hi uklad, dm , #54... just to point out that what jp20 wrote is not the answer. after i picked my lips raw which was in june2005 ..i left them alone and continued in denial..just putting some lip gloss over it hoping it would heal...i did this until feb 2006... so thats 9months !..it did not heal at all...iv been actively trying to heal it since feb 2006 by leaving it alone ..putting on various lip balms, bactroban on top of the skin formed and i have almost healed my top lip, which was just as bad as my bottom lip. my bottom wont heal cos i have damaged my salivary glands and they pour out saliva constantly..but u guys dont have this problem.