Lips

[sparkymarie72]

I have had a problem with my lips all fall (about three months). They sometimes swell, almost always sting (especially after eating), peel until the skin is so raw beads of blood sometimes appear (at its worst). Often when I wake up, the corners of my mouth will bleed, and lastly I get a red line around my mouth my daughter says looks like a "kool-aid stain." It is noticeable enough that people have asked about it. I am not happy with my dermatologist's answer that it might be an allergy and I should take an antihistamine. I am 47 and otherwise in excellent health. Any ideas? (My dentist gave me a cortisone cream which seems to help, but he doesn't know what's causing it either.) Thank you.

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Inflammation of the lips is called cheilitis.  This is more common in women than men.  Although colored tootpaste and mouthwash are often blamed, I have rarely found them to be at fault.  Try not using mouthwash for a while, and use only white toothpaste.  Meantime, have your doctor prescribe a cortisone ointment.  That will almost surely clear you up.

As with any eczema, the condition may recur, requiring you to reapply the ointment from time to time.

Ask your dermatologist (perhaps a different one) whether allergy patch testing is necessary.  In my experience, it rarely is.  People just easily hold the condition in check with occasional use of the apporopriate cream, with or without moisturizing also.

Best.

Dr. Rockoff

[sparkymarie72]

Thank you. I do use Plax mouth wash every day and I also have eczema on my hand, so this seems more logical to me.