inflammation of vermilion border

For a little over a year the vermilion border of most of my upper lip has been inflammed.  I have seen my dermatologist numerous times in regards to this and he has prescribed topical and oral antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medications but nothing has worked.  For the last six months or so I have tried to ignore the problem (as it is really only bothersome to me and not really noticeable to others) but it's always on my mind.  It feels as though I have a fat upper lip.  My lips are also noticeably drier than they were before.  It is not painful, just annoying. While my condition has not appeared to worsen over the past year, it also hasn;t improved.  I have tried to think about foods or hygeine products that may have caused an allergic reaction but I haven't pinpointed anything.  I recently read an article discussing "Mexican beer dermatitis" or phytophotodermatitis which apparently is a skin reaction to a chemical in lime juice if it has been exposed to the sun, and it triggered my memory.  The day before I first noticed symptoms I was at the beach and did drink some Coronas with limes.  Although the symptoms in the article seemd different than mine (discoloration of the skin).  I have decided that sitting back and letting this condition go away on it's own is not going to work so I want to see what other options I can find.  Any advice/recommendations would be appreciated.  Thanks.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
It can  be due to vitamin B deficiency or due to allergic contact dermatitis. Take some vitamin B complex for some days and see if your symptoms improve. Also if the symptoms persist then please get an evaluation done from a dermatologist and discuss the second possibility with him.

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 dermatologist. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.