clusters of tiny bumps on upper lip

[dani0290]

Hello,

About a month and half ago, I noticed a couple tiny bumps on my upper lip towards the middle.  After a few days it began to dry out and get tight but then looked like a dark spot.  Just when I thought it was almost gone and my lips going back to normal, it suddenly reappeared again.  This time the tiny bumps were in clusters and started to spread on my upper lip.  There are about 3 or 4 seperate clusters of really tiny bumps.  I saw a dermatologist 3 times but they have been unable to diagnose it.  They tested for herpes twice and it was negative.  They said it didn't look or act like herpes but they wanted to rule it out.  Then they thought it was fordyce on the second visit but on the third visit they said they don't believe it is due to the way it looks.  Then they were thinking dermatitis but I don't really show the symptoms of dermatitis.  Can anyone help or have an idea what this might be without me having to do a biopsy.  It doesn't hurt at all but the areas where the bumps are it feels like my lips are dry/tight and as it is spreading on my lip, it has a slight itchy feeling.  My lower lip is perfectly fine.  What is this???

[suhani84]

Hey Friend, did you find out the answer yet............let me know if u did. Do you've any other symptoms like rash on your forehead / arm/thigh/ anywhere else or ichtyness.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
It can be due to cheilitis or irritated hair follicles. 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 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.
My sincere advice is to get it evaluated from a dermatologist.

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