extremely chapped lips, been to dermatologist, would love a second opinion

[mgarcia85]

Hey,

New here, anyways I really am having a problem that is driving me insane, for a bout a year I have had really bad chapped lips that just won't heal. At first it started as just a small white flim on the left side of my bottom lip, and slowly got worse. I figured it would heal on it's own and I tried just about every chapstick I could get my hands on. Nothing worked and it only seemed to get worse. Now I'm starting to get fordyce spots on my lips and I'm sure this is the cause. I'm guessing because of how tight my lips are and how they won't heal and are constantly drt. I used to have perfect lips and am not sure what caused this, though I do have braces, but this started before I got braces (I think.)

Now the outsides of my lips are starting to burn, and they constantly burn! Feels like I ate some hotwings or something.

Now my lips are like really TIGHT and not moist at all, I drink tons of water and it hasn't helped at all, I went to the dermatologist finally and he really didn't take to much interest, he gave me a prescription for Fluocinolone Acet 0.025% and said this will help and to come back in a month.

I'm starting to think there is some kind of infection or fungus or something, why is it burning? I told him this and it really didn't concern him much.

Do you have any idea what is causing this?

My lips do look kind of normal, but I have to keep something on them to keep them moist and they just won't return back to normal on their own. And I'm starting to get a lot of these fordyce spots on my top lip, like in the middle where my lip has a crease and along the area where my lips meet. I never had these before until all these problems.

Do you have any suggestions? Is there anyway I can get my lips tested to see what's really going on or maybe you can recommend something.

Another question is if I have those fordyce spots CO2 lasered off by a professional will they return?

This is really driving me insane, no idea what to do.

Would love some help, thanks in advance.
MG

[Vanessa Lacuesta]

Hi

This sounds like a fungal infection. A similar condition called exfoliative keratitis may present similarly with dryness and excessive flaking of the lips. This skin condition is usually noted among immunosuppressed patients and I do not think this is your case. Fungal infection is the most likely cause for this. Apply vitamin E lip balm over the area to moisturize it. Also, avoid drinking hot beverages and eating spicy food. At this point, the antifungal medication was the treatment of choice. This may not need further intervention. Just continue to observe the condition as the topical medication has improved it.

[mgarcia85]

Thanks for your response!

So you're saying this Fluocinolone Acet 0.025% is an anti-fungal cream? If so that's great, but it still burns for some reason, guess it just takes time. I really don't eat any spicy foods but I will stay away from hot drinks.

From what I read online though it's just to stop inflammation and itching (but mine doesn't itch it burns)

Also, about the fordyce spots if I thave them removed will hey come back later?

[Vanessa Lacuesta]

Hi

Fluocinolone is a corticosteroid and yes, fungal infections also respond to this as this serves to alleviate the redness and the swelling. But this is not an antifungal. As for the fordyce spots ,these are not contagious and they are considered to be physiologic in nature. That is, they are not disease processes and thus do not require further intervention."Vaporising laser treatments such as CO2 laser or electro desiccation have been used with some success in diminishing the appearance of this condition if they are of cosmetic concern. However, most doctors consider this a normal physiological phenomenon and advise against treatment." The appearance may improve after therapy but they may not be eradicated completely.

Source:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fordyce's_spot