severe lip dermatitis

[nataly3090]

I have always had exma problems on my arms and legs and about a year ago i started getting chapped lips all the time, and carelessly i would just rub it and eventually cause exma to the surroundings of my bottomlips. about 5 months ago i went to a dermatitis and he said the reason for the chapped lips is due to using mint flavoured products and mint flavoured food and chewing gum. it has been 6 months since and i have just been using vaselene and it had made a large difference.
Until a few days ago when quickly the whether changed and went from hot to cold and i was eating mint flavoured chewing gum which must had irritated my lips. two days ago i developed severe cracking and itching on the corners of my lips, lumps, yellowish crust that has spread to all around my mouth..

for the past few days i have been applying vitamin E oil during the day and it doesnt seem to be making a difference. i went to the chemist and they suggested some weak cortazone but it doesnt seem to make any difference either. even over the past hour i have noticed a few more lumps spreading to my cheaks.

This is really hard for me because i am only in year 8 at an all girls school and people make fun of me and say i have got 'herpes' and i get very embarrassed. i dont think i can take any longer of this humiliation so PLEASE IF ANYONE HAS ANY IDEAS THEY WOULD REALLY HELP

[maatson]

Good to hear that Nataly!

[nataly3090]

thanks very much for the advice, i did go to the doctors and i got prescripted antibiotics and i took them 3 times per day for a week and quickly my skin healed. i was told that it was severe exma that got infected. but fortunately to the antibiotics and elocon cream 0.1% it has completely recovered. my lips feel better than ever and for the time being i am moisturising my lips with some vaseline.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
Your symptoms are suggestive of cheilitis Lips. Cheilitis(Inflammation of the skin on and around the lips)is often seen in atopic dermatitis.Diagnosed by bld test like RAST.Treatment is by topical steroids or oral therapy of corticosteroids in severe cases.Topical creams like tacrolimus ointment (Protopic) and pimecrolimus cream (Elidel) are also useful.

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

[maatson]

Forgot to add that you may need antibiotic if this persists. Do consult your doc. OK?

[maatson]

Your history is typical for Atopic eczematous chelitis.Stop using mint containing products including toothpastes, lipsticks containing the same.
Should settle with moisturizers.