Re: to all: Profiles

This is exactly what I had in mind in my last post, but I'd like to add a few more categories (thanks for contributing everyone!):

Personal descriiption: Age 27. Caucasian male. Urban dweller for entire life (most of which in the top two most polluted cities in the US). Heavy computer user. Light Cell Phone user. Borderline overweight (not obese!). Light sleeper. Ex-smoker of tobacco, currently infrequent smoker of marijuana. Nervous habits include chewing on pens, biting nails, biting lips.

Descriiption of symptoms and onset: No swelling. No spots. No angular cheilitis or bleeding or pain. Skin on lower lips began peeling, picked at and licked subconsciously. Peeling began in November of 2006 during a time of great anxiety, depression, alcohol abuse, poor diet, dental work. However, a time of beginning to exercise outdoors, amid a variety of temperatures. Winter of 2008, upper lip began peeling as well. Reaction to water turns lips whitish and skin peels off easily. Indentions in lips precede flaking. 2-3 day peeling cycle over this time. Medium size flakes (not specks) fall off scalp if scratched.

Specialists seen: Oral pathologist, diagnosis--"Idiopathic Cheilosis, especially of lower lip. Prominent keratotic, crenated linea alba of both buccal mucosae." Recommended ruling out fungal, followed by splint and systemic corticosteroids. Skeptical of Candida cause.

Improvements: peeling on upper lip (except for small triangle in the middle) stopped late spring 2008; unclear as to why. Also surface area of peeling on lower lip grew slightly smaller.

Worsening: Worsened badly after dentist applied petroleum jelly during teeth cleaning. Also noticed hard non-growing nodule at the base of the inside of the gums, though possibly unrelated.
Recently worsened after any or all of the following events last week: was dehydrated, drank a Mudslide (Kahlua, vodka, milk)/ ate Vietnamese spring rolls with peanut sauce/ drank a shot of Bourbon/ applied small amount of Aquaphor. Now area that had previously stopped peeling on lower lip has indented, and peeling cycle has accelerated.

Other health symptoms: Occasional aching of knees and shoulders, pulled muscles more frequent and take more time to heal than in the past.

Mental behaviour: Depressive, anxious, and obsessive hereditary tendencies, however emotionally and socially stable. Night-time panic attacks were more frequent after first onset, much less frequent now. Frequent checking in mirror.

Lip treatments tried:

Topical: DISCONTINUED all-- various natural lip balms with cocoa butter/beeswax, Aquaphor, Clotrimazole anti-fungal, Coal Tar dandruff shampoo (miniscule amount), L-Lysine, Hydrocortizone 1%
Supplements: B-complex, zinc, Vitamin C, multivitamins (current), Evening Primrose Oil, Fish Oil Complex, acidopholus, milk thistle, glucosamine
Diet: tried Candida diet for two weeks, tried fasting for two days followed by no wheat, no alcohol, no sugar, no corn, no preservatives . No difference.
Exercise: almost every day--outdoor sun exposure no more than one hour and a half, no less than 45 minutes.

Notices of health: No allergies, no medical conditions.

Next steps: Attempt flush of toxins from body. Try ginseng. Find liquid bandaid that does not have a warning about getting near mouth.