, but now very mild reaction, not strong like the first with a little peeling. It took again like 2 weeks to recover.  And now December 2002 after eating some mashed potatoes with ground meet and vegetables (not spicy), it stated again, the strong way.  Now I can't figure out if it is about the food. And I also changed the lipstick I was using on each time that happens and sometimes I wasn't using any lip balm. Maybe the lipstick I started to use again with combination with the food may cause this reaction! Anyway... every time I have this problem is immediately after eating something, and some different food.  Please if someone can give me any information that could help me, I'll appreciate. This is a nightmare that never ends. Thanks! ***@****
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
You have my sympathy! I just posted a similar problem, although I don't get white spots. I guessed an allergy, but haven't used or eaten anything new. Let me know if you learn anything!
Helpful - 0
242489 tn?1210497213
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I don't know that I can add anything, after all the tests and evaluations you've had.  "Cheilitis" means inflammation of the lip, so I'm not sure what your doctor means by implying that the biopsy results were not compatible with that diagnosis.

The treamtnet I usually ise for symptoms like yours are nonfluorinated (mild) steroid ointments, such as deosnide 0.05%.  You might ask your doctor about that, or about the nonsteroid creams Protopic and Elidel.  Together with moisturizing, these may hold the condition in check, which may be all you expect to acomplish.

Best.

Dr. Rockoff
Helpful - 0

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