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The problem is that my lips have been swollen for about 4 weeks now. The swelling ALWAYS increases overnight. In the morning, they are dry, cracked and painful with a fine crust all along the vermillion border, despite putting any variety of balms on them at night. So far I have used Carmex, plain Vaseline, Nivea, Chapstick (plain), Blistex with SPF and Neutrogena with SPF. It doesn't matter what I use, they always stay red, raw and painful.
In terms of medical therapy, I have used low potency steroid ointment (OTC cortisone), higher potency (desonide), non-steroidal ointment (Elidel), antibiotic ointment (mupirocin). NOTHING has helped.
I am currently taking zyrtec 10mg daily, and zantac 150mg BID.
I do not lick my lips. Also, I do not chronically use lip balm, only during the fall/winter when they start getting this way. I do not smoke or use smokeless tobacco. I drink maybe 3-5 alcoholic drinks per week. Typically, alcohol burns them too bad to enjoy the beverage.
My lips are in constant pain. It hurts to smile, laugh and eat. It is as if they are unable to regrow the topmost epidermal layer properly, and instead there is "new skin" on my lips all the time, which is very fragile and painful.
I am a physician, though not a dermatologist. I am in the process of getting an appointment to see one.
For those of you non-physicians reading this, take heart. Even a fellow physician has to get in line and wait to see the skin doctor.

Anyone out here with any expertise or advice, would be most welcome to weigh in. Thank you.View Thread

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