Since childhood I have had herpes simplex one (oral) which i have kept under decent contral with healthy living, yoga, and upbeat attitude and lots of sleep and lysine supplements.

around 2003 I had my first case of peeling lips as an adult. the first time i had it i did all the wrong things including trying to let the scabs dry out on their own. this made it worse and very painful -- and left scarring which slowly healed.

for years following i found keeping my lips moist would keep the problem at bay, since it seems like dryness causes the lips to crack but the infection is a whole other story. applications of calendula in a petroleum base seemed most helpful and also helped with regular chapped lips.

recently, after some major dental surgery, i had a bad flare up of the cracked lips again, and they wouldn't go away. someone on here commented on foods like Sugar and wheat being the partial causes of the problem. i would lean to that being true as often the cracked lips appear after i snacked late and night and did not brush my teeth following (tsk tsk).

anyhow, after studying the posts here i am off to a new treatment regime which i thought i'd share.
i'm keeping the lips very clean. NEVER NEVER LICKING THEM (this immediately helped with the pain). and several times a day cleaning them gently but thoroughly (to get off the dead skin) which a highly diluted apple cider vinegar. I tried the lemon idea which was suggested on here, a few drops of juice diluted in water. It actually didn't hurt and i sensed the Vit C and fruit acids were probably helpful in removing dead skin but didn't sense should be done often. by all means, even if i had healthy lips, i wouldn't apply pure 100% lemon juice to any delicate part of my body. anyhow, i give the area a moment to dry and then apply to the lips a kiss of vitamin e oil - seems to help heal -- and a thin layer of caledula cream.

i've tried to lower the amounts of Sugar and wheat in my diet while increasing fresh veggies, mild foods and water. i also cut back on coffee and soy products. i starting having yogurt daily and wonder if anyone has tried doing a lip "masque" of yogurt?

i'm taking lysine (as i also am having a light cold sore tingling) B complex, multivitamin and folic acid.

i'm on day one, i'll pass along word as things progress. many thanks to all the comments and suggestions on here. i learned a lot.