Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

Badly chapped lips, seems to be weeping pus... what is it?

I get chapped lips quite a lot, and they've been a little worse for the last couple of weeks - I assume it's because I sit in front of a fan (and in AC) most of the day and it's probably wind chap.

However, I woke up in the middle of the night about two nights ago gnawing on my lip, I guess it was itchy. When I got up the next morning part of my lips were covered in a yellow-ish crust, like they had been weeping pus. It still hasn't gone away, and I can feel my lips weeping a little.

I've thought about what I might've done differently the last couple of days and have come up with two things. One is that I used a facial soap in the shower, which I don't usually do. I've used that same brand of facial soap before, but only once or twice, and not for a few months. The other is that I performed oral sex on my boyfriend while he was wearing a condom, and I usually do it when he isn't wearing one. That makes me think that perhaps it's a local latex allergy? I've never had reactions to latex before though, on my lips or otherwise. I don't believe it's an STD since we have both been tested in the last 6 months and were clear for everything.

I've been applying Vaseline liberally all day and I always have a Chap Stick on me. I'm wondering if it's worth buying some antihistamines in case it is an allergy (I'm also allergic to a lot of fruit and raw vegetables, as well as fish and shellfish - but not nuts), and/or an antibiotic in case an infection got in the chap and that's what's causing the weeping.

Any suggestions would be great.
10 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
Avatar universal
*BEST - I hope that EVERY person who has these types of lip problems, will read this information.  It will take care of your problem in short order.  Most health professionals, especially Conventional doctors, and holistic doctors, Will not get this one, and it is the reason, most of the time that this "lip problem" keeps coming back, regardless what you do.  First, let's identify the usual symptoms, all of which are present within 48 hours:  - 1. Lips swell largely, to 2-3 times normal. 2. Lips tingle/burn. 3. Overly Dry Lips, with scaling skin on, below or above the lips. 4. Weeping - yellow and/or clear liquid coming from the lips upper or lower (either or both).  5. Sometimes inside mouth raw feeling on gums around teeth. 6. Sometimes throat or sinus irritation, like getting a cold.

What is usually diagnosed as some type of Cheilitis, Impetigo, Eczema, Rash, or even allergic reactions to other things, like food, cosmetics etc., is NOT.  Not in all cases, but in over 90% of these cases, it is none of these happening - and the reason for re-uccurances days, weeks, months or years later.  What is at the Root of your problem, is a STREP INFECTION (bacterial), that ORIGINATES most of the time, in the stomach.  Sometimes, it's in other areas, like the lungs, throat etc.  Yes, the stomach, and can be there for years, without detection.  It surfaces by moving up through the upper extremities, to soft tissues like the lips, mouth, throat, nose, sinuses.  Strep is highly contagious, and in fact, most people have it floating around in them, and don't know it - until something triggers it, usually a little emotional stress, which you also may not even be aware of.

CURE:  We've found that our VERY BEST cure, is NOT antibiotics of ANY KIND - or lip creams, hydrocortisone, fungal creams etc.  This actually increases the yeast factor immediately, and does not get rid of the Strep, and actually prolongs the bacteria until later.  With drug antibiotics, symptoms may appear to recede for awhile, but will reappear later again - and then you also have the yeast problem to deal with, which can actually aggravate the problem and other problems even more.
COLLOIDAL SILVER, is the only thing we'd recommend, to get rid of the problem, for Long Term.  
Buy a bottle of Colloidal Silver at your health food store, any brand will do.  TAKE 10 DROPS PER HOUR, until the bottle is gone.  You'll see the symptoms begin subsiding within a few hours.  Colloidal silver stays in the bloodstream and kills all the Strep bacteria within your entire body, for this is NOT limited to your lips or skin irritations.  It's coming from within your body.  You can keep your lips moist with some type of lip balm, whatever works best for you, without burning as much, until the lips begin returning to normal, because the Colloidal Silver is killing the bacteria right away. Until you kill the bacteria inside, the symptoms on the outside will not subside, or appear to subside, until later.  Google Colloidal Silver and educate yourself.  Even if you are suffering from any other type of bacterial infection, this will help your entire body.  The yellow or clear discharge from your lips, or peeling, is evidence of bacterial infection, and the culprit is in over 90% of the cases, is a form of Strep.  Problem solved, usually within 48 hours.  Colloidal Silver also helps anyone who has problems due to a Virus of some kind, like simple Herpes Simplex, etc.  Drink at least 1 gallon of water every day religiously......even after you're healed.  Additionally, we'd also recommend a good B-Complex vitamin daily for awhile, even some Zinc, especially for men, so that your immune system can process the stress more easily, without the immune system manifesting an external problem (most people are way deficient on B's - the stress busters).  Good health to you.
Helpful - 2
6 Comments
Omgosh thank you so much for this! I aways knew colloidal silver was good but if it was gonna solve my problems like this i would of started taking it with my mum, even though im the one that brought back a big bottle for my mum from america. I literally just left mums house with the bottle praying it workis because i have these current symptoms and was diagnosed with impetigo last year and was given antibiotics, but what im getting now it looks similar to it but not as aggressive as the impetigo. reading what u said i realised that the antibiotics didnt get rid of it but similar symptoms are happening again which means it was still lurking around in my body. I also already suffer from allergies and have a low immune system so i always get these crappy things hopening to my body.
Thank you so much! I went to the drs and they didn’t know what to do for it, I searched stuff up myself till I came across this. It has worked amazingly! Been using it for about six hours and it already feels better, still burns a bit but it’s so much better!
Will this make it go away for good?
Is this long term?
Is the colloidal silver supposed to be a topical solution or do I ingest it? Thank you
Colloidal silver is for topical use ONLY.
Avatar universal
*BEST - I hope that EVERY person who has these types of lip problems, will read this information.  It will take care of your problem in short order.  Most health professionals, especially Conventional doctors, and holistic doctors, Will not get this one, and it is the reason, most of the time that this "lip problem" keeps coming back, regardless what you do.  First, let's identify the usual symptoms, all of which are present within 48 hours:  - 1. Lips swell largely, to 2-3 times normal. 2. Lips tingle/burn. 3. Overly Dry Lips, with scaling skin on, below or above the lips. 4. Weeping - yellow and/or clear liquid coming from the lips upper or lower (either or both).  5. Sometimes inside mouth raw feeling on gums around teeth. 6. Sometimes throat or sinus irritation, like getting a cold.

