Chronic Dry, Chapped, Cracked Lips/Cracked Corners

[Wanderer21]

Hi. I'm 20 years old and I have been suffering watching chapped, cracked, dehydrated lips ever since I recovered from Anorexia Nervosa at age 16. So 4 years!!!
Prior to the eating disorder, my lips were NEVER this dry and chapped. I'm Nigerian and have naturally full, plump, big lips so the Angular Cheilitis has DRAMATICALLY damged my lips. Since age 18, I've been going to digfy dermatologists and NONE of them have EVER found a cute for my problem and have dismissed and neglected my lip concern. I've tried everything single lip balm, moisturizer, Lanolin, pertrolatum (Vaseline), Bag balm Aquaphor, pretty much every Lil balm you can think of. I previously used hydrocortisone and triamcinolone but the side effects include permanent lip thinning. Now, I've been taking Vitamin B2 supplement because I've heard itcan help reverse angular cheilitis and chapped lips. Its been about 5 days and the corners of my lips are in EXTREME PAIN. I don't know if the symptoms get worse before they get better😭😭😭

[Tasharuby1]

Lots of Derms suggest Vaseline but that makes mine worse.

[NoYo]

I suffered with similar before being diagnosed with very low B12 (pernicious anaemia)
The only thing that worked for me was Melrose stick from amazon. Cleared up the cracks within 3 days. I always have it handy now. May be worth a try? About £4.

[LoafofSellotape]

There's nothing major wrong with your lips ,what are you on about?

Try blue Nivea.

[RockinHippy]

Wanderer you are fucking rude & demanding attention to your post. People have lives & often in here, far worse health problems than chapped lips, so try thinking about that next time you decide to give attitude over people not jumping when you say so.

I cba replying to your chip on the shoulder rudeness anymore 🤨

[BusterGonad]

A bit over the top there @Wanderer21 but whatever floats your boat. Adios 👋🏻

[RebeccaCloud9]

I've just seen this thread and have read post after post of people trying to give you advice. Just because none of it has helped, you seem to have taken this way over the top and are now accusing pps of jealousy and racism. What exactly were you hoping for on this thread? Posters have suggested various lip balms and treatments as well as possible supplements or tests that may help. I can't see what else you were hoping for. It must be really horrid having pain in your lips (But honestly from the photos, they really don't look horrendous at all) and I truly hope you get some relief, but no need to attack the women who have simply tried to help you.

[Amortentia]

I used to suffer from this, my lips are still pretty dry and need a lot of balm but there not sore and cracked anymore.

I see that vit B deficiency has been mentioned but not B9, which is a folate deficiency. It's unusual to have this on its own but it does cause all sorts of problems. I have to take a massive prescription dose and I don't get lip sores anymore.

[YesQueen]

no threat or competition here
Zinc is cheap, try it. But I think you are focusing way too much on this

[Wanderer21]

I'm going to delete this useless thread. So much for a young black women like me asking for sincere advice related to my chronic wrinkled, chapped, and dehydrated lips and I've gotten nothing but derailment and insignificant responses. The two other people that suggested vitamins related to zinc never responded to my pm's but I'm sure they're active other topics on this forum. At least now I know that women aren't reliable when it comes to skincare advice because they deem others as a threat and competition, especially when age and race is the factor.

[BusterGonad]

Op, last week I put on by mistake an out of date, gone off lipstick, the next day my lips completely dried out, to the point where any other lip product stung. This went in for 5 days. I couldn't even eat an orange as it hurt my lips so much. After a bit of research I purchased Bepanthen nappy rash cream which contains vitamin B5 and unlike Vaseline allows your skin to breath. After 3 days my lips are almost back to normal, dry but not cracked or flaky.

[Wanderer21]

Has anyone on here took hyaluronic acud supplements and do you know if it helps with dehydrated, parched skin????

