Hi goodcalluk,

I definitely don't want to discourage you posting details of your treatment, and you may be on the right track, but I just want to caution you against using the term "curing." I know this is the zone for cures, but we really should be precise with our language so no one gets the wrong idea and goes overboard with any particular treatment. Some members might react negatively after so many people claimed to be cured after only a short time, then vanished without leaving behind any evidence.

It's been nearly a week with no peeling for you -- that's great, since I imagine it's been every two or three days, am I right? We are also interested in the long-term effect on the rate and area of peeling, as well as what effects discontinuing treatment has. I've thought about your pus situation, it makes me think that you have a bacterial issue. As you probably know, pus composed of living and dead white blood cells that phagocytize bacteria. A fungal overgrowth such as Candida would result in a mouthful of white cottage-cheese like substance. My only other thought is that you have one of what are known as Fordyce spots, which may be coincidental to our condition. Do you have swelling and/or inflammation?

I tried an anti-fungal cream, Clotrimazole, several years ago, for a whole month, on the advice of an oral pathologist. It didn't have any discernible long-term effect, though in the short-term I remember seeing some benefit in terms of holding things together. I had more success with natural anti-fungal coconut and calendula oils, though they were by no means a cure . . . for me. As it turned out I had an internal Candida overgrowth which I brought under control, but I never had a biopsy to determine what organisms might be living on or in my lips.

Some members prefer to use the term "managing" if they are reducing the symptoms and the suffering with some topical treatment or otherwise, even though the peeling continues unabated.

So, good luck with the treatment and don't forget to keep us posted for better or for worse!

Peace,
C.S.