Flare up on my lips (and eyes?) 🫦
Hi! 37/F/Minnesota USA/caucasion
Duration: off and on for a few months, this flare up is going on 4 days
Location: vermilion border of lower lip, also upper lip but not as pronounced
Timeline: Saturday it blew up and now today it was a bit less swollen
Symptoms: Tight, swollen lip skin, red/flaky/heat sensitive on the border. Burns when hot water is on it.
Treatments tried: I've tried doing nothing. I've tried using just plain Vaseline. I tried carmex, lanolips, lotramin, desanide and also tacrolimus. Tacrolimus seems to work after a few days but it tingles/burns. I've tried Metrogel in the past and it didn't help.
To note: **I am a dental hygienist and I firmly believe this is not a cold sore as it lacks vesicles and doesn't break/then dry out like those I've seen**
I have noticed that this pinkish/red flaky skin issue has now travelled to my eyelids but that doesn't get as bad as my lip. I get random red flaky patches on my cheeks sometimes.
Medical history: I have been taking a glp1 (tirzepatide) since 2024. I take a daily multi vitamin, an iron supplement, a probiotic, and propranolol. Occasionally Xanax when having a panic attack. I drink alcohol occasionally, mostly 2-6 white claws on the weekend. If I go on a deeper drinking adventure, it does seem to cause it to flare up worse but last weekend when this occurred, I was only drinking a little.
I have no food allergies that I'm aware of (I have been patch tested in the past and am allergic to rag weed and dust mites).
I have a dermatologist appt this week but I'm curious what you guys all think. I was wondering if it might actually be fungal? It's frustrating and ugly. 😭