Exfoliative cheilitis revisited and burning mouth syndrome
HI!
About a year ago, in November 2015, I developed cracked and peeling lips. Originally I thought it was because of the cold weather, although I have never had this before in 11 years of living in the Netherlands and 5 years of living in Sweden. But it did not disappear when I went back to the tropics for 5 weeks. I tried about a bucketful of different remedies. Finally in May I went to a doctor who analyzed some of the skin flakes that I kept peeling off (several cm2 a day!) and told me it was a fungus called Geotrichem, which is commonly found on your skin. No clue as to why it suddenly was a problem. I used Daktacort twice a day and it did kind of disappear over a 3-week period; however if I forgot the Daktacort for a day or two I would get it back.
Since the beginning of October I have had it back in spite of continuous use of the Daktacort. Since it contains cortisone I have changed over to Daktarin which is a fungicide but with no cortisone. Last weekend it was so bad that I woke up from drops in my mouth. They were salty and my lips hurt badly so I thought they were bleeding, but I found out the lower part of my lower lip had completely peeled and was producing liquid, like wounds do. It was awful. After consideration I thought it might have been an allergic reaction to a new lip balm which I was trying out, which I of course immediately threw away.
Since then I am back to square one with my lips keratinous (thick skin), continuous peeling flakes, and the skin around the lips itchy and red. I use various lip balm
s, trying to find what works best.
Currently I cannot use lipstick or lip gloss, but at most I can contain the problem. Not using lip balm at all means my lips crack and bleed and I cannot smile or laugh. I have gone back to the doctor and he has taken blood samples, looking for a possible vitamin deficiency, and a biopsy.
The other problem I have had immediately with the exfoliative cheilitis is burning mouth syndrome. I think it began because my mouth felt sore and my tongue kept exploring around like a sore tooth. I suspect that at night my tongue fixes itself to the roof of my mouth and draws a vacuum, resulting in a red spot in the middle of my tongue and the feeling I have just drunk scalding hot liquid. I have had this continuously for almost a year now and it is driving me crazy. Chewing gum gives a bit of relief but I always start biting myself (in the exact same spot). Eating and drinking is not as fun as it was before, not to mention kissing :). Drinking cold liquid or eating yoghurt gives a bit of relief, but you can't do that all day. I hope the doctor finds something.
Update Nov. 17: I have tried an antibiotic ointment which before did not help at all but which currently is giving some relief for the lips. For a day or 3 they were almost normal, but now I wake up in the morning with hard (keratinous) lips which peel in the course of the day. I don't have much problems with cracking and bleeding though or with red irritated skin around the lips. I am using a liquid fungicide for the burning mouth syndrome but it has not helped so far.
About a year ago, in November 2015, I developed cracked and peeling lips. Originally I thought it was because of the cold weather, although I have never had this before in 11 years of living in the Netherlands and 5 years of living in Sweden. But it did not disappear when I went back to the tropics for 5 weeks. I tried about a bucketful of different remedies. Finally in May I went to a doctor who analyzed some of the skin flakes that I kept peeling off (several cm2 a day!) and told me it was a fungus called Geotrichem, which is commonly found on your skin. No clue as to why it suddenly was a problem. I used Daktacort twice a day and it did kind of disappear over a 3-week period; however if I forgot the Daktacort for a day or two I would get it back.
Since the beginning of October I have had it back in spite of continuous use of the Daktacort. Since it contains cortisone I have changed over to Daktarin which is a fungicide but with no cortisone. Last weekend it was so bad that I woke up from drops in my mouth. They were salty and my lips hurt badly so I thought they were bleeding, but I found out the lower part of my lower lip had completely peeled and was producing liquid, like wounds do. It was awful. After consideration I thought it might have been an allergic reaction to a new lip balm which I was trying out, which I of course immediately threw away.
Since then I am back to square one with my lips keratinous (thick skin), continuous peeling flakes, and the skin around the lips itchy and red. I use various lip balm
s, trying to find what works best.
tripleclicks.comThe other problem I have had immediately with the exfoliative cheilitis is burning mouth syndrome. I think it began because my mouth felt sore and my tongue kept exploring around like a sore tooth. I suspect that at night my tongue fixes itself to the roof of my mouth and draws a vacuum, resulting in a red spot in the middle of my tongue and the feeling I have just drunk scalding hot liquid. I have had this continuously for almost a year now and it is driving me crazy. Chewing gum gives a bit of relief but I always start biting myself (in the exact same spot). Eating and drinking is not as fun as it was before, not to mention kissing :). Drinking cold liquid or eating yoghurt gives a bit of relief, but you can't do that all day. I hope the doctor finds something.
Update Nov. 17: I have tried an antibiotic ointment which before did not help at all but which currently is giving some relief for the lips. For a day or 3 they were almost normal, but now I wake up in the morning with hard (keratinous) lips which peel in the course of the day. I don't have much problems with cracking and bleeding though or with red irritated skin around the lips. I am using a liquid fungicide for the burning mouth syndrome but it has not helped so far.
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