Sorry, LARC555, but that's bulls*** ;-) The same thing happened to me, pretty early though, just a few weeks/months after the condition started. Actually, I guess the condition just gradually spread over all of my bottom and pretty much all of my top lip.
Also, the areas around my mouth are turning white and building up skin as well. And it doesn't matter if I "clean them with water".
I don't think there is really anything you can do, I guess.