Daughter’s lips - picture in thread

[sleepfortheweek]

DD’s (8) lips keep flaring up. Mine did exactly the same when I was a similar age.

Within a couple of days she goes from just occasionally licking them - to this (pictures).

I am going to take her to the chemist tomorrow as this is the worst they have been. It happens maybe 3/4 times a year - no obvious triggers.

We have tried Vaseline, sensitive lip balm, weak hydrocortisone and aqueous cream (the latter made her cry for a few minutes so will try avoid that in the future!)

Babe licks/bites/wipes them constantly when they are irritated. I’m able to be empathetic as I know how it feels, and I know it’s involuntary when she’s licking them as it gives her temporary relief. I try not get on at her too much either (just offer her Vaseline etc instead) as a core memory I have is of adults getting mad at me for licking my lips when I was already feeling miserable 😭.

Does anyone else have a DC who gets the same? I wonder what the chemist will suggest tomorrow.

I’d only be using Vaseline on that. Steroid cream won’t be helping especially if she’s licking it off. Hopefully she’ll get out of the habit eventually.

My dd had a similar rash around her mouth, we realised it was caused by ketchup.

Interesting. Just ketchup? Because we have figured out that dd also struggles with some preservatives but it's hard to pin point exactly. Heinze is fine but we no longer have ketchup if we are at a street stall or something as there's a 50:50 chance her lips will start to flare. Ditto certain other fact foods like sausages and burgers. Luckily that also only seems to be an intolerance so we have learnt to spot early warning signs and go I to super cautious food mode for a few days to head further problems off.

Dd has a similar issue, particularly when she gets a cold. We put this on at night - https://amzn.eu/d/gPLKIcF its burts bees overnight lip mask. It seems to help quite a bit.

My daughter had this when young and it’s super common. It’s to something in tomatoes / strawberries etc (can’t be bothered to look up what!). She’ll sometimes still get it now at 10 but not often. It’s not sore though and goes down quickly so I don’t think it’s the same.

edit: I just looked it up and it’s actually just the acidic quality of them.

Agree - I think (note, I'm not a medical professional) that hydrocortisone may be thinning the skin around the lips and exacerbate the problem. (I have psoriasis and was told this by my GP).

Hydrocortisone, a topical steroid, can cause skin thinning (atrophy) with prolonged or excessive use, especially on sensitive areas. This thinning can lead to stretch marks, bruising, and other skin changes. However, when used correctly as directed by a healthcare professional, the risk of significant skin thinning is low.

My son had this when he was young. It improved a lot when we changed toothpaste. We swapped to Oral B

I would try this: https://buzzbalm.co.uk/

It's totally natural - royal jelly & beeswax - so won't irritate and have found it effective on rosacea, patches of dermatitis, and highly reactive skin.

It forms an effective barrier between skin & irritant too and is much more moisturising than any other product I've tried (and I've tried many!).

Mine did that when I was that age. It was really painful when they cracked. I used to suck my fingers so I think it was moisture. Try and get her to stop licking them it feels better at the time but makes it worse.

https://www.elizabetharden.co.uk/products/eight-hour-cream-intensive-lip-repair-balm-old
my son really suffers with this aswell and this works miracles on it

Just back from chemist who has given an anti fungal cream….not sure this is the issue but we will try and see!

They look a bit better this morning but I think that might be the hydrocortisone kicking in. It’s one I use for around my eyes, so very weak, and I’m only putting the thinnest layer around her lips.

ill stop that though and use the anti fungal cream alongside Lansinoh

https://www.boots.com/blistex-intensive-moisturiser-hydrating-lip-cream-spf10-5g-10003619 Blistex.

Lansinoh nipple cream is also very good for this but maybe embarrassing for school...

https://www.bad.org.uk/pils/peri-oral-dermatitis/

Perioral dermatitis

We had problems with skin in various places - doctor in France recommended this. It’s worked so well with everything we have it permanently in stock - including for this!

https://www.boots.com/avene-cicalfate-plus-restroritive-cream-40ml-10275275?traffic=paid.shopping&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22679938683&gbraid=0AAAAA-AdmwR8O6hOeROIFvwUvMBjy29o0&gclid=CjwKCAjwhuHEBhBHEiwAZrvdcsHa3B3FLkYqDgGhg6ZzzK_hOH1xZw1JmNhWj3EQY2YSiuFt9Vn6pxoCWyQQAvD_BwE

It was cheap ketchup, we realised it happened when we went to soft play after her little friend also had sore lips after having chips and ketchup there .

Yeah, not surprising. We can do Heinz still without a problem.

Please don't use hydrocortisone cream on the face without a doctor's advice.

A pharmacist would not sell it to you over the counter for any face, let alone a child's (i work in a pharmacy and part of our training is to ask the questions about what part of the body etc...).

And, importantly, just because it is OK for you does not make it OK for a child's skin, also, because it is around the lips, please check the toxicity of anything you are putting there.

My dc did this when younger. For them it was a sensory thing connected to asd.

I had a friend who said not to use the lanolin cream on this because it can trap the bacteria, her daughter had the same thing, not sure what she actually used to get rid of it

My DS used to get this in the winter Dr prescribed Fucidin. Used sparingly but not on the lips. Worked really quickly to clear it up.

My son gets this. The only thing that we find works a treat is Bepanthan nappy cream. Smother on a thick amount overnight.