Re: Exfoliative Cheilitis

Discharge is clear and sticky (similar to superglue as it comes out of the tube). It then transforms into a thin white line across the wet-dry line of both lips. Standard operating procedure (should I wish to go to work and live a normal life) is to gently remove this build up using warm water and cotton buds. However, this will only give me around 1 to 2 hours respite before having to repeat the clean up. Unfortunately this process leaves the lips feeling incredibly sore and prone to cracking. Smiling, for instance, is out of the question. Eating and drinking exacerbate the problem and reduce the times between clean ups. If left to their own devices, the white line hardens and slowly ‘waterfalls’ forward (upward on the top lip and downward on the lower). Over time it’s as if winter sets in and much like ice builds up gradually on the waterfall, the hyperkeratinization intensifies. Actually, do you mind if I just say crusting begins to thicken up as 8 syllables induces a network error in my brain’s CPU. During this time the crust colour evolves from a Californian desert sunrise to Boston in the autumn. The pussing appears to be mucous emitted from the lips that has become trapped under layers of crust.

I have been checked out for Candida and adjusted my diet accordingly. Yeast infection from someone is possible although it’s difficult to say how likely as this would be going back to 93-94. Punch biopsy in 2001 (and nasal swabs over several years) indicate slightly elevated levels of strep and staph but nothing out of the ordinary. Various approaches have been taken: antifungals, antibacterials (tacrolimus, protopic, Antibiotics , I forget many of the brand/generic names), steroids (injections and creams), Patch testing indicated probable allergies to pulses and shellfish. Chinese herbal meds and acupuncture, as well as other bizarre treatments (chemical allergy related) suggested by friends, family and colleagues, have all proved unsuccessful.

Emotional trauma?
Work transferred me from London to NYC in ’97.
Got married in Aug ’98. Father died Dec ’98.
Trapped with colleagues for a few hours at the World Trade Center site during 9/11.

Hyperkeratinization intensified dramatically in 2002.
(FYI - I am an anxious personality by nature.)

Obviously the event that sticks out for me as the probable cause is getting married but some may say that is a little unfair.

Thanks for taking an interest.
Seb
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