Permanent Dry, Red & Swollen Lips

[GhermanVasile]

I am a 17 years old boy and I have a problem that persists for 3 years.My lips are severly dry, a very resistant crust forms, looks like I have stood in the windy and I had not drank 1 month.They are also swollen a bit.The treatmens i followed since are :

- Chapsticks
- Profesional Chapsticks (Carmex, Bioderma, Uriage, Vichy)
- Ceralip
- Locoid, Elocom (Corticosteroids)
- 2 months Diprophos (intramuscular corticosteroid)
- Cream Vit.A + E, prepared with antibiotic cream, prepared with anti-inflammatory cream

The treatments had no radical effect on long period.

I know that's not good to wet your lips.I drink 2 liters of water a day, not drinking juice and dont eat junk.
I mention that i breathe through my mouth.

Diagnoses that experts put throughout the 3 years are :

Miescher granulomatous, Cheilitis, Macrocheilitis.

Do you think there is a solution for this problem, or i'm stuck with it all my life?

[GhermanVasile]

Bhupinder Kaur, thanks for the reply.

I actually took some B Complex, but for short time and i can't determine if that was helping.But i will take soon.

I read a lot and definetly it isn't atopic dermatitis.My guess is next : For some cause my lips are dehydratating and this lead to dry lips, painfull lips, red lips and so on because of mouth breathe & sometimes lip licking.

I've done intra muscular corticosteroid for 3 months and felt worst, also local corticosteroids & Prednisone(tablets).Noting helped.

The very best moment when my lips are feeling pretty good is when i use a very expensive lip stick from Bioderma, but even then i'm not even close to normal and the moment pass..

The advice with "consult a doctor" is useless, i been to 4 doctors(the best doctors in my country),each with a different aproache to the subject, all worthless.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
I cannot confirm anything without examination but it can be due to vitamin B deficiency or cheilitis. Take some vitamin B complex for some days and see if your symptoms improve.
Secondly, it can be due to atopic dermatitis or eczema("Atopic" refers to a group of diseases where there is often an inherited tendency to develop other allergic conditions, such as asthma and hay fever). Cheilitis(Inflammation of the skin on and around the lips)is often seen in atopic dermatitis. Diagnosed by blood test like RAST. Treatment is by topical steroids or oral therapy of corticosteroids in severe cases.

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.

[GhermanVasile]

Thank you very much, it's a great site.

My lips aren't that big, i wouldn't do a lip reduction surgery nor a biopsy.

I will try Vaseline and search for a natural cream, thank you.

[Lynminx]

I would try Vaseline at night...I know it sounds gross, but it would be worth a try.

Some websites say lip reduction surgery is something they refer to once they know other treatments don't work.

Check out this website, it may help: http://exfoliativecheilitis.com/