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Original poster

Dd has really bad constant sore/red lips constantly, nothing works....

35 replies

Blossomhill · 11/01/2009 19:50

Poor dd is 9 and has constant red sore lips. Been to gp so many times and nothing works It looks awful and am at my wits end. Hydro-chortisone, vaseline, every lipbalm on the market, sudacream.
Is there anything I haven't covered am desparate. Thanks

OP posts:
WhatFreshHellIsThis · 11/01/2009 19:52

I know you say you've tried every lip balm, but have you tried Blistex? Not the cream, the balm in pots - it's the only thing that works for me. Hard to find though.

Also your lips get dry when you're dehydrated, is she getting enough water to drink?

I was like this as a child, Blistex was the only thing that worked, but they're a lot better now I'm an adult.

WhatFreshHellIsThis · 11/01/2009 19:55

this is the one and you have to apply frequently.

Also she shouldn't lick her lips, even though it feels great for a bit! Makes it worse.

Poor DD, I know how it feels, it's really rubbish.

blametheparents · 11/01/2009 19:55

Also, what about putting it on once DD is asleep? She won't be able to lick/wipe it off staright away then?
I tried this with DD (admittedly a lot younger than your DD) and it worked well. It gave the cream a chance to work.

WhatFreshHellIsThis · 11/01/2009 19:57

Putting it on at night is a really good idea, I put some on every night before I go to sleep and it helps a lot.

It's been a tough winter for lips, all that dry cold really gets to them.

sarah293 · 11/01/2009 19:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

cornsilk · 11/01/2009 19:59

My ds gets chapped lips and he licks them all the time. Won't put cream on. I put Elizabeth Arden 8 hour cream on when he's just dropped off and out cold. It works really well.

fiestabelle · 11/01/2009 20:11

Elizabeth Arden 8 hour cream - its fab. Sorts chapped lips out almost overnight and although it is a bit expensive for a lip-balm it lasts forever. Think they do a chapstick type version especially for lips a well but not sure if this also has a hint of colour so might not be suitable for your DD.

Original poster
Blossomhill · 11/01/2009 20:12

cornsilk ~ i have even tried elizabeth arden on and the blistex balm, thanks for all the suggestions, keep them coming please

OP posts:
scatterbrain · 11/01/2009 20:13

I found that Carmex worked for my dd - I tried loads of other things but Carmex did and still does work.

fourlittlefeet · 11/01/2009 20:13

does she chew her lips/bite them when nervous? Is she dehydrated? Does she have enough good lipids in her diet (seeds/avocados etc)

Aitch · 11/01/2009 20:14

i put 8hour cream on when dd sleeps, too.

soapbox · 11/01/2009 20:17

Ask to be referred to a peadiatric dermatologist who can assess the situation.

It is possible that it is a form of contact eczema which is caused by an allergy to certain foodstuffs.

A good aqueous cream will help to create a barrier against the allergen but in my experience you have to try a few before you get one that works. Having said that it takes about 90 days for the skin to fully heal and so any thing you try you have to stick with for the long term!

soapbox · 11/01/2009 20:18

Carmex and vaseline (and some other things mentioned here) have mineral oils in them which makes the problem worse, so best to avoid them.

soapbox · 11/01/2009 20:20

8 hour cream never worked for DS and DD, but Molton Brown lipsaver did! The dermatologist was a big fan of 8 hour cream though

SlightlyMadScientist · 11/01/2009 20:21

Can't add anything in terms of creams and potions - but - make sure she is drinking plenty and make sure that the creams are NOT applied immediately before going out in the cold.

Aitch · 11/01/2009 20:23

oooooh, why?

SlightlyMadScientist · 11/01/2009 20:25

Because the creams will leave the lips damp (which you want them to do) and the cold weather on damp lips will actually dry them out and make them worse. Best to apply when coming in from the cold.

randomcupsoftea · 11/01/2009 20:27

8hr cream works for my kids - also Lansinoh cream.

bellavita · 11/01/2009 20:27

I agree with cornsilk and fiestabelle - the 8 hour cream and the lipstick version - both work very well on my DS's.

DS2's dryness extends below his bottom lip and can look quite sore, but a couple of applications of the cream or the chapstick and it clears up no problem.

Applying at night time when they are asleep is key.

jaycay · 11/01/2009 20:33

hi, my dd had this for ages on her lips and skin between lips and nose, it lasted for ages, nothing worked, gp didn't want to know. It miracuously disappeared when she had antibiotics for a chest infection, so was an infection of some type, if only we had known that 2 years earlier....would have saved her and us ALOT of distress

BBBee · 11/01/2009 20:36

anyone endorsement for 8 hour cream - when i first got it couldn't work out what to do with it - now couldn't be without it.

DS gets horrible chapped lips and even patches on his chin - 8hr cream at night and after eating and it goes like magic.

MrsArchieTheInventor · 11/01/2009 20:40

I heartly endorse 8 hour cream for sore/dry/cracked lips!

Had a cold for what seems like months and my lips always chap when I'm run down, so much that I peel the skin off that's already hanging off and they bleed. I bought an 8 hour lipstick last week to replace the tube that's empty and they've all but healed completely, and as the backs of my hands are very dry too I've put some on there and it's soothed them too.

It's expensive (£15-£16) but the one indulgence I feel is worth it.

BigusBumus · 11/01/2009 20:41

My 6 yr old son gets a strange rash / redness around his bottom lip and chin all the time. The school keep saying its impetigo but it isn't (i take him to docs all the time). No-one knows what it is, but having tried everything,the only thing that clears it up is when he goes to bed and is asleep i rub a tiny amount of Metanium (yellow nappy rash cream) on it. I am sure his rash/redness is to do with constant wet lips, (he was a bad dribbler as a baby too), so the barrier cream and antiseptic powers of Metanium really help loads!

ACL · 11/01/2009 20:43

Neals Yard (creams have been fab for us) and Liz Earle (nice lip balm in pretty pink pot) - have you tried these?

Zinc oxide seems to help eg in Morhulin (also contains cod liver oil), but this product was for my children's bottoms and eczema. It is quite white so if OK for lips, would need to be put on overnight. If all else fails, this is what we use generally.

Epaderm like Vaseline - great for eczema elsewhere.

I know this may seem strange but maybe ask the dentist! They are used to skin problems around the mouth. Ours recommended Vaseline for angular chellitis (sp?) which resulted from licking chapped and cut lips and it worked. Again putting the cream on overnight helped.

Has GP tried antibacterial/fungal creams?

Have you asked a variety of pharmacists too? Or the National Eczema Society etc. I think the NES has a leaflet on lip eczema.

A lot of brainstorming here but I do know what it is like to try all sorts of creams.

fourlittlefeet · 11/01/2009 20:46

BB, this may sound odd, but does his coat come up to his chin/mouth? I used to get funny scaley bits on my chin in winter and couldn't work out what it was, they went one year and I realised the hard corners of my coat neck rubbed my chin. wierd long shot, but thought I'd mention it