What is wrong with Sons lips (with pic)

[Noclue79]

My 3 yr old son has had horrible, dry cracked skin around his lips since november. Initially I thought just chapped lips and used chap stick and sudocreme overnight. It would improve a bit and then return.

I took him to see the pharmacist after a couple of months. She said its likely dribble rash (hes not a dribbler) and gave me savlon and vaseline. I'm still using vaseline on it 4 times a day and it's still like this.

It does improve for a perhaps a day at best, then flares again. Has anyone experienced similar? Could it be eczema? Food allergies? Any other lotions or potions I could try?

Obviously I'm usual times I would see the gp but it's far from an urgent issue.

I'm not going to attempt a diagnosis by photo - I can think of three other likely problems it could be, but there could be more. I am going to tell you that (a) if it has lasted this long it IS urgent, and (b) the cracking due to the dryness could cause infection so it needs dealing with. In any case, one of my best guesses would need an anti-bacterial cream anyway. GP's are operating as normal - they are just doing more telephone and digital consultations. Contact your practice and get an appointment.

Is he sucking his top lip? I

My son had something similar recently that spread to the corner of his mouth (he’s 8). Like you I tried sudocreme, Vaseline, chapstick, but nothing worked. I had a phone consultation with my GP and sent him some photos. He diagnosed dry lips/skin, maybe a bit of eczema, and prescribed hydrocortisone cream to apply very thinly, just until it got better. It worked like magic! You can buy hydrocortisone cream or gel over the counter, but as your son is young it’s probably best to see if your doctor will prescribe it has a mild steroid in it. As soon as my son’s lip healed we stopped using it and went back to Vaseline (and stopped chewing pens, fingers).
All the best

Just to add, the picture of my son’s mouth area was almost identical to yours with red patches extending, and cracks around the lips. My son kept opening and stretching his mouth as it felt tight. Back to normal now after two weeks.

No idea as to the cause, but when I use vaseline my lips get drier.

Your son's rash is not getting better- you've tried the pharmacist and it hasn't worked- the Dr should be the next stop.

Lick eczema.

What does he drink?
It's on the area that gets wet when kids drink from a cup.
Red drinks can irritate my son's mouth.

As it is his face and v near to his mouth, you really shouldn't be putting steroid cream on it without seeing a Dr.

My brother had this, it was a form of cold sore. I think you need to see your gp. My brothers spread up his face. I can’t recall what medication they gave him, but you need to see the gp.

My sister had something that looked like that when she was younger. The doctor called it lick lip dermatitis.

Thank you all for your replies. I will call the dr on monday as it sounds like there could be a few different possibilities.

How did you get on with the GP?