hey i have the same problem. it started about 3.5 months ago and it usually shows up after wet. its not that noticable before, before you can see its like a film. i dont have herpes or anything that im aware of. it sort of starts at the sides and works its way across the lower lip a couple of times a day, if i dont take it off it gets thicker. do you experience the same symptoms? sort of different? let me know if you know anything. thanks, any information is good information. dennis.
Consider what foods you eat later at night. I experience it occasionally as well and noticed a correlation between eating foods high in sodium later in the evening (closer to my bedtime, typically within one hour).
My conclusion: the white film is a combination of expelled sodium remnants and congealed moisture (probably saliva) bonded by the excess sodium.
When I eat low/no sodium foods OR don’t eat at all well before bedtime, the white crud on my lips upon awakening NEVER occurs, so check your diet.
I have this issue as well, but only when I have a small fan directly in my face all night (I need white noise with vibration on my face for good sleep). When I DON'T I have less issues. I have found that in both situations, my sinuses are involved. Also snoring (sleep apnea for me). Without the fan, I get minimal crusty gunk on my lips come morning. I also have minimal thick brown sinus drainage at the back of my throat. I'm 51 and still have my tonsils & adenoids. I'm beginning to think that the entire crusty lips / hacking up brown sinus lougies are a result of my tonsils & adenoids, which also contribute to my horrendous snoring. On a normal wakeful day, my tonsils nearly touch. I have a cpap, but I can't sleep with it. I've tried everything. And finally, make an appt. with a gastro-intenstinal specialist. You could possible have silent GERD. Stomach acids could be working its way up, literally to your lips, finally forming a crust because the air dries it out.