sparkleheart (Canada) on 08/24/2024
I usually wouldn't use Aquaphor (the healing ointment) because it's not totally natural, but I didn't even have to use it very long at all so I'm grateful for this remedy which worked for me. It was recommended to me by a short video/reel I came across somewhere when I was in the middle of the WORST flare up. It was so red and itchy and peeling like crazy, and within a day or two of using the aquaphor it was totally gone and hasn't come up in the weeks since. I'll be trying the calendula gel solution next time but for now I'm just thankful it's gone!!
Denise (California ) on 05/26/2019
Maria (Tampa, Fl) on 03/23/2018
After only THREE days of liquid colostrum, the peeling lips problem is just GONE. Completely gone! I wasn't even taking the colostrum for this problem but I was amazed when I went to go brush my teeth one day and my lips were smooth and perfectly normal! This is proof to me that I should continue taking the colostrum for the myriad of other help benefits that people claim. I've only been taking it for about a week and I cant wait to see what other things are fixed with the colostrum. I am taking 1 tsp of liquid (unflavored) colostrum three times a day mixed with a bit of water.
Va (India) on 06/04/2017
Initially, I attributed this to the weather and dehydration.
I turned to the usual home remedies - drinking lots of water, vaseline, beeswax balms, coconut oil, castor oil, fish oil, B12 vitamin supplements, followed by prescription steroid creams. Not one of these things helped at all. I then thought it might be an allergy to something and slowly stopped using any new cosmetics, changed my sheets and pillow case even more frequently. No results yet again.
I was almost ready to give up when I stumbled across Calendula gel as a treatment option. I ordered a 4% strength calendula gel about a month ago. I would apply it 4-5 times a day, followed by beeswax, in the initial week. The peeling and all symptoms went away within 2 days. After that, I have been applying the gel twice a day just for maintenance and my lips have never felt better!
I can't believe most doctors don't know about this option.
Sapphire (Canada) on 11/19/2016
1. Candida Cleanse to get rid of candida overgrowth
2. Traditional Chinese medicine: intensive 6-week (2x/week) sessions of lymphatic drainage massage + acupuncture + herbal remedies.
Will write a more detailed post next month after my sessions are finished! But wanted to share for those who want to try something that is helping heal my EC. Noticeable improvement after 2 weeks!
Lynn (Wisconsin, US) on 01/29/2015
Reshae (Georgia, US) on 08/29/2014
I thought to myself what could I have done to cause this? I believed it was an allergic reaction, but to what? I thought back when I had used Carmex on my lips for two nights in a row. Carmex contains ingredients that causes lips to peel because it is not actually for the lips. It's for the peeling of cold sores. To make a long story short to get cured I used hydrocortizone 0.1. Only a little because this helped peel off the dead skin from my lips.
I believe this helped some but what helped me the most is taking fish oil pills 3 times a day. It gives the directions on the bottle. What fish oil does is not only lubricates from the inside but also thins your blood. This isn't a bad thing being that the allergic reaction from Carmex was still in my blood. Also, during my healing process I used aquaphor. Other natural oils may help, but aquaphor worked the best for me because it's not only a good moisturizer but it hides the peeling really well while you're healing yourself. You only have to apply a small amount. Along with that I made sure to eat healthy and fresh foods and got plenty of exercise. I had Exfoliative Cheilitis for about 6 or 7 months. I discovered taking fish oil maybe on the 5th or 6th month. I was cured in maybe a month in a half. I hope this helps someone.
Lisa (Colorado) on 12/20/2013
I've read blogs on the internet from people saying they have suffered from this for ten years, and no doctor or dermatologist could help the situation! It does not want to go away on it's own! I found certain irritants that made it much worse. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate in my toothpaste was the first culprit. I started brushing with a homemade paste of baking soda and coconut oil mixed with some cinnamon essential oil. The next major irritant that was setting me back during the healing process was nonorganic coffee, tea, and hot cocoa. Those products would cause my lips to peel within half an hour to an hour after drinking them, but when I switched to organic coffee, etc. they would not peel. I think it was those terrible chemicals/pesticides that caused the yeast to multiply profusely.
I suffered the anxiety and embarrassment of this for about seven months, and I am so relieved and grateful to have it gone. I truly hope that this post helps someone else who is suffering from this condition!
Dee (Tulsa, Ok) on 12/01/2012
This protocol was inspired by popular [Ted's] remedies here on EC. I'm working under the assumption that this is some kind of bacterial and/or fungal infection.
This is what I used:
Soft toothbrush
Borax ("20 Mule Team")
3% hydrogen peroxide
Whole Foods "365" shampoo
Vegetable glycerin
Pure HPA lanolin ("Lansinoh")
Pure cold pressed Castor oil ("Home Health")
Bottled purified water
I prepared these solutions and kept them handy by the sink:
---> Borax solution (dissolve 2 Tablespoons of borax in 1 liter/quart of purified water). This amount should be enough to last about four days.
---> Borax/hydrogen peroxide solution (4 parts borax solution and 1 part hydrogen peroxide). Put it in a one liter/quart bottle.
---> Shampoo solution (1 part mild natural shampoo and 1 part purified water). An 8-ounce bottle of this would be enough to last a long time.
THIS IS MY PROTOCOL: I did this routine twice a day (morning after breakfast, and evening after dinner). It takes about 5 minutes.
WEEK 1:
Brush teeth with water only (no toothpaste! ) to remove food particles. Rinse.
Pour some of the borax/hydrogen peroxide solution into a glass. Wet toothbrush with the borax/hp solution and brush teeth. Rinse mouth with borax/hp solution.
Then wash lips very gently with the mild shampoo solution. Rinse well.
Take another sip of the borax/hp solution and gargle and swish with it for about 20 seconds. Spit it out. Rinse mouth with more borax/hp solution.
Pat-dry the skin surrounding the lips. Then wet the lips with the borax/hp solution and allow to air dry. Then gently apply glycerin to lips, and then a thin coating (one tiny drop) of castor oil.
I did this routine twice a day (morning after breakfast, and evening after dinner). After lunch I only brushed with water and/or borax solution and re-applied the glycerin and castor oil. The thick flakes/crusts on my lips fell off on the third and fourth day after I started with this protocol, leaving smooth lips. They were a little raw/inflamed where the crusts had been, but I continued with the protocol for a couple more days. Don't rub or pull the dead skin flakes/crusts. If they didn't fall off during all the washing and rinsing, just leave them alone. They'll fall off when they're ready.
WEEK 2:
Same as Week 1, but using the borax solution only (no hydrogen peroxide), and Lansinoh instead of glycerin.
I'm still doing this routine twice a day. I'm at the end of week 2, and my lips are still soft and have not hardened or peeled at all. But they're still delicate and a bit sensitive. I'll continue the same protocol as my 'Week 2' for another week and see if I need to make changes. I'm very happy with the results of this method so far. I carry some of the borax solution in a little plastic bottle and the Lansinoh with me in case I need to use them when I'm out.
