Lip Eczema Driving me crazy

[upsidedownelephant]

I have a terrible flare up of lip eczema, currently about 4-5 weeks in and it's not improving. I have it every year about this time so it seems to be triggered by weather but I also have stretches where it's under control. This time it seems to be getting worse and my usual tactics haven't worked.

I usually don't change creams etc but I think I need to try something as my current is not helping.

After a particularly terrible flare up of eczema all over my face last year, I got it under control with emollients and managed to get to using aveeno baby moisturiser twice daily and the 'dermexma' version for the patch round my eye that flares up regularly.

For some reason it's so much worse when my lips flare up and it's so debilitating feeling constantly on fire with itching and burning. I have a red ring around my mouth and it's so painful. It's definitely eczema, I've had it all my life in various places and I know it well. But don't know how to control it this time.

I have previously cut out diary after an intolerance test indicated this was an issue. Then reintroduced with no issues. I have tried cutting out diary during this flare up but no improvement.

I usually just use the Aveeno baby lotion as lip balm too (just a tiny bit) if needed as I'm wary of anything else. Vaseline makes my lips burn. I tried avene lip balm which has helped in previous years but this time made it worse. I feel like I can't even trust previously safe products (for me personally). Does anyone have any suggestions?

Have you tried making sure you put and emollient/barrier cream on your lips before washing your face and brushing your teeth?

What facial moisturiser are you using, ditto shampoo and conditioner?

My derm also advised me to be careful about nail polish.

I found I had an allergy to some toothpaste. Very careful of red or pink ones. I use drapolene nappy cream to soothe a flare of excema and psoriasis anywhere on my face or ears. (Lucky me I get both)

I'm currently using the Laneige lip sleeping mask as a normal lip balm. Put it on every couple of hours and I find it offers a bit of a barrier and has helped a huge amount with mine.

It sounds like it’s an allergy. My eczema always flares up under my nose but it’s not usually because of something I’m putting on my nose - rather that’s just where the allergy shows up.

Obvious things to try first are shower gel and shampoo. Anything with SLS is a trigger for me. Sanex shower gel is great for me but might not be great for you.

Aveeno cream is dreadful for my eczema (although it hasn’t always been) so I’d maybe hold off on that and just use something very basic like diprobase eczema cream.

I don’t know if this will work for you or not. I developed almost eczema like dryness and peeling on and around my lips. It was so uncomfortable. It doesn’t sound like much, but I ended up paying to see a dermatologist. I was prescribed a steroid in ointment form, which I applied once a day for a period of time. Sorry, I can’t remember the name of the ointment. I know it was stronger than hydrocortisone. Basically I’m wondering if a steroid of reasonable strength in ointment form might help.

Thanks for all the suggestions.

It certainly feels allergy like. I have used Aveeno baby twice fairly for the last 12-18months, I would find it strange for that to be the problem but I know things can change and my eczema and face have always decided to not like something once it's become settled!

I have just ordered some simple moisturiser which I used for most of my 20s to see if just a change may help. Worth saying my eyes have also flared at the same time so whole face is fairly eczema-y.

DD gets eczema on her feet which we still haven't conquered and sometimes a change of cream is enough to get on top of it.

I find the proper emollients so greasy that after a day or two they seem to make my very sensitive skin go crazy worse and I have to wash them off desperately as I feel like I'm burning underneath them. My lips are the same with most lip balms so I end up putting just a thin layer of the Aveeno moisturiser.

I am gluten intolerant and I've recently wondered if Aveeno cream is gluten free and it's not clear on their website. Obviously I'm not eating it, but I'm wondering if putting it on my face for the last year is having a bad impact!

I am always terrified of any other cream (however 'sensitive') making things worse! Last year I was prescribed Protopic for my eyelids and it made my eyes burn with a pain that I almost passed out from for about 12 solid hours. I didn't reapply and now very wary of anything else prescription.

I've previously had a mild steroid for around my lips (a few years ago) but that got me in a steroid cream cycle that was difficult to get out of, every time I eased off it came back worse.

I will definitely look into the toothpaste, I usually use Colgate.

I don't use nail polish, I use simple shampoo and conditioner and original source shower gel. Or often use DCs child's farm so never anything particularly strong.

