What is this itchy patch of irritated skin above my upper lip?

[QRP]

Last year I had an extremely itchy patch of skin on my upper lip that I would scratch thoughtlessly at night. I'd wake up in the morning and it would be red as well as painful when touched. At that point the skin would be a little flaky and I started to try lip balms and facial lotion and they've only provided temporary reprieve. Usually the irritation disappears but every so often it will suddenly become itchy again and even the slightest friction on it causes it to swell up and turn red. Usually it gets very dry and only slightly painful. For the most part however, I do notice it and it is irritating. I've had it for about a full year now on and off and am not exactly sure what it is. I have found that suntan lotion has helped me keep it from drying it badly and getting irritated while I'm out.

I've changed my diet around to see if it might be a food allergy and have found that sometimes eating dairy products can amplify the irritation. However, the irritation still remains even without the consumption of dairy.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v396/Kuni/itchypatch.jpg

This is a picture I took of it today and you can notice some of the swelling and dry skin. It's not as red as it can be.

[TaylorOtter009]

I believe they have named what we're all  experiencing as "Lichenification", and recent studies have shown that Fluticasone Proprionate has helped those with this issue after using it for a week. I haven't tried it yet because you need a doctor's signature, but when I do I'll update on whether or not it works.

[Cutietunia]

I see that it has been quite a while since this was originally posted, but I had to let you know what I have found out. After many many years of having this rash/ irritation above my mouth I have found that when I take vitamin B complex regularly it goes away completely! I read somewhere that having rashes around your mouth is an indication of B vitamin deficiency. It has worked for me. I hope it will work for others!

[amberk50]

I'm curious if any of you notice that it gets worse after eating sugar?  Or other types of food.

[amberk50]

I had this same problem for about 10 years!! And no doctor could help me.  I tried everything.  I finally went to a doctor that said, "yes, I know exactly what that is."  He said it was eczema but said not to use over-the-counter cortisone creams because they are not made to apply to the face and could make it worse.  So he prescribed a special cortisone cream that is ok to apply to the face: Elidel - http://www.drugs.com/elidel.html - this drug works wonders!!!! After a couple of weeks, the redness that plagued me for 10 years was gone!! And never came back.  But I kept using the cream because I was worried it would come back.  After about a year, I stopped using the cream.  Then a few months later it came back so I started using it again and it went away within 2 days.  This cream has saved my life.

[Kristine0704]

After using cortisone cream, was there any difference in colour pigmentation or thinness to the skin above?

[JueLessNedd]

THank you!

[DLstar]

Me 2.....pls let me know if you find a cure.

BTW, is there a medical term for what we're having?

[WaqaSX]

Please help me i am a boy and i looks ugly with that upper lips redness problem please give me a proper cream solution that will show result in 2 days ?

[lise123]

Is this rash/itchy thing contagious? Can it be transfered to other parts of the body by touching or by kissing someone, for example?

[lise123]

Is this rash/itchy thing contagious? Can it be transfered to other parts of the body by touching or by kissing someone, for example?

[phantomsixth]

Ive had the same problem for over a year or less. It makes me very self concious and it really is annoying. The white flaky thing usually appears Minutes after i take a bath or washing my face in the morning. I havent tried any medicinal products yet. When i rub it some white flakes show and after few minutes it becomes red and itchy. Sometimes it just disappears but after a day or so it comes back again. Pls if someone already have cure for this pls help. I would like to take natural tips. Pls help, any answers would be much appreciated.

[winniez]

I had similar problem  (dry irritated skin right above my upper lip) on and off for a couple of years, tried many things, including various chap sticks, Vitamin E oil, Cortizone cream, none of that worked.  A couple of months ago, by chance and out of desperation, I applied TRIAMCINOLONE ACETONIDE OINTMENT USP, 0.025%.  It healed me within hours and the symptom is now completely gone.

This is a prescription medicine precipitated to my 8-year-old son for the hot rash he got on his neck in the summer.  It was very low cost, but does require prescription.

If nothing else work for you, i highly recommend you try this.

[tiafajardo]

I've had the same problem for two years!! With all the same symptoms and tried so many products but they all make my skin even more cracked and irritated. I've been researching and believe it is eczema, so I went out and got CORTISONE 10 the original OINTMENT, I just started using it but so far is working great!! I really recommended this to you guys because I know how frustrating it is, and it is working for me pretty well. Hope this helps :)

[jr35712]

OK GUYS!!! I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM N ITS NOW BETTER.... so I never had it before untill I got a really bad cold n kept blowing n blowing my nose iritaiting the skin underneath... 5 months I've been better n its still there.. chaped red scratching starting to have little cuts.... I tryed ointment.. vaseline vaseline with antibiotics crushed In it n nothing... my boyfriend got me some CORTIZONE 10 cream to put on it the next day I can see it getting better with in 2 days man its all better now u guys need to get this I swear it worked for me n if u have the same problem it should work! I jus hada share good luck

[achoo11]

Thank you so much!! Aloe Vera forever!!!  I had a terrible allergy day, too, and sneezed endlessly... the area around my mouth and nose must have dried up from all of the tissues and paper towels I used. I am, thankfully, sneeze-free today :) Once again, THANK YOU

[simonedean]

