What can be the cause of small white heads above my lips?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am looking for some advice regarding what looks like these small white heads that appear quite frequently on my upper lip. It seems like they most often appear one to two days after shaving. However, I have been shaving for many years and they have only started appearing quite recently. I have tried using different razors, exfoliators, skin care products, and even Bactroban ointment from my local GP. Nothing seems to be working.

Please help.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern.

I am very sorry about your medical condition, and I am glad that it is good that you are paying attention to changes in your body. But do not worry. I am here to take care of you. Regarding your symptoms and pictures sent, I believe you have developed a condition called poliosis (a condition characterized by a localized patch of white or gray hair due to a lack of melanin (pigment) in the affected area), which is white-gray hair and may be due to autoimmune disease, vitamin B12 deficiency, or genetic problems.

Please stop shaving it frequently to avoid injury to the area. Please do a CBC (complete blood count) test, and autoimmune antibody testing, and reply to me with the results. Meanwhile, please apply topical 0.2 % Tacrolimus cream, topical ointment 0.05 % Clobetasol (once a day), or 0.2 % Hydrocortisone cream (twice daily) for one month.

If your symptoms persist, schedule another appointment for follow-up via chat, phone, or video consultation.

I hope this helps.

Kindly follow up if you have more concerns.

Thank you.