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How can I cure dried, itchy, chappy and dark lips?

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How can I cure dried, itchy, chappy and dark lips?

The following is an actual conversation between an iCliniq user and a doctor that has been reviewed and published as a Premium Q&A.

Medically reviewed by

iCliniq medical review team

Published At March 17, 2018
Reviewed AtJuly 21, 2023

Patient's Query

Hi doctor,

I am suffering from dried, itchy, chappy, dark, and extremely ugly lips since I was 10 years old. I am tired of dealing with this. I have tried everything throughout the years. I am 28 years old now, and today my lips are in their worst state. At 13 years of age, I also used to have swollen fingers with pus and sort of bumps. The bumps still appear sometimes, but not that severely. At the age of 23 years, I experienced vaginal thrush, and this has been on and off till now. Not sure if the situation of my lips is connected to this. The doctors told me to avoid detergents so that the bumps will not come out on my fingers anymore. For my lips, they said not to lick it, but it is hard, as it is a habit already. I tried a treatment last year which started to work; I stopped but I gradually licked my lips again, and until now it is worst.

Please help me cure my lips. I am a lady and lips count for 40 % of my beauty. I avoid wearing lipsticks, as not to aggravate the situation. My ugly lips are making my life miserable. I have used lip balms, shea butter, soothing lip butter, or balms. The medicines prescribed two years back were 1% Terbinafine Lamisil 10 mg and 0.05 % Desonide DesOwen cream 15 mg. Nothing was found in the skin test and biopsy performed by an immunologist three years back.

Answered by Dr. Sushil Kakkar

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I have viewed the images (attachment removed to protect patient identity). Apart from what you have said I also noticed that you have depigmentation of lips. I suggest you to use a Tacrolimus 0.1 % ointment, twice daily and a moderately potent topical steroid, for e.g, Fluticasone Propionate 0.05 % cream once every night. Consult your specialist doctor, discuss with him or her and take medications with their consent.

Patient's Query

Thank you doctor,

I will check if these medicines are available in my country. The doctor I last consulted two years back told me to use Sensodyne original as toothpaste with fluoride causes irritation around my mouth.

Do u think this is fungus that I have on lips? The episode with the bumps on my fingers, is it related? Should I stop licking my lips as advised by others doctors? I tried so hard but it is difficult with the stress in life. I just checked and the second ointment which was last prescribed by the doctor was Protopic 0.03 % Tacrolimus ointment.

Answered by Dr. Sushil Kakkar

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

Yes, Protopic is Tacrolimus. This is what I asked you to use, twice during the day and either Fluticasone Propionate 0.05 % ointment or Mometasone furoate 0.1 % ointment at night. This is not fungus on your lips. This is lip lick dermatitis and obviously lip licking is going to further worsen the cheilitis (dryness and peeling). It is not related to the bumps that you used to have on fingers.

Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!

Dr. Sushil Kakkar
Dr. Sushil Kakkar

Dermatology

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