Just to add, before I solved my lip problem, I was prescribed hydrocortisone which helped a bit, but then the. Problem came back twice as bad afterwards. The dermatologist felt that the cause of my lip issues was developing a sensitivity to ingredients in lipbalm, which I’d been overusing as my lips were permanently dry. The ointment steroid fixed the problem and worked where hydrocortisone did not.

I use epaderm when i have a flare: I know others prefer other brands, different things work for different people.

Eyes and lips are difficult - they don't self-moisturise in the way the rest of the face does.
Try plain vaseline on top.

Nickel allergy can be a cause of an eczema type rash around the lips and mouth

Changing to a non SLS toothpaste really helped me. I use basic Sensodyne toothpaste as it has no sodium lauryl sulphate in it.

I will definitely try switching toothpaste as that's an easy one, I have read that sensodyne pro namel is SLS free.

I have tried some la Roche posey cream on one eye (just in case of adverse reaction!) last night and that seems to be slightly better. I am always wary of then slapping it everywhere as I've had so many bad reactions in the past and when it flares up plus a reaction it's horrendously itchy and impossible to take my mind off it.

Hopefully the la Roche posey will help with my eyes and the skin around my lips.

It's my actual lips that are so sore though and I think I may be allergic to lip balms with lanolin (hence the reaction to avene). I have ordered a la Roche posey lip balm but will be anxious of trying anything. Vaseline burns for some reasons.
Anyone got any lip balm suggestions that are generally fairly safe? I know it's personal though but good to have some to investigate.

I really feel for you. Have you ever had the skin patch tests? Mine came back with Nickel & Guar Gum with House Dust Mites and Milk less so.

Once I'd cut out as much of each as I could my eczema cleared up really quickly.

I'm wondering whether your lip eczema is infected. I had a terrible case of that around six years ago. You could try something like dermol, sudocrem, canestan, lamisil.

A colleague suffers after eating anything dairy related or anything with nuts, or if she licks her lips alot, I think if they’re dry it’s tempting to lick them. She uses Vaseline, no make up at all.
You may need antibiotics or steroid cream if it’s particularly bad, get it under control.
I’ve only had it once after using lipstick, it’s so miserable to live with.

I find UV and wind can make mine flare - the SPF lip balms sometimes help. Burts Bees also worth a try.

Also, a free tester pot of goat’s milk cream (I use the enriched night cream as lip balm) might be worth a try - it’s the only thing I can use on my eczema prone skin, I flare even with Childs Farm or Nivea.

https://www.natural-skin-care.com/category/goats-milk

Thank you. It really is miserable.

Thank you for the suggestions. I thought the La Roche Posey was helping but after a day it seemed to have made things worse, so I stopped all lip balms for a day (which just caused agonising dryness!) then just went basic Vaseline. It had previously burnt but I think that was the overall reaction and it seems to have not been as bad day by day with Vaseline. However, it's flare up again today and even Vaseline isn't helping, so I'm out of ideas.

I'm taking a multi vit, drinking plenty of water and I also have cut out dairy as this has helped my eye eczema in the past. Should mention, it has also flared up very badly around my eyes which are puffy and itchy. However, there is something much more annoying about itchy lips!!! I'm really getting down with it.

I got some hydrocortisone 1% prescribed at a gp appointment but that's for the eyes and round the lips. It's my actual lips that are most painful!! I'm being really careful about what I eat, drink and use toiletry wise in terms of possible allergens, but still suffering.

I would recommend zoe bee lip balm. Also her charcoal and oat cream is amazing for clearing up eczema.
zoebeebeauty.co.uk

Have you tried Lansinoh nipple cream as a barrier to let it heal. It's much thicker than Vaseline. I've had similar at various points and this always calms it.

Synalar 1 in 10 or Betnovate 1 in 10 ointment. Thats what was recommended to me. I tried Betnovate and it sorted it. I’m well aware that you may not have the exact same issue as me and this may not be the solution for you, but I’m throwing it out there. I had to get my ointment prescribed. I tried hydrocortisone and it didn’t sort the problem for me.

Hi did you find anything that helped your lips,I am going through this now and it’s so bad and I have tried everything too