Still have pustules on lips

[Renee35]

I asked you about the pustules on my lip a couple of weeks ago. The area started as a white patch with what looked like white flecks or spots in it. Since then the area has grown most of my upper lip is covered and my bottom lip has these as well. My upper lip is raised where ever these small pimples or blisters are. They don't burn or itch. I have been to a derm. twice first he said he thought it could be an atopic dermatitits and he put me on Pandel and Protopic for 2 weeks. The area grew and the "pustules" are bigger and more of them. Went back and he said he didn't know what I have He said mabey chelitis or fordyce's but it didn't fit. He put me on Cloderm and Differin said to come back in 4 weeks. In 4 weeks this could take over both of my lips. In the coner of my lip now on each side there are small cirular areas with 40-50 of these things in it. ON my upper lip it just looks like a long raised white-ish colored patch going all the way across my lip with the little bumps in it. some of these things have grown and look like blisters (?) only they never pop they just keep growing. In the largest patch I can feel a lump under where it  is swollen. The swollen area is the size of an eraser. It is almost like one of these things is really big and coming through the skin. If I look in a magnifying mirror you can see the little  bumps on top of little bumps. what could these white pustules be? Should I wait the 4 weeks or should I go to another derm? It is noticeable now, because a couple people have asked what is wrong with my lip. This just keeps spreading and growing. What are these blisters or pustules? My derm. said that there isn't much that he knows of that would cause this. But like I said most of my upper lip has whatever this is. It is very raised and they are all over. When I put my lipstick on to try and cover this you can see the raised white colored patch come through my lipstick. Please help, anything that this could be that mabey my derm is missing?

[endrewsmith]

A related discussion, whitish upper lip was started.

[jpetrocelli]

I also get them on my lips.  I am a professional trumpet player.  They have been on my lips ever since I can remember.  I once went to a dermatoligist and they told me it may be a silver allergy from the mouthpiece, but I switched to gold with no change.  Any information would be appreciated.

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

I'm sorry, but I'm drawing a blank as well.  The only thing I can think of is that this might be a yeast infection.  It couldn't hurt to pick up some over-the-counter 1% clotrimazole to apply twice a day, and to call your dermatologist to ask whether yeast makes any sense.  Another diagnostic test we rarely need to use on the lip but might be helpful is a biopsy of affected tissue.  I guess another opinion might conceivably be useful.

Take care.

Dr. Rockoff

[Renee35]

Dr. the  area I am taling about that has a lump is just sticking out that far on my lip. Like a cyst or something about the size of an eraser. only it has these white spots in it.