dry patch on lip

[sk00]

hi, i have a dry patch on the top of my lip. it started off about 2 months ago as a small discolored dot, then progressed into a darker patch bigger patch (<1cm wide). Now, it looks dry and and slightly flaky, and feels weird when i touch it with my tongue, but i can't really pick at the dry skin. it also feels sort of heavy, not numb or slightly tingling (not like pins and needles) but like i can feel something there. also when i stretch the skin i can see white spots behind it.
what is it, and what can i do to treat it, tried moisturizing with Vaseline constantly, but doesn't help. Could this be a sign of lip cancer?

any advice would help. thanks.

[scfb]

I am so glad I found this thread!! I have the same problem and I suspected it was a reaction a lipstick or gloss. After 9108 mentioned Keratosis, the light bulb went on. I have Keratosis Pilaris on my arms that I have been able to mange to 99.9% elimination by going gluten free (which also stopped my eczema flairs). I researched the lipstick and it has gluten in it! No wonder my tummy has been a bit unhappy and my lip has the 'tape' feeling. I am just using Aquaphor until my body eliminates it. Thank you again!!

[9108]

I am thankful to have found this thread. Like everyone else I had the same dry patch that felt like tape stuck to my lip. I struggled with this for over a month and used several types of lip balm to no avail. After reading all comments here  I was able to narrow it down to either a lip fungus or Actinic Keratosis. I then did research on organic apple cider vinegar treatments for both and found that neither type of cell/growth is compatible with vinegar.  I applied Bragg's Organic apple cider vinegar ( "with the mother"...  I don't know why this is important but it is) with a Q-tip and the cells immediately turned white. I should warn you that this stings A LOT.  I applied  the vinegar 4 times more that day and each time it stung less. The next morning it was completely scabbed over. I applied the vinegar several times more the next day just to be safe. During this time I did not use any type of lip balm or lip stick.  The scab came off after a few day and the dry patch was 100% gone. Thanks to everyone who has posted here. Had I not found this thread I would not have figured this out and would have gone to the dermatologist and probably fought with this thing for months in total frustration.

[9108]

I am thankful to have found this thread. Like everyone else I had the same dry patch that felt like tape stuck to my lip. I struggled with this for over a month and used several types of lip balm to no avail. After reading all comments here  I was able to narrow it down to either a lip fungus or Actinic Keratosis. I then did research on organic apple cider vinegar treatments for both and found that neither type of cell/growth is compatible with vinegar.  I applied Bragg's Organic apple cider vinegar ( "with the mother"...  I don't know why this is important but it is) with a Q-tip and the cells immediately turned white. I should warn you that this stings A LOT.  I applied  the vinegar 4 times more that day and each time it stung less. The next morning it was completely scabbed over. I applied the vinegar several times more the next day just to be safe. During this time I did not use any type of lip balm or lip stick.  The scab came off after a few day and the dry patch was 100% gone. Thanks to everyone who has posted here. Had I not found this thread I would not have figured this out and would have gone to the dermatologist and probably fought with this thing for months in total frustration.

[anna7420]

I love this forum it was so helpful. I have the exact same condition as everyone else who has posted on here.

Tried the Clotrimazole 1% antifungal cream 1st because I already had some in my medicine drawer. Used it one evening & applied before bed. In the morning condition was the same.

Went a bought, HerpecinL at walmart ($5) and within 2 hours of applying it religiously my dry patch separated from my lip and peeled off. Lip feels completely smooth and normal again. Hopefully it stays that way! I am going to keep applying the HerpecinL just in case for the rest of today.

My only confusion is that I have had cold sores before (never on my lip) and they were angry mean sores... and this patch didn't hurt or get aggravated with my constant rubbing/biting... so I am surprised it reacted to the herpecinL? Weird. Maybe it was just a more friendly cold sore than my others.

[Kilah86]

I just developed a dry spot on my upper lip on the left side. It came around a few days ago, I attributed it to stress, but after reading some of your posts I'll keep an eye on it and if it doesn't go away I'll see a dermatologists. I've been applying EOS and another lip balm that I can't think of the name right now. It does have that same type of tight feeling, but I don't think anyone else has noticed it. Hopefully it will go away soon.

[Songsparrow]

I think you and others who say this is caused by fungus have made the correct diagnosis for many of us posting here.  Obviously something that doesn't clear up should be looked at by a dermatologist to rule out a precancerous condition.

I have just developed the problem described in these posts.  At first I thought of cold sores but I have never had a cold sore previously and this is not painful, just annoying.
  
For the past couple of months I've been fighting raging athlete's foot.  I have had mild athlete's foot a couple times before but this is much worse.  After reading your post I think it is no coincidence that I developed this new lip problem for the first time.  I will look for a fungal treatment remedy that is safe for the mouth.