Suggest Treatment For Dryness And Cracks In The Lips Caused By An Allergy

Posted on Sun, 17 Jul 2016

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sun, 17 Jul 2016 Answered on

Wed, 3 Aug 2016 Last reviewed on

Question : I have some kind of allergic reaction with my lips. They get swollen, hot and so cracked and dry that it looks like a third degree burn. There is no discharge. This has been going on since April 29th. I have done two bouts with prednisone 1- 50mg/day for 5 days. 1- 15 days of decreasing amounts) and I am taking antihistamines. I also have a sweet taste in my mouth (I am diabetic but my sugars are normal when I have this.)

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (4 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Don't take prednisone.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
In my opinion, you should not take oral prednisone.
It is better to apply steroid cream on lips because oral prednisone can raise sugar level and make your diabetes uncontrolled.
So don't take oral steroids.
Second thing, is it with some food ingestion?
Do you remember any association between food ingestion and such lesions?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks .

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (38 hours later)

I shall ask my doctor for the cream for my lips. This has happened three times although the other two times were a much shorter duration (7-10 days.) The first happened the morning after I had a flu shot but I have had subsequent flu shots and it did not happen again. Recently, I drank a cup of hot milk before bed and within twenty minutes my all around my mouth was itchy. I stopped milk for a few days but it didn't really make any difference to my lips. Perhaps I should have stopped milk for a longer period? Thanks. XXXXXXX

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (10 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Yes, you should ask your doctor about cream for local application

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
Yes, you should definitely ask your doctor about cream for local application.
Steroidal cream for local application is available.
Better to take it instead of oral steroid.
Hope I have solved your query.
If you are not having further queries, then please close the conversation and rate my answer.
You can ask me directly on bit.ly/askdrkaushalbhavsar. Wish you good health. Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (5 minutes later)

What about the milk question? I took a battery of allergy reaction tests and all came back negative. I think it was the typical 30 allergies that were tested.

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (6 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Yes, you should stop milk for 3-4 weeks.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
Yes, you can try stopping milk for longer time, say 3-4 weeks and look for the results.
And please let me know
1. Have you ever undergone serum IgE levels?
2. Have you ever consulted allergy specialist?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.

Note: For further information on diet changes to reduce allergy symptoms or to boost your immunity, Ask here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar