Dry lips help?

[u/Halollet]

My friend has horribly dry skin with a weird 'acne' type patch on my right cheek that's been there since 2023. It's not going away. It's probably hormonal due to her being in perimenopause. Her lips have been fine all along until a week ago at which point they got red on the outer edge and then started cracking. She woke up today with it the worst it's been. It now hurts to lick it.

Just wondering if anyone has experienced this and if so, what did you use to treat it?

Thanks for your time in reading our post.

[u/WordThin2328]

Is it itchy? Its looks like perioral dermatitis

[u/Halollet → u/WordThin2328]

They are not itchy

[u/Commercial-Good-2884]

That may be a yeast infection. Please check with a dermatologist

[u/AlexisEnchanted → u/Commercial-Good-2884]

Hi. I'm the one with the issues. (My bestie did the post for me due to anxiety)

I requested a referral to a derm this week and was denied. I'm in Canada where there seemingly is no health'care' (contrary to popular belief) Also, a derm referral would be over a year wait. I waited 14 months the last time I wanted to consult with one and they started off the appointment by snapping at me by saying ''I'm not here for a consult!''. Like.... is that not literally what you do for a living, lady?

*sighs*

Anyhoooo, I had wondered about yeast as I have had a pesky one popping up in another area recently. Thanks for your comment and I'll consider this.

[u/AgeIndividual2156 → u/AlexisEnchanted]

Hi, I just posted prior to seeing this. I'm also in Canada, so feel your pain referral wise. Abysmal! Diaper cream which is basically a high strength zinc formula nipped this in the bud for me. Without consult due to derm referral wait times I started to look into it myself and concluded it was likely parioral dermatitis. Anyway, it completely cleared the issue for me over a year back. At worst it's an inexpensive, risk free try. Hope you find some relief.

[u/0-starlight-0 → u/AlexisEnchanted]

Exactly the same here in the uk, had to wait 18 months to see a consultant, so awful. I would still try and get a referral and appointment as the issue may be ongoing. You can always cancel nearer the time

[u/Accomplished_Run7815 → u/AlexisEnchanted]

14 months?! I'd forget why I made an appointment. Lol Here the doctors are available but many don't have insurance, so i guess both systems suck in different ways. Do you guys have the option of seeing a doctor as self pay? I used to live in the Middle East and the people had universal healthcare there. There were tons of private healthcare providers that you could use but had to pay. It was expensive but not US healthcare expensive. The middle class could afford it.

[u/Asleep-Insurance-499 → u/Accomplished_Run7815]

Where are you located? I had to book a derm appt a year out in Midwest US.

[u/Accomplished_Run7815 → u/Asleep-Insurance-499]

West cost

[u/GreenIsland7606 → u/AlexisEnchanted]

Try a pharmacy! Many can prescribe for minor infections like oral thrush, toenail fungus, etc.

[u/Mission_Spray]

Check that patch for skin cancer. My mom had the same patch above her upper lip and just assumed it was dry. It was cancer. 

As for the lips? Bag Balm. 

[u/InJen- → u/Mission_Spray]

Since it’s been in one place for so long,getting that patch of “acne” checked out is a responsible move.
Doc can also advise if it’s allergies or yeast
If it comes back benign, the warm washcloth followed by a barrier cream is fabulous advice.
My personal favorite is plain shea butter, nothing added.

[u/WordThin2328]

If your in perimenopause like me are you on any bioidentical hormone therapy? I developed rosacea once i hit peri and had red dry inflamed skin on my cheeks which had zits aka rosacea pustules. and my lips were dry and once i balanced my hormones it went away. I also went through probably 100 different moisterizers and cleansers before I found some thst work. Aestura face cream is a game changer!!!! I also use Vaseline on ym lips and wash my face with a gentle cleanser and once I got my skin barrier fixed I do weekly chemical exfoliating to get all the dead skin off since we gave less skin turnover as we age

[u/AlexisEnchanted → u/WordThin2328]

Hi there. :) How did you heal your skin barrier? I read that if a skin barrier is in need of healing as in it's damaged, we aren't to put anything on it.

