Date:   7/1/2016 10:51:01 PM ( 8 y ago)
Hits:   639
URL:   https://www.curezone.org/forums/fm.asp?i=2324692

I'm a long time reader of the site, but this is my first post, and I think it's a good one, though long :)

I can't even begin to describe the feeling of relief I have now as I'm writing this post. At last, I have my lips back after over 5 and a half years of burning, peeling, and redness.

My problem began in fall 2010 very suddenly. I had just gotten back to my apartment from a Thai restaurant, and I noticed this weird tingling sensation in my lips. I thought it must have had something to do with the spices in the dish, as it was indeed very spicy. When I woke up the following day, I went about my business as usual, but noted when I was outside that my lips were abnormally dry and cracked; every gust of wind was keenly felt. I ran to the local Kroger and picked up a tube of a petroleum-based chapstick, which I then liberally applied to my lips all that day. No matter how much I used, it seemed that just a little while later, my lips would be hurting again. That night, I put on one more heavy application before bed and went to sleep. When I woke up the next morning, my lips were a horror show--never seen anything like it. They were massively swollen, cracked, bright red with scabby green spots, and oozing pus. I freaked out a bit, but figured it must be an infection, so I thought I'd try an antibacterial ointment I had on hand. Well, my lips quickly and dramatically improved within a day or two, but then the peeling started, and everybody here knows how it goes from there.

In short, 5 and a half years of cyclical peeling ensued, usually every third or fourth day. I had maybe one decent day every cycle right after peeling, but other than that, it was awful. As is the case with others here, it affected most of my bottom lip and a triangular wedge in the middle of my top lip.

I should mention here that I received Accutane in my late teens, and struggled with Acne into adulthood (still do a bit). I think it's interesting that others here have reported the same thing, and it could be significant, especially because Acne and chapped lips apparently both may be associated with a deficiency in ZINC.

I also struggle with alcohol abuse (cheilitis hasn't helped with that!) and that's actually how I stumbled onto my "discovery." You see, it's well known that alcoholics are often low in zinc. I therefore decided to look into zinc deficiency further. What I found is that there is no one key indicator of deficiency and furthermore, there is no really good way to test zinc levels in the body, BUT I had several of the listed signs: acne, chapped/peeling lips, and brittle and prematurely graying hair.

In light of this, I went and picked up a bottle of 30 mg zinc tablets, in the form of zinc gluconate. About three weeks ago, I began taking one a day. After a couple weeks, I noticed a difference in my lips. They actually looked worse. The peeling area expanded to cover virtually all of my lower lip, and the crusts became thicker and harder to pull off on both top and bottom. The lips also were cracking and bleeding, which was, even with my cheilitis, unusual. While I was worried about the changes, I also was quite surprised that things had changed at all, and I thought it might be a sign I was onto something, so I decided to double the zinc dose to 60 mg a day, one tablet in the morning and one at night.

Within 3 days, I saw huge improvement. Since then, my lips have gone a long way towards normal. They're still a bit red and dry and I'm getting a little mild peeling (very thin crusts), but the color and texture of the lips are CLEARLY VASTLY IMPROVED. Best of all, there's NO BURNING. NONE. EVEN AFTER PEELING. If I had to estimate, I'd say they're probably 80% healed.

I know it's still early, but I'm very optimistic, as nothing else I've tried has ever had any effect on the peeling cycle whatsoever, nor on the color and texture of the lips.

My one concern is about the zinc dosage. It's been shown that 60 mg of zinc every day may have an effect on copper levels, so it might be a good idea to add in a copper supplement if I'm going to continue long term at this dosage.

Just use common sense and do some research if you choose to go the zinc route. TOO MUCH WILL DEFINITELY MAKE YOU ILL.

Oh, I should also add that the texture of my facial skin has improved too. It feels much tauter, finer, and less dry and scaly. The color also seems to be improved. I'm thinking it was possible I had a zinc deficiency well before I ever developed EC.

Also note that there is apparently a connection between low zinc levels and pectus excavatum, with which I was born (Yes, I'm a lucky guy!).

Anyway I had to share this with the community here!

I'll try to follow up again in a little while to report any further changes.

Best of luck!










 

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