On both ends of my lower lip, near where it joins the upper, there are these “skin things” which I’m having trouble describing. They’re fastened toward the center, and loose toward the outside, and quite small. If I pull them off they leave a little sore (and a tiny bit of blood) that heals within a day or so. My lips aren’t chapped or dry, and this goes on pretty much year-round. And has, for as long as I can remember.
So, what is it and how do I prevent it. As I age it’s starting to really annoy me. :mad:
Peace,
mangeorge
Nah. I have skin tags, so I looked it up. Not the same.
This is more like very thin a layer of skin is peeling off, but it doesn’t progress.
It is the crust from angular cheilitis.
ETA: um…I mean it would be in a hypothetical person not getting diagnosed over the Net.
I see. I should ask my doctor, maybe for a referral. Our wonderful medical system seems reluctant to deal with stuff that won’t kill you.
If my hypothetical guy with the angular cheilitis asked me, I’d suggest he try a thin film of clotrimazole cream twice a day (over the counter at any drugstore) and a paraffin-based lip-balm barrier to the corners of the mouth several times a day.
One theory is that a subacute chronic fungal-based dermatitis is the cause. The clotrimazole would take care of that. Chronic chapping (which might set up the environment for the fungus) is best treated with a wax-based (not phenol-based) barrier balm.
Since your skin lesions may well be a highly unusual case of bilateral skin carcinomas, this is obviously not advice relevant to your case–just the hypothetical guy. 
And FWIW the litmus test for what our medical system takes care of is not its potential lethality. It’s entirely based on the results of the preliminary wallet biopsy.
That’s almost always the best advice in these cases. I’m closing this thread.
Colibri
General Questions Moderator