[Wanderer21]

Time for plan B: this is what my lips STILL look like, even after adequate amount of water and intake of protein, fruits, and vegetables

Does anyone know if hyaluronic acid supplements will help smooth, soften, moisturize, and replump my lips fromthe inside-out???
I'm only 20 years old and naturally, my lips have ALWAYS been smooth, soft, supple and hydrated on their own and the anorexia nervosa at age 16 DEFINITELY dehydrated and dried my lips out. Mind you, the e.d. started in the winter back then so the weather was also extremely cold while I wasn't eating. Im conclusion, this had a very negative effect on my lips for some reason.
I've been doing sooo much research and it seems like hyaluronic acid can peehaps moisturize, smoothen, and hydrate the driest skin that lip balm and vaseline couldn't do.

I consume A LOT of fruits and vegetables, wat fish, eggs, and chicken, brown rice, vegetable soup, and nuts and my lips are still parched, chapped, and wrinkled. My self-esteem is dwindling and I'm fed up with all of my incompetent dermatologists.

[Wanderer21]

I highl doubt RockinHippy will ever reply at this point. I already sent her a pm and it's been over 4 weeks.

[Wanderer21]

I hope @RockinHippy replies

[Wanderer21]

My question and comment was intended for @RockinHippy to answer. She mentioned oral supplementation of zinc reversed her severe chapped/dehydrated wrinkled lips.

I've disregarded any replies related to topical treatments (i.e., lip balms, ointments, creams, oils, butters) because I've tried every one in the market. My toothpaste, water intake, diet, and oral hygiene are NOT the issue. Mind you, I've been suffering with this chronic case of cracked, chapped, wrinkled painful lips since age 16 (possible symptom of Anorexia Nervosa) and I'm almost 21 years old. 4 years. Before I went through the eating disorder, my lips never looked like this. I have never seen anyone from ages 16-21 with lips this severely wrinkled, dry, loss of plumpness and dehydrated unless something wrong was going on inside of their body.

My medical insurance is absolutely despicable because my General Practioner, 4 different dermatologists, & allergists have denied, disregarded, and neglected my lip issue and brushed it off with "Just use Vaseline, Aquaphor, or Lanolin and your lips will be back to normal". They never requested, suggested, or addressed internal possibilities that could be causing the persistent chapping, cracking, loss of plumpness, and lack of smooth/supple texture despite continuous application of Vaseline.

Sorry for the long, over-emotional post.

[JustHereforHarriet]

I use an anti-fungal cream like the sort for athletes foot and it works! I’ve always had the cracked in corners lips etc - assumed it was cold sores until I read that it’s most likely fungal.

[BusterGonad]

Sorry this

Cheilitis is inflammation of the lips. This inflammation may include the perioral skin (the skin around the mouth), the vermilion border, or the labial mucosa. The skin and the vermilion border are more commonly involved, as the mucosa is less affected by inflammatory and allergic reactions.

[BusterGonad]

Could it be this
Actinic cheilitis occurs when these abnormalities cause dry, scaly patches to form on the border of the lip. Listed below are some of the known causes of actinic cheilitis and risk factors for the condition: Chronic sun exposure: The more often the lips are exposed to sunlight, the more likely damage is to occur.

[YesQueen]

Blistex lip serum
Lanolips
Hurraw moon balm

[Wanderer21]

@BusterGonad No, it's not my toothpaste. I'm currently using a sulfate free toothpaste and I've been using one for over 2 years now. The chapped lips began after I recovered from anorexia at age 16. That's when my lips started to crack, shrink in size, and wrinkle.

[BusterGonad]

Could it be your tooth paste?

[Wanderer21]

@RockinHippy The zinc supplements are going to be my last resort to this. Is there any specific dosage to take? Ideally, I'm only hoping to take them for a week or two depending on if my lips become smoother, supple, plump, and moisturized.

[BusterGonad]

Change your dermatologist. They sound like an idiot.
Take the zinc, what have you got to lose? Surely they're not too expensive!

[Wanderer21]

Are you absolutely positive that zinc supplements can smoothen, soften, plump, and hydrate my cracked, dry severe lips???

My dermatologist is still insisting that I use vaseline but my lips look and feel horrible. They're painful to eat and touch.
I wasn't born with chronic persistent chapped lips but it's getting much worse😭😭😭

[Wanderer21]

@BusterGonad No one should agree with that font because she didn't contribute anything important but try to give me a
false diagnosis on something that isn't accurate. Objectively, yes, my lips look disgusting, unhealthy, and unattractive for a young person and no amount of sugar-coating is going to help the issue.