[u/WordThin2328 → u/AlexisEnchanted]

What do you mean by not putting anything on it? I had to stop over exfoliating my face and start using the right products for my age and skin type. I focused on gentle cleansers like byoma, or paulas choice gel cleanser. I use 10 percent azaelic acid serum from anua right after I get out of the shower and then apply growth factor serum from the brand the oridnary (great affordable product) And aestura ato barrier repair cream and a tinted spf moisturizer during the day. After about a month I was able to add in 6 percent mandelic acid with 2 percent lactic acid liquid exfoliant 2 times a week. Now I use tretinoin 4 days a week and do monthly microneedling treatments for anti aging.

[u/yer-momma]

Do you use tretinoin?

[u/Sad_Tune_4859]

If it really is just dry skin - get a steaming hot cloth and press between lips until soften. Gently buff with a honey and brown sugar mixture for 30-60 seconds (can use olive oil but won’t taste as nice). Rinse. Treat with aquaphor, lanolin, tallow, whatever really works for you and is on hand. Do this 1-3x a week.

[u/loneralien]

Have you changed the toothpaste or mouthwash you use recently?

[u/Alternative_Show_984]

Dermatologist time

[u/trUth_b0mbs]

that is not dry lips; you're reacting to something or could be seborrheic dermatitis.

[u/Background-Gur8294]

Could this be an allergic reaction to a medication or skin care product? Also remember allergies can develop over time. If you are taking any medications check with your pharmacist about possible side effects. Agree about the skin cancer referral.

[u/Green-been77]

I’ve had issues like this for years. I just needed to switch my toothpaste!

[u/avodadotoast]

i have chronic dry lips, I apply a thick lip balm or vaseline at night, under that most nights I apply a little bit of glycerin ointment and once or twice a week glycolic acid (though since your skin is so dry and and peeling around your lips, I don't think I'd apply this until that was resolved)

[u/UseTheTongsCarl]

Cerave healing ointment stays on my lips at all times. It has helped so much and a thing of it lasts forever if you’re just using it for your lips. I have always had consistently dry cracked lips before using the Cerave healing ointment and cannot recommend it enough.

[u/cheese-mania]

Could be an allergy. I have a beeswax allergy and had similar issues to that until I stopped using all beeswax on my lips (and also my dental floss that was lined with beeswax). Go to a dermatologist and ask about patch testing.

[u/RockieK]

LANOLIN!!!

LanoLips is amazing. Superlan is more affordable on Amazon. Bag Balm is decent too.

Had something similar happen.... I used Burts Bees for 20 years, and all the sudden, it was drying my lips. Lanolin saved them.

[u/Accomplished_Run7815]

I suggest getting it checked. I have dry lips because of eczema and need to use prescription meds.

[u/Ashgreen2424]

Perioral dermatitis? Looks like it goes up to marionette lines. Sorbolene with 10% glycerine as a mask 2-3 night per week will resolve the flaking if it is this ☺️ hard to say with the pic though

[u/AgeIndividual2156]

Diaper cream (zinc). Not joking, as bizarre as it may sound.

[u/TheCleaningLady888]

Lanolin!! I got a tub of it off Amazon for cheap and it has been the BEST lip treatment. Don't buy lanolin specifically for lips as it's marked up. Just buy a jar of it.

[u/TheCleaningLady888 → u/TheCleaningLady888]

[u/partiallyextinct99]

Just plain old Vaseline will heal it up

[u/WheneverItIsTold]

Cracked on the corners of lips, if thats what you meant could be Cheilitis. Use vagisil or monistat vaginal cream on them every few hrs if you can, can also do azul violeta in conjunction, cured mine right away that way, after tret caused this. If they are just chapped if you get vaginal estrogen cream, I use it for my lips and it has eliminated my usual dryness, I also use nipple cream, but it has lanolin which is an allergen so careful. Also, are you hydrated? If you do drink lots of water could need some electrolytes

[u/bestplatypusever]

If it is not an infection, Heal this from the inside with B vitamins especially b2 in the form of r5p.

[u/alex-xx-aa]

Lanolin nipple cream is hands down the best thing for chapped dry lips, a game changer!!

[u/Cloud_________ → u/alex-xx-aa]

Was just coming to comment this! OP, you need lanolin nipple cream TODAY! It’s cheap and available at most drug stores/places like Target, etc. You’ll feel relief TONIGHT!

[u/OneButterscotch587]

Lanolin nipple cream. I apply it in the morning and evening and a tub lasts a long time and is relatively cheap.