Yellow crust on lips

[SCF506]

For the last two days I have woken up with a yellow, crumbly crust covering my lips. I have been applying Vaseline liberally, and while that helps keeps my lips nice and moist, I still have this crust developing and I often feel as though my lips are weeping or sweating.

Is this an infection? If it is, will I need a prescription for an antibiotic cream or is there one I can get OTC? It started off as regular chapped lips, but I think the chap is largely gone now thanks to the Vaseline. I sometimes feel like they are burning a little too.

My lips itch slightly around the outside too. It looks as though there may be some very small raised bumps on my lips, with no heads or anything, like it's a rash - but I'm not sure. It certainly doesn't look like cold sores. I and my  boyfriend were tested for all STD's recently and came up clear, but I may go to a clinic to get herpes ruled out just to ease my mind. I would have seen a doc about this already but I am overseas right now so it's tricky.

Stats:
Age - 19
Non-smoker
History of eczema, but not on or around the face, and not seen for years
I don't lick my lips, I use Chap Stick quite a lot because I do get chapped lips easily
Iron deficiency runs in family, but is usually not a problem for me because I include lots of iron and Vit-C in my diet
As far as I know, I'm perfectly healthy otherwise and haven't been ill in months.

[anonymous12345678901234]

EVERYONE I HAVE A WAY TO TREAT THIS!!! had this issue... went to Doctor... sent me to dermatologist!
Dermatologist perscribed mupirocin ointment USP 2% and Desoximetasone Cream USP 0.05%. told me to mix the two and put on lips... also perscribed MethyIPREDNISolone Tablets USP 4mg! WORKS LIKE A CHARM... possible food allergy/ dermatitis I recommend!

[kinnz]

i really do enjoy reading everyones post.. i have one now.. i was dealing with the same thing. my bottom lip formed a red circle that became a little itchy/ tingling with tiny blister bumps on it; however, it was filled with clear water or whatever. the next day, it formed into a yellowish crust. the thing is, this blister thing formed the very same day, later on that day, at night.  3 or 4 days later, i go see my doctor and get a blood test, 2 weeks later or so, i get an email saying i have the herpes virus 1. i was sexually active that day yes, but i was also in a hot tube, and i was also in a steam room that smelled like vicks. i use chap stick A LOT because my lips get chapped, but im scared that im have the HVS 1.. what do yalls think?

[Anonymous4570]

I had similar symptoms to the original poster.  Thought it was a case of angular chelitis/perleche as I have had that before.  Typical over the counter Lotrimin antifungal cream works but this time it did not.  Went to dermatologist who prescribed Naftin 2% antifungal cream and Mupirocin 2% antibiotic (to address any secondary bacterial infection).  Use small amounts at corner of mouth as they can irritate sensitive skin around the mouth if overused.  That still didn't fully clear it so she then prescribed 7 days of Cephalexin 500mg antibiotic and Desonide 0.05% ointment for skin around the mouth.  That seems to have cleared it.  I'm using Aquaphor ointment to keep my lips moist.  Doctor thinks it may have been perleche plus secondary staph infection.  I also am taking a multivitamin, Vitamin B 100 complex and Vitamin D supplement  and drinking lots of water.  Hope this helps!

[HealthinHand]

I like this site because it gives me hope for my daughter who is suffering from some"similar" symptoms to some of those posted. It seems like many post,"I have the same symptoms" yet all of the posts are a bit different.  I've looked at pictures on line to see if the conditions already listed look similar to what my daughters looks like, but they don't.  She has had swollen, red, weeping and yellow crusty scabs surrounding her mouth.  She is addicted to chapstick.  She is sensitive to gluten, dairy, yeast, and sugar and has not had these in her diet for the past year.  The doctor prescribed an anti fungal cream which has done nothing, but make the condition worse.  I am going to try hydocordizone  cream with antibiotic cream and see if it helps.  I wish we could post pictures.

[paintingflowers]

i tried the antifungal. had the same thing.. the antibiotic and hydrocortizone would help because its a secondary infection of impetigo..and it itches. but the culprit, the reason why this allergic reaction is happening being eliminated would stop the recurrence.
and those antibiotics overused no good. try keeping them clean. applying lanolin(as long as not allergic to that) and let the body heal it. and try an allergy medicine until the allergin is found and eliminated. good luck. i believe everyone should have access to this information!

[Nannaluie]

Thats sounds exactly like the thing i have right now but im not sure if i should go to the doctor with it then

[RAKS_8]

Oh my goodness. Basically, two weeks ago I got bumps around my mouth. I thought it was a cold sore because I tend to get colds really easily since my immune system is low and I am most definitely not a 5 a fruit and veg a day person. Thus, I left it thinking it would go. Man, was that a bad decision, within 3 days I had a burning sensation (it killed) around my mouth and my mouth was pretty much swollen. I was obviously convinced to go to the doctors, so I did. My doctor mentioned I had a contagious virus (did not give a name) because I seemed to have spots on my feet and hand as well. My doctor gave my flucloxacillin and this cream to put around affected area for relief. My goodness did it help! Within a week of using it, I felt much better and so stopped using what was prescribed to me. However, a few days later I woke up with yellowy crusts around my mouth and it looked disgusting and I just want to cry. I am unable to even. I still have the cream that the doctors gave me and I am applying it now. I just do not know why it has just reappeared?! I hate this so much and my college is already angry at me for missing days off due to stupid infection. I have a feeling this is more than a non-bollous impetigo, for me anyway. Will be going to the doctors tomorrow for help. Will keep y'all posted.

[lipproblem]

I've been having this problem off and on for a few years now, but it's only gotten bad this year, 2014. I can't understand why different medicines work for different outbreaks when my symptoms are usually the same. Sometimes the crust is worse than others, sometimes the crust isn't hardly there. It starts out as a red patch on an area of my lip and spreads to patches covering both lips usually by the end of a day or 2 days. It will feel crusty and sand papery if I put my lips together. Sometimes it itches like crazy although it's currently not very itchy but burns a little. Only ever affects just my lips and can never pin down a cause of why it happens. The only thing that definitely causes it is using almost any lipstick or chapstick so I exclusively use Aquaphor and Carmex now. Over the summer carmex seemed to stop this overnight and I'd be ok for a month or two, but it'd come back. What is this?? Two doctors didn't know. One guessed it could be herpes but when I went back earlier this month when it was bad she didn't think it was herpes anymore but didn't know what it was. One doc gave me Muiprocin which seemed to hcure it the first two times after 1 or 2 weeks but not lately. Last time it seemed to respond immediately to Muconizole, a drugstore antifungal, but this time it didn't seem to help and my crusts are worse than they've been since my first outbreak of whatever this is. It doesn't really look like impetigo, chelitis, herpes or anything I can find pics of online. I can't understand how to fix this or why it happens. I'm in great health otherwise, healthy weight, could eat more fruits/vegetables but don't eat a lot of fast food, 25 yr old female. This doesn't seem to be contagious as my fiancee refuses to stop eating and drinking after me and he has never shown any type of symptoms. Help!!!!