Peeling Lips

[yalith]

I am 25, and for several years I had a terrible habit of biting my lips. (Like actually biting the skin off of them). I have since managed to stop biting them (very difficult) but have been disapointed that they will never heal. I have this problem for a couple of years now: the skin grows back, hardens, and when it gets wet, turns white, and peels. It just wipes off if I touch it.

After searching on the internet, I found another forum where people have the EXACT problem as I do, only, one of them has to been to doctors, to no avail. He's baffled all kinds of doctors and tried all kinds of medications and nothing works.

The reason I used to bite my lips is because they constantly felt like they had something on them, like paper, and I had to get it off. Now I am wondering, if all along, the reason I was biting, was because of a problem with the skin?

Does anyone know what this is?

-There is no pain (unless I peel too soon, then skin underneath is raw)
-Skin dies every 2 to 3 days
-It's only half my lip, the half closer to the inside of my lip, and inside of my lip (the outer part of my lip is still normal type of skin)
-There is a distinct different in the two types of skin - one is hard and not stretchy, one is normal
-If I don't peel, the hard skin peels away from the normal skin... it looks ugly

What could this possibly be?

This is the other discussion I was referring to. My symptoms match the first poster and many of the replies:

http://www.medhelp.org/forums/Dermatology/messages/31789.html

I hope somebody can please help me get to the bottom of this I want my lips back!!! :( I'm 25 and this has been going on far too long!

[Unpopular101]

Hi, my name is Jenni, i am 14 going on 15. I have the exact same condition as you, i have had it since i was about 4 or 5. It just plain sucks! I have never bitten my lips or anything. i dont want to go to my doctor because i know he wont do anything. I hate this condition so much, it is ruining my life!! Please, if you find anything on how to treat this condition, tell me!

[Deima]

Resolution! I found something very good!
After MANY YEARS of peeling and biting my lips I decided it's time to stop. I have been reading a lot of "lip peeling" forums lately trying to figure out best solutions. First I was ready to see a dermatologist, then I was planing to buy steroid creams and such, but before that I decided to try something simple and cheap. And VOILA! This is my fourth day without peeling lips!!!:D I I am very excited and hope it will last! The remedy: Blistex Lip Medex. You can find it in any pharmacy stores. Here is the link so you can take a look at it: http://www.blistex.com/Lip%20Medex.htm . It is absolutely the best thing I have ever tried! I bought it four days ago and applied to my cracked, half-peeled, sore lips. Few minutes later lips felt wonderfully soft and hydrated. I applied it a few times more later that evening and just before going to bed. When I woke up next day - my lips were wonderful and smooth! No peeling, no flaking, no inflammation - NOTHING!
So, the key is - apply a thin layer on dry lips, whenever you feel they are getting dry or scratchy, or after eating. TRY not to lick or touch them. Let the skin heel properly and you will see what I am talking about!:D Like I said - it's my fourth day with great looking, soft and KISSABLE lips!:) Keep doing that and maybe the problem will go away completely. Good luck!

[Arti]

Hi I'm 22 years old and im also facing EXACTLY i mean EXACTLY the same problem faced by yalith and jenny. I'm suffering from this for the past 2 years. Its really embarassing when we eat out. The color of the lip changes as soon as it gets wet.Its terrible and im searching for a solution all over the web .Pl Pl help us!!!

[Sadie12]

Put moisturising cream on your lips and fingertips . This is stop the dryness of your skin and automatically you will find that you have stopped bitting yourself.



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[WOW!!]

I always thought that i was the Only person with this problem until i just looked this up looking for a solution
i am 19 years old and i always bite my lips and i feel i bite my lips because they peel and i thought my lips peeled because i would bite my lips.. it's also like that for me every morning i wake up my lips are hard and cracked
when i brush my teeth they turn white and start peeling after i get out of the shower they feel raw and i continually bite them
im constantly applying carmex and that does nothing but make them even more raw and they start to peel and i start biting.. i was even biting as i was reading this forum
i dont let guys kiss me because of the fear that my peeling lips will get onto there's
i would like to be able to kiss again
i would like to hold a conversation without biting my lips and holding my head down so that whoever im talking to wont be disgusted and distracted by my white peeling lips
i thought that i had some type of disease or something until i just read this

im going to go out there and try something because i am soooooooooo sick of this!!! i really am!

[ering]

I have the same problem, only mine is seasonal (mostly when the seasons change) and it started when I was 18 (24 now). The doctors didn't know what it was either so they put me on all kinds of medications that only made it worse. Then I asked my podiatrist brother-in-law and he said it just needs to be moisturized.....What works for me: mix Aquaphor (Healing ointment/Advanced therapy) and Cortaid (1% hydrocortisone) and massage for a few minutes onto lips and surrounding area after brushing/showering/washing face. Always apply to clean skin. I do this 2x a day. During the day I use Blistex or Curel intensive lotion--I massage these in for a minute or 2 also.

Hope that helps!

[iRebe]

I had (and still every know and then have) the same exact problem. My lips would become raw and chapped then later the skin would harden (and look awful) and then it would start cracking and peeling. Also the skin around my lips started to darken drastically. I went to an expensive dermatologist and she told me its because I lick my lips too much. The ensembles in your saliva break down the sensitive skin around your mouth and cause it to become irritated, chapped, and eventually peel. She prescribed me a cortisone like cream called 'Desonide' to stop the itching and irritation (and also the licking of the lips because it tastes absolutely horrible) and told me to apply a great conditioner called Aquaphor when i felt my lips were becoming dry. This stuff works great. and when applied just right, looks like a high fashion lip gloss. (I just wouldnt suggest slathering it on all over your mouth unless you want to look like you just dove face first into a bucket of KFC :-) I hope this helps