How to treat dry lips?
Patient: I have these really tiny bumps all over my bottom and top lip. They want to look like little heat bumps (they have a little fluid in them that comes out if I press my lips together. My lips are also very swollen. This is the second time this has happen in the last month/6weeks. It doesn t hurt, and it really doesn t itch (the first time a month ago it sort of itched). My lips feel really dry and like scales are on them. I have been taking Benadryl for 2 days now, whiles it hasn t gotten any worst, it hasn t cleared up like the pharmacist said it would. Any idea what this is? Doctor: You seem to have chronic cheilitis. You develop small vesicular lesions on lower and upper lips. I think it may beome crusted and swollen off and on.There may be erythema, dryness,mild scaling, fissuring and crusting. You might have mild pain, burning and itching. There may be some cause. Lip licking might exacerbate the disease. Sunrays exposure, cosmetics,lipstiks tooth paste, dusts...etc might be resposible. Vitamin B complex deficiencies,anaemia or nutritional inadequacy might cause the disease...You consult dermatologist for firm diagnosis and perfect treatment of its cause.Have blood tests to rule out any internal disease or vitamin deficiencies.You may take folic acid 5 mg thrice a day with iron tab. Antibiotics may be needed if there is secondary bacterial infection. Apply antibitic cream with mild steroid like mometasone. You avoid soap,cosmetics and lipstik for good and fast result. Avoid bad habit of lip licking,if it is there. Do not prick the lip skin with your nails.You might get good result after few weeks. I hope this would help you in your treatment.Thanks.Dr. Ilyas Patel MD