What is usually diagnosed as some type of Cheilitis, Impetigo, Eczema, Rash, or even allergic reactions to other things, like food, cosmetics etc., is NOT.  Not in all cases, but in over 90% of these cases, it is none of these happening - and the reason for re-uccurances days, weeks, months or years later.  What is at the Root of your problem, is a STREP INFECTION (bacterial), that ORIGINATES most of the time, in the stomach.  Sometimes, it's in other areas, like the lungs, throat etc.  Yes, the stomach, and can be there for years, without detection.  It surfaces by moving up through the upper extremities, to soft tissues like the lips, mouth, throat, nose, sinuses.  Strep is highly contagious, and in fact, most people have it floating around in them, and don't know it - until something triggers it, usually a little emotional stress, which you also may not even be aware of.

CURE:  We've found that our VERY BEST cure, is NOT antibiotics of ANY KIND - or lip creams, hydrocortisone, fungal creams etc.  This actually increases the yeast factor immediately, and does not get rid of the Strep, and actually prolongs the bacteria until later.  With drug antibiotics, symptoms may appear to recede for awhile, but will reappear later again - and then you also have the yeast problem to deal with, which can actually aggravate the problem and other problems even more.
COLLOIDAL SILVER, is the only thing we'd recommend, to get rid of the problem, for Long Term.  
Buy a bottle of Colloidal Silver at your health food store, any brand will do.  TAKE 10 DROPS PER HOUR, until the bottle is gone.  You'll see the symptoms begin subsiding within a few hours.  Colloidal silver stays in the bloodstream and kills all the Strep bacteria within your entire body, for this is NOT limited to your lips or skin irritations.  It's coming from within your body.  You can keep your lips moist with some type of lip balm, whatever works best for you, without burning as much, until the lips begin returning to normal, because the Colloidal Silver is killing the bacteria right away. Until you kill the bacteria inside, the symptoms on the outside will not subside, or appear to subside, until later.  Google Colloidal Silver and educate yourself.  Even if you are suffering from any other type of bacterial infection, this will help your entire body.  The yellow or clear discharge from your lips, or peeling, is evidence of bacterial infection, and the culprit is in over 90% of the cases, is a form of Strep.  Problem solved, usually within 48 hours.  Colloidal Silver also helps anyone who has problems due to a Virus of some kind, like simple Herpes Simplex, etc.  Drink at least 1 gallon of water every day religiously......even after you're healed.  Additionally, we'd also recommend a good B-Complex vitamin daily for awhile, even some Zinc, especially for men, so that your immune system can process the stress more easily, without the immune system manifesting an external problem (most people are way deficient on B's - the stress busters).  Good health to you.
Helpful - 1
1 Comments
You my friend are absolutely correct! I've had this exact same issue that kept recurring for the past two years. It ******* sucked! I've been to countless dermatologist appointments and he first said it was herpes, which I tested back negative, impetigo, or an allergic reaction. It's NOT! I saw the post about colloidal silver, went to the vitamin shoppe and got me some and it worked MAGIC! In two days it went from full of puss to clear. I took a teaspoon every two hours and applied it to my lips with a q tip liberally. Did the trick! Thanks!
Avatar universal
Hi there, I dealt this this problem for over a year. The thing that finally worked was garlic. For me, it turned out to be a MRSA infection, a staph infection that is resistant to traditional antibiotics.  Mince and soak 2 cloves of garlic in 1 oz of olive oil overnight. Then apply to infected area 2-3 x a day with a q-tip. To help internally you can eat 1 clove of garlic a day. This worked for me and my infection was completely gone within 5 days.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I've been experiencing this for days! The dry itchy lips followed by extreme chopping like scales. That fell off over a few hours after applying warm clean wash cloth. Then weeping pus. Woke up today with complete yellow lips! I have eczema, and sensitive skin. I found mint Chapstick make it worse, adds heat:/ when I felt it getting worse I used .5% cortisone cream twice/day as the doctor had recently recommended if needed.  im using a organic herbal salve, avocado oil, coconut oil. Trying to keep natural products to avoid irritation. Nothing has helped. My marriage is stressed. This yet I also got it in between my fingers, lips and armpits! It comes and goes and flares up at different times. Like right now on my lips, but my armpits & hands are fine...I was once properly diagnosed by a Chinese medicine doctor when I was 36wks pregnant and had an eczema outbreak all over my body. I'm assuming it's that. Started with red inflammation just on the putter edges of upper lip. Going to try polysorin & I took Benadryl lastnight to stop my body from over reacting to whatever it is. Also feel like it moved into my nose! But also woke up with sore throat & mucus. Low immune system??? Two kids sleep deprived! Will keep u posted...
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
nystatin/antifungal creams will work if its not a bacteria infection.
Avatar universal
Had the same exact thing happen to me. My doctor diagnosed me with lip impetigo. Got a rx for some antibiotics, and symptoms went away instantly. I also self medicated with polysporin, applying it at bedtime. This worked as well.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
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 cause
by the evaporation of moisture.

Lip balm can often provide temporary relief, though it should not be used extensively.  One should avoi
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 - as in your case, 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.
ref: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.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
hi
i am facing the same problem for the past 3 days. on top of that i have a throat infection that gives me fevers and gingitivity where my gums are swollen and i don't feel like eating anything!
i thought it would pass but today i took some antibiotic and applied antiseptic gel.
what happened to u? did it get cleared out?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Any comments on this?

As an update, I got up this morning and my lips were covered in the yellow crust again. The Vaseline seems to have helped a lot with keeping the moisture in, I don't feel like my lips are dry or chapped anymore, but I definitely feel as though they are "weeping" something - most probably pus - and I have no idea what this is.

I softened the crust with Vaseline this morning, waited about five minutes, and then all the crust came off when I rubbed a facecloth lightly over my lips. Reapplied the Vaseline, about 5 minutes later I feel as though my lips are dripping (secretion of more pus?) ... patted them dry with a bit of paper towel, more Vaseline. What on earth is going on?
Helpful - 0
2 Comments
hey, I've been having this problem for about 7 months now, and no luck with creams or anything from doctors. Did yours resolve? If so, how? It's driving me crazzzyyyyyy.
I had the same issue for three months.  It went away with niacin/nystatin (antifungal).  It worked and was gone in 2 days (though it was almost gone in 24 hours)
Avatar universal
Regular lip chapping I've had for years. These new symptoms have only been around since yesterday morning. I'm 19 and I don't smoke.

I don't have any cracks at the corners of my mouth, it seems to be localised around the plumper part of my bottom lip and part of the right upper lip. I don't tend to lick my lips because I always have a Chap Stick handy to take care them. That I woke up chewing my lip the other night was very unusual.

As far as I know the only deficiency I've ever experienced is an iron deficiency which runs in my family. I haven't taken supplements for it in a very long time because I generally get enough iron and Vitamin C from my diet, but I wonder if that has anything to do with it? I might try B2 supplements though.

I do have a history of eczema but that hasn't cropped up for years. I know it can come and go but I have never had it anywhere near my face before.

I'm hoping this will calm down in the next day or two, if not I may take myself to a doctor. I'm overseas at the moment so I can't go to my regular doc, I will have to double check to see if my travel insurance will allow me to see a specialist but I highly doubt it.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi,

Since when are you having the symptoms? What is your age? Do you smoke?

You should not lick your lips and also do not use a soap - it causes drying.

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 you have cracks at the corner of your mouth it indicates B2 deficiency in this case you need to take B2 supplements.

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.

Helpful - 0
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Dermatology Community

Top Dermatology Answerers
Learn About Top Answerers
Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Popular Resources
Learn to identify and prevent bites from summer’s most common pests.
Doctors argue for legislation to curb this dangerous teen trend in the latest Missouri Medicine report.
10 ways to keep your skin healthy all winter long
How to get rid of lumpy fat on your arms, hips, thighs and bottom
Diet “do’s” and “don’ts” for healthy, radiant skin.
Images of rashes caused by common skin conditions