Expert: Michael S. Fisher, <B>Ph.D., M.D.</B> - 11/4/2009

Question
Hi,

I have had a problem with dry skin for the past year. It is mostly around my right eye and my lips. My eye is flaky, peeling, and swollen, sometimes quite red as well. My lips are cracked in the corner and it recently has begun to spread to the rest of my upper lip as well.

I have tried Carmex, and many other "medicated" lip sticks. I have also used Vaseline on both areas, it helps for a certain amount of time but doesn't make it go away completely. I was prescribed hydrocortisone which made it a lot worse. It also is itchy at times. I had stopped using make up and it was still aggravated. I also have tried dry skin lotions, and polysporin.

A friend suggested it was a vitamin B deficiency, and I am on a supplement and a multi already.



Any advice you have would be great!

Answer
You could have an allergic reaction to something topical coming in contact with your right eye.  I recommend that you use a mild prescription topical cortisone cream on your face like Cloderm or Locoid Lippo Cream.  The cracking on your lips is called angular chelitis.  The treatment for this is Mycolog II which is prescription.  I recommend that you visit your local dermatologist for the correct medication to treat your skin problems.