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severely chapped, peeling lips, and cold sores for almost six months!

About six months ago, I started having problems with my upper and lower lips. First they just started out as being mildly chapped and a cold sore every once in a while just like everyone else's lips would be. Then as the months went by, my lips kept getting worse and worse.  I have tried EVERYTHING that I can think of to help my lips heal and nothing is working. I'm starting to get very frustrated... I dont want to smile anymore because of them. Now my lips are severely dry, chapped, verty sore,  and I get about two cold sores a week. I have no idea what is wrong with them or what I can do to stop them from being so bad. If someone could please help me out and give me some recommendations as to what to do, please let me know ASAP! Thanks.
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1182380 tn?1264103368
I've got excema on the bottom of my lips and at the top it is dark and very irratating, m lips are always itchy and swolen, i dnt no what to do . x
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
My doctor said it was excema and prescribed steroid cream, but it was scabies. Steroids make them multiply. Either demand a skin scaping from your MD or try over the counter lice shampoo. The ingredient is from the pyrethrum chrysanthemum. It kills mites. If it works, you will know right away by the changes in the skin, although it takes a long time for the body to rid them if the lips have given you problems for a while. I was prescribes steroid creams for 6 months, so my lips were packed with the mites. Please do not try steroid cream until you know. Many MD's say scabies doesn't live above the neck. That just isn't true.
Helpful - 0
563773 tn?1374246539
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hello,

There are several possibilities that are coming in my mind.

Firstly,It can be due to vit B deficiency.Take some vitamin B complex for some days and see if your symptoms improve.
Secondly,it can be due to atopic dermatitis or eczema. 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.

Thirdly,herpes can be a possibility.Diagnosed by swabs and blood test like herpes select or western blot.Other possibilities are Crohn’s disease(Granulomatous cheilitis, a lumpy swelling of the lips, can be a symptom) and sjogren’s syndrome(an autoimmune disorder in which immune cells attack and destroy the exocrine glands that produce tears and saliva).

Till then avoid licking the lips as saliva evaporates quickly resulting in them being drier than before. Drink plenty of water and take multivitamin supplements and use a humidifier to moisturize the air in your home and apply shea butter or Vaseline on your lips.You can also use a homemade ointment mixed from 1 tsp glycerine, 1 tsp lemon juice and 1 tsp castor oil. Spread on lips overnight, refrigerating the leftovers for future use. Eat foods high in calcium, magnesium and flaxseed oil. If a week of compresses and emollients don't do the trick, you can add over-the-counter 1 percent hydrocortisone ointment to your regimen.

If the symptoms still persist then pls consult a dermatologist and discuss these possibilities. Hope it helps.Take care and pls do keep me posted if you have any additional queries.

Helpful - 0
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