Beauty

[lavendar]

I have Sjogren's syndrome and get yeast infections in my mouth. This is not common in people who do not have Sjogren's or who are not immunosuppressed. I have to be on strong oral meds to treat it. Fissures in the corners of the lips are a giveaway. Not especially dry lips.

I have dry lips also but when I suspect an infection I stop by the dentist. She's better than my doctor at this.

I use L'Occitane shea butter at night for my lips but my derm recommends Aquaphor; I use both.

[Buck-i-Nana]

Chapstick and many other chapped lip products contain camphor, and camphor is drying. It's the camphor that is causing the seeming addiction to chapstick type products...you keep applying and reapplying it to get the moisture which is the first hit, but then the camphor takes over and dries. Check the ingredients list, including the inactive ingredients - if it has camphor, don't use it!

I'd heard about the possibility of fungal or yeast infections causing the cracking at the corners. For me, if my blood sugar gets too high I get that cracking, it's like my own personal glucose meter! My mom had the same thing.

[jbinrwc]

I read a while back that it may be your toothpaste that is causing cracking at the sides of your lips. I still have the problem occasionally if I don't apply enough lip balm to my lips so my lips get too dry but changing my toothpaste really helped the problem. If this is an ongoing problem, you may want to consider changing your toothpaste. I don't want to name specific brands so you may need to experiment a bit. Hope this information will be helpful.

[Yesyesyes568]

Lavender, I do hope you read this because I need you to Help me. I've been getting sores in my mouth from sjrogens too but No help from DRS. Especially on the side of my toungue and Boy does it hurt!" But you can't see the sore?!?!? It gets to the point where I can't speak. Help!"

[lavendar]

I'm very fortunate in that Boston has an oral medicine clinic at Tufts Dental School. I see a dentist there who has a Ph.D. and a DD.S.

Has anyone prescribed Salogen? Also, my mouth was the worst when the Sjogren's first started and was flaring. If soup was too hot I'd hit the ceiling.

Do you belong to the nonprofit organization called The Moisture Seekers? They have very good info and resources. I was a charter member when I found out I had Sjogren's.

What part of the country do you live in? Possibly the organization can help you find the right doctors.

I remember taking Lysine, an OTC supplement when my mouth was really bad. It helped some. My aunt also had Sjogren's and used Lysine.

[glmama]

On 12/12/2014 annabellethecat said:

Chris Rock (the comedian) does a whole routine about his Grandpa saying, "Broken leg? Robitussin. Sore finger? Get some Robitussin", and so on.

That's how I am about Neosporin (or the generic brand). I swear by it. Sore throat? Take Neosporin and put a small amount right inside of your nose (it kills the bacteria and you can feel the smell of it going down your throat). It WILL kill the bacteria in your throat and you won't need antibiotic for the sore throat.

I use it for everything. Now my post about lips. About once a week or so I rub it on my lips (another good remedy (a cheap version of the expensive lip exfolient brand "Sugar" is actual sugar. Rub it on your lips.

Every single night of my life (since I was a teen (today I just turned 68 years old) I have put some form of Petroleum Jelly on my lips and around them. I've never had chapped lips.

Just simple things makes all of the difference.

My Grandmother was 1/2 Cherokee Indian. She raised me. She taught me many "home" remedies.

Less is always best. You can add but you can't take away. Just saying.

Annabelle-My DH & I quote that Chris Rock bit all the time. I use Smiths Rosebud (or Strawberry) Salve every night. And different lip balms throughout the day. I've been pretty good at avoiding the ultra chapped lip thing. But I know some ppl IRL that seem to have a chronic problem with it and it would make sense that it may be a fungal thing. And in that case Chapstick or other regular balm woukdnt necessarily help.

[Amypie]

Vick's Vapo Rub. Works like a miracle for chapped lips. Put it on at night and you will see a significant improvement the next morning. I was shocked that it really works.

[Desertdi]

Sounds like thrush

[beauty queen]

Lavendar, maybe you could help me too. I was diagnosed with Sjogren's through bloodwork. My mouth and lips are driving me crazy. My lips almost feel swollen at times. I switched toothpastes, etc. still no help. How can I join that Moisture Seekers group you speak of? I would like more info on this. My eyes are dry also. Thank you for any help you can provide and for taking the time to answer.

[suzyQ3]

I strongly advise against the use of Vicks Vaporub on the lips. It contains several strong irritants and also could be dangerous.

Active Ingredients: Camphor (4%), Eucalyptus Oil (1.2%), Menthol (2.6%). Inactive Ingredients: Cedarleaf Oil, Nutmeg Oil, Special Petrolatum, Thymol, Turpentine Oil -- (drugstore.com)

Topical camphor absorbed through mucous membranes or broken skin also can be toxic. That's why you should never put VapoRub in or around the nostrils — particularly a small child's nostrils. Finally, if VapoRub gets in your eye, it can injure your cornea -- (mayoclinic.org).