I FOUND A SOLUTION EVERYONE OMG PLEASE READ THIS, I had EXACTLY the same problem as everyone here, dry irritated red itchy skin above my lip, I went to the doctors so many times and it got me down sooo much, I was going to get a referral from a skin specialist but decided to try the doctors for the 8th time.. after trying fucidin H, dalktarin, metronidazole etc..anyway.. I was prescribed two creams they are called:
"cortopin hydrocortisone ointment" and "fucidin ointment"
these are the steps you need to do:
after washing your face in the morning (even just wetting it and drying it is fine, as long as it is clean/nothing like Vaseline is already on the itchy skin above lip) apply a little hydrocortisone. even if it is a little itchy, do not itch it, just allow the hydrocortisone to work. Around 20 - 40 minutes later, apply a little fucidin ointment. Do exactly the same in the evening.
Repeat this every day for a WEEK. The packaging of the hydrocortisone will probably tell you to only use this for a week, however if your itchy skin is improving, you can continue to use it for a couple more weeks (I asked the doctor who specialised in dermatology (skin) and she said that hydrocortisone isn't very strong at all so do not worry about it eroding your skin or anything silly like that)
mine has literally gone now, after having it for 6 months, so happy:)
hope this works for all of you too!

[simonedean]

I FOUND A SOLUTION EVERYONE OMG PLEASE READ THIS, I had EXACTLY the same problem as everyone here, dry irritated red itchy skin above my lip, I went to the doctors so many times and it got me down sooo much, I was going to get a referral from a skin specialist but decided to try the doctors for the 8th time.. after trying fucidin H, dalktarin, metronidazole etc..anyway.. I was prescribed two creams they are called:
"cortopin hydrocortisone ointment" and "fucidin ointment"
these are the steps you need to do:
after washing your face in the morning (even just wetting it and drying it is fine, as long as it is clean/nothing like Vaseline is already on the itchy skin above lip) apply a little hydrocortisone. even if it is a little itchy, do not itch it, just allow the hydrocortisone to work. Around 20 - 40 minutes later, apply a little fucidin ointment. Do exactly the same in the evening.
Repeat this every day for a WEEK. The packaging of the hydrocortisone will probably tell you to only use this for a week, however if your itchy skin is improving, you can continue to use it for a couple more weeks (I asked the doctor who specialised in dermatology (skin) and she said that hydrocortisone isn't very strong at all so do not worry about it eroding your skin or anything silly like that)
mine has literally gone now, after having it for 6 months, so happy:)
hope this works for all of you too!

[simonedean]

I FOUND A SOLUTION EVERYONE OMG PLEASE READ THIS, I had EXACTLY the same problem as everyone here, dry irritated red itchy skin above my lip, I went to the doctors so many times and it got me down sooo much, I was going to get a referral from a skin specialist but decided to try the doctors for the 8th time.. after trying fucidin H, dalktarin, metronidazole etc..anyway.. I was prescribed two creams they are called:
"cortopin hydrocortisone ointment" and "fucidin ointment"
these are the steps you need to do:
after washing your face in the morning (even just wetting it and drying it is fine, as long as it is clean/nothing like Vaseline is already on the itchy skin above lip) apply a little hydrocortisone. even if it is a little itchy, do not itch it, just allow the hydrocortisone to work. Around 20 - 40 minutes later, apply a little fucidin ointment. Do exactly the same in the evening.
Repeat this every day for a WEEK. The packaging of the hydrocortisone will probably tell you to only use this for a week, however if your itchy skin is improving, you can continue to use it for a couple more weeks (I asked the doctor who specialised in dermatology (skin) and she said that hydrocortisone isn't very strong at all so do not worry about it eroding your skin or anything silly like that)
mine has literally gone now, after having it for 6 months, so happy:)
hope this works for all of you too!

[rach721]

oh no - I have the exact same thing and have had for two years
I thought it was stress related seems as it appeared when I was in Christchurch going through earth quakes - nothing works besides iron and even then this only helps the slight bright red go away momentarily I am trying the dermatologist and will post after I have gone! just want it gone it is so annoying and i'm very self conscious about it
it gets so dry and the more moisturiser you apply the worse mine gets :(

[jo2698]

i also have this~ but i dont know what it is~ i did put vasaline on for a while, but it only gave temporarily relieve, os i tried the eos chapstick. This made it feel more dry, so I then swtiched to carmex lip balm. Now, it's okay but every so often it turns a bright red and I don't know what to do.
have u found the solution to getting it back to normal?
thanks.

[welldude]

i had this and i went to a doctor he said get nivea lipbalm any flavour and apply it a couple times a day also how you got this is by eating too many nuts peanuts and seeds.

[likeaboss]

I found out what it is. what some of you and myself have is called a flat wart. they don't really come above the surface of the skin but they do make it dry. There is a great way to remove them but its a little costly: Laser wart removal. prices start at $100 dollars but i think its totally worth it considering this thing can be on your face for over 2 years. im going to try it. Peace

[likeaboss]

I have just got this about a week ago. I've been putting shea butter on it a day now. seems to make it feel much better. not taking the red spot away though. Let me know if you find out what this is and how to get ride of it.

[rkhCMA]

I have a small spot on my upper lip that started when I had a runny nose that I blew constantly bc of my allergies. I have been using pure Aloe Vera gel and it has helped TREMENDOUSLY!!!!!! It has to be 100% aloe vera gel...or better yet get a small aloe vera plant. With the plant u just break off a leaf, split it open and rub the gell on your spot. At first its sticky but, the stickiness will go away.