Lip infection/fungas/virus????HELPPPPP

[paigemichele18]

5 or 6 months ago I randomly started getting small tears in the corners of my mouth, it was very painful, I couldn't eat anything and it took forever for them to heal. Once they would heal the tears would come right back, that went on for a a few months. I even woke up one morning to my top lip completely swollen like a bug had bit it or something. My lips have been sensitive to everything I eat and a lot of foods would burn my lips. I started using a&d ointment to help the tears in the corners and that would heal them in just a couple days and they stopped coming back BUT the skin on my lips started breaking and peeling off in big chunks. I would get cracks that would bleed almost everywhere on my mouth then it would heal and all the skin on my lips would peel off. It got to the point where I wouldn't have any creases in my lips it was just flat raw skin, then that would heal for a day and happen all over again and I ALWAYS ALWAYS have flem in my throat. Now about a month or 2 ago my mouth started getting what looked like 3rd degree burns all over my lips and it hurts, burns and tingles. Lately these burns and white pus filled bumps have been coming back exactly once every week on a monday night or tuesday morning. I've been seeing a doctor and he tested my blood and swabbed the pus coming out of the bumps on my lips. I do not have herpes and he's prescribed me anti viral medication called valacyclovir that didn't help at all and mupirocin ointment to put on my lips twice daily. neither have helped except the ointment keeps my lips moisturized better than chap stick was so my lips don't peel as much in between outbreaks. I showed my doctor a picture of one of the worst outbreaks I had so far and he said he's never seen an outbreak like that so at this point he wants to keep trying all these different creams till we find the right one but I can't do that anymore, I NEED piece of mind, I NEED to know exactly what is wrong. What if it's something serious and he isn't testing for the right thing.

[paigemichele18]

thank you so much for your help. I recently received an antibiotic from my doctor and I've been taking that every day for a few weeks and the outbreaks have stopped completely but the skin on my lips still peal off occasionally (thin pieces of skin) I stopped taking the antibiotic for 3 days and it looked like the bumps started to come back so I immediately applied the ointment my doctor gave me and started to take the antibiotic again, I'm nervous about what will happen when I run out of the antibiotic, I only have 4 more pills left and I don't want to stop taking it and go right back to having outbreaks every week again. I have been taking a multivitamin as well and I plan to get a humidifier and possibly try the home made ointment you suggested. Thanks again! I'll let you know how it goes in the next few weeks

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
Firstly, It can be due to vit B deficiency. Take some vitamin B complex for some days and see if your symptoms improve.
Secondly it can be due to cheilitis. Thirdly, it can be a contact dermatitis. Take some over the counter antihistaminic like benadryl or Claritin and see if it helps.

Avoid licking the lips as saliva evaporates quickly resulting in them being drier than before. Drink plenty of water and take multivitamin supplements and do not apply lipstick or other cosmetic products for some days. Use a humidifier to moisturize the air in your home and apply shea butter or Vaseline on your lips.You can also use a homemade ointment mixed from 1 tsp glycerine, 1 tsp lemon juice and 1 tsp castor oil. Spread on lips overnight, refrigerating the leftovers for future use. Eat foods high in calcium, magnesium and flaxseed oil. If a week of compresses and emollients don't do the trick, you can add over-the-counter 1 percent hydrocortisone ointment to your regimen.
It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your doctor. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.