marks on lips

[joanna2968]

please can you help on my top lip it looks like someone has drawn a red /brown line starting from the outer edge of my lip on both sides it looks really ugly and i'm really embarassed can you suggest anything

[BhumikaMD]

Hi,

This could be a part of Cheilitis, which is a medical condition involving inflammation of the lip. Or a bad case of Chapped lips , a condition whereby the lips become dry and possibly cracked. It may be caused by the evaporation of moisture.

Lip balm can often provide temporary relief, though it should not be used extensively.  One should avoid licking their lips as saliva contains the enzyme amylase, which can damage the already compromised lip tissue.
Honey can be used on the lips as a natural remedy.


Cheilitis is associated with many conditions from Vitamin B12 deficiency, iron deficiency anemia, be a symptom of allergies.can also be caused by taking the (retinoid) drug Isotretinoin (brand name Roaccutane).

Applying protective paraffin-based ointment (such as Vaseline) or lip balms to the lips is normally very effective. Also take Vitamin B supplements.

If nothing works you can have a biopsy done to find out the cause.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chapped_lips

Some causes of the symptoms you mention, could be lip biting, lip licking, Vit.B2 deficiency, smoking, overexposure to sun and ill fitting dentures. In extreme cases, this could be due to bacterial or fungal skin infection.

You need to drink plenty of water daily – around 1.5 – 3 litres per day and eat a balanced diet. Do not keep your lips dry; apply lip balm which contains sunscreen – preferably a medicated one.

If the symptoms still persist, consult your skin specialist or dermatologist.

Let us know about how you are doing and if you have any other doubts.

Regards.

[saramorris]

Did you ever figure out what it was?  I am having similar symptoms and have been for the last three months.

[strawberrisha]

Hi, I am a young lady that has had a nervous problem since adolescent with biting my lips... I am now an adult and I an occassional smoker and a social drinker.. I know all of these problems have helped to cause my lip discoloration... so my question is not what have i done to make them look like this, my question would be what can i do to fix this problem. Are there any medical treatments that would give me beautiful lips?????