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What Causes Dry Itchy Swollen Red Lips Along With Burning Feeling?
Question: for about 2 months I have been having itchy swollen red lips that are dry. They are not your typical dry peeling lips. I can feel the burning, when I lick them they feel raw and scaly but when I look in the mirror I cant see what I feel. It is only my top lip. my bottom lip is fine, it has left my top lips with dark patchy spots. I have sopped using carmax and bought neutrogena petroleum cream for the lips. It helped a lot and my lips get almost to 100% then it starts all over again. The itchiness is only on the brim of my top lip. I thought it might be something viral or bacterial but it has never spread to my bottom lip. I have naturally full lips so to the average person they don't notice the swelling or redness. I have not gone to the doctor because there is nothing to show them unless they use a microscope, I know they will just tell me its chapped lips or weather related. Its red, it burns, it is itchy,raw, scaly. Its the same cycle it gets close to healing then flares up.
Brief Answer:
Anemia/vit.B12 deficiency;foods/weather changes;biopsy advised...
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
I have gone through your medical history carefully and understood your concerns.
You are reporting to be having itchy swollen red lips for about 2 months, especially on the brim of upper lip. You are also reporting that the symptoms have been subsided when using Vasoline and neutrogena petroleum cream.
To give a more precise answer, I'd like to have a photo of the brim of your upper lip to further analyze the symptoms myself.
Anyway, in lack of the photo, to my opinion, such ongoing lip itchiness might be a sign of:
- biting or licking your lips
- reaction to lipstick you might be using
- possible anemia or vit.B 12 deficiency: complete blood count and measuring of vit.B12 level is advised
- if you notice the symptoms when it is hot weather, it might be due to overexposure to the sun; exposure to cold weather can also be a possible cause
- I also advise to observe if the symptoms become notable after eating/drinking certain foods/drinks: citrus? pineapple? too hot? etc.
If none of the above mentioned factors are not identified as possible causes to your lip problems, I'd advise to run biopsy to determine the final diagnosis.
Hope it was of help!
Dr.Albana
Anemia/vit.B12 deficiency;foods/weather changes;biopsy advised...
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
I have gone through your medical history carefully and understood your concerns.
You are reporting to be having itchy swollen red lips for about 2 months, especially on the brim of upper lip. You are also reporting that the symptoms have been subsided when using Vasoline and neutrogena petroleum cream.
To give a more precise answer, I'd like to have a photo of the brim of your upper lip to further analyze the symptoms myself.
Anyway, in lack of the photo, to my opinion, such ongoing lip itchiness might be a sign of:
- biting or licking your lips
- reaction to lipstick you might be using
- possible anemia or vit.B 12 deficiency: complete blood count and measuring of vit.B12 level is advised
- if you notice the symptoms when it is hot weather, it might be due to overexposure to the sun; exposure to cold weather can also be a possible cause
- I also advise to observe if the symptoms become notable after eating/drinking certain foods/drinks: citrus? pineapple? too hot? etc.
If none of the above mentioned factors are not identified as possible causes to your lip problems, I'd advise to run biopsy to determine the final diagnosis.
Hope it was of help!
Dr.Albana
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Its not weather related bc I work at night and sleep all day plus I live in the south and its not cold enough yet for it to be due to the cold. Not sure if it flares after eating certain things but it does act like it wants to heal but never completes the process . How do I send you a picture?
Brief Answer:
Send to the following e - mail address. ..
Detailed Answer:
Hi back,
Thank you for providing more of your medical data.
You can send the pictures at
YYYY@YYYY
I advise to follow the earlier suggestions.
Looking forward to have the picture in!
Dr.Albana
Send to the following e - mail address. ..
Detailed Answer:
Hi back,
Thank you for providing more of your medical data.
You can send the pictures at
YYYY@YYYY
I advise to follow the earlier suggestions.
Looking forward to have the picture in!
Dr.Albana
Note: Hope the answers resolves your concerns, however for further guidance of skin related queries consult our Dermatologist.Click here to book a consultation
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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