dry patch on lip

[sk00]

hi, i have a dry patch on the top of my lip. it started off about 2 months ago as a small discolored dot, then progressed into a darker patch bigger patch (<1cm wide). Now, it looks dry and and slightly flaky, and feels weird when i touch it with my tongue, but i can't really pick at the dry skin. it also feels sort of heavy, not numb or slightly tingling (not like pins and needles) but like i can feel something there. also when i stretch the skin i can see white spots behind it.
what is it, and what can i do to treat it, tried moisturizing with Vaseline constantly, but doesn't help. Could this be a sign of lip cancer?

any advice would help. thanks.

[user151]

Mine is GONE! Big THANK YOU to those that commented on a possible fungal involvement! In my case, my dry patch 1st appeared a few weeks ago on my top lip just right - this seems to be a common location for others here as well. It went away for a week then came back in the same spot which I found alarming thus 1st suspected possible viral?? I’m 40, male, and never had such a weird sensation before, but just like others have posted, it feels like a small rough tight dry spot, slightly desensitized or numb -like. My lip did turn noticeably more red in that area both times, but has since returned to normal color - yet dry patch persisted. The analogy of having a piece of tape or a smudge of superglue residue on the lip is a pretty accurate description - very very annoying. Anyway, a ton of good posts here. I tried salt, Epsom salt, toothpaste, creams, etc ... nothing was helping. So I finally tried some clotrimazole (anti-fungal) cream and within just a few hours I noticed the tightness start relaxing! I also added some Neosporin applications and more anti-fungal for the night time. Roughly 24 hours later the dry rough skin finally fell off and I have my silky smooth upper lip back! Now with the dry patch gone, I soaked some vinegar on that area and felt a burning which means the area is not yet 100% healed, so I’ll keep applying the ointments for now. Therefore, I am one who believes my spot was indeed fungal-related. Seems the fungus isn’t very aggressive, just hanging out, yet persistent enough to keep the skin rough tight and dry. I guess killing off the fungus finally frees the new skin to grow underneath and push the rough skin closer to the surface where it can peal away on it’s own, but don’t force it. If this comes back one day, I’ll now be more mindful of early signs and get anti-fungal on it right away - perhaps more natural methods like vinegar and/or tea tree oil.

[pradkr]

Mary...pls update if you find any solution anytime.

[suzit08003]

I had the same problem. The spot popped up a few days ago, and then I got the flu. I had had angular chillitis before, so I have been using clotrimazole cream (antifungal) a few times a day for the past few days, and the rough spot has peeled and it almost better! Hope this helps!

[bluez679]

Hello to who ever reads this site.. not much of a doctor but  my dry spot was on the lower lip left side but never had a cold sore in my life. Had the problem for ever even as a child. Parents went on a mexican vacation when i was 7 and I remember blood all over the hotle pillow the next morning so  drinking water and moisturizing all the time cause  something like that is embarrising. My dr said it was probable from a kissy family member that carried the herpies simplex. He ask if I ever had a tingly feeling in the lower lip and  of course I said yeah without asking  for more details for the virus.  So wheather it is or isnt from  the virus try the ointments for the coldsores. avoid wasting money on CHAPSTIXS> BEES WAX AND VITAMIN E for lips cause really they dont help anymore than petroleum jelly salve. IF I EVER FIND A CURE OR FIND OUT WHAT IT REALLY IS I WILL RETURN.....

[bluez679]

Hello to who ever reads this site.. not much of a doctor but  my dry spot was on the lower lip left side but never had a cold sore in my life. Had the problem for ever even as a child. Parents went on a mexican vacation when i was 7 and I remember blood all over the hotle pillow the next morning so  drinking water and moisturizing all the time cause  something like that is embarrising. My dr said it was probable from a kissy family member that carried the herpies simplex. He ask if I ever had a tingly feeling in the lower lip and  of course I said yeah without asking  for more details for the virus.  So wheather it is or isnt from  the virus try the ointments for the coldsores. avoid wasting money on CHAPSTIXS> BEES WAX AND VITAMIN E for lips cause really they dont help anymore than petroleum jelly salve. IF I EVER FIND A CURE OR FIND OUT WHAT IT REALLY IS I WILL RETURN.....

[vespillo]

what happened with ur patch and white dots ? ist fordyce spots ?
I hope you will seethis and reply bcsur post is in 2009. tc