Sore bottom lip with sores that won't heal

Hi @callayboy Can you tell me a little bit more about your bottom lip and the type of sore you have?

You’ve written in the cancer group. If you don’t mind my asking, what is your type of cancer? Is this sore related to the cancer or a chemotherapy you’re on?

Thanks for getting back so soon! I have not been diagnosed with any cancer…just concerned that my lip is not healing. It’s been a month of swollen, red, and sore bottom of lip.

Having a sore lip for a month is certainly frustrating for you. Is it the entire lip or just an area such as a cold sore?

You mentioned having taken 3 different antifungal meds. Were these prescription drugs specifically aimed at the sore lip? These would be given if there is a herpes simplex virus. Is that what your doctor suspected?

I’m posting a link to our Mayo Clinic website that describes cold sores.
- About Cold Sores https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cold-sore/symptoms-causes/syc-20371017
Is this the type of sore are you’re experiencing?

thank you! I am prone to cold sores and never had one inside my mouth. It’s the entire area across the inside of bottom lip. A doctor prescribed Zovirax, which i have been on a week long regime. This is the 3 nd time on the anti viral med in almost 7 weeks! I went to urgent care and they suggested car max! Ouch!!
I appreciate your time with this. Like i mentioned, i can’t see my dermatologist for another month.
Debie

Oh, gosh, Debie, this sounds so painful. I swear, when your mouth hurts, everything hurts! If antivirals aren’t working this may not be viral.
Do you have any other health issues going on such as anemia or a vitamin B-9 or B-12 deficiency, thyroid problems?
Can you tell me when this began? Was it after you had a cold or the flu?

There is a topical ointment that can be put on to numb sores inside the mouth called Oracle. It’s viscous and stays on the tissue for some relief.
Avoid whitening toothpastes or anything with a strong, mint flavor for now. Stick with an Arm & Hammer baking soda toothpaste for a while to see if it makes a difference.
No Carmex! Yikes that will feel like fire on that area.
Stay away from acidic foods like oranges, spicy foods, and excessively salty food.
Rinsing with salt water can also help sooth. 1/4 teaspoon of salt in 6 ounces of luke warm water. Swish gently and spit.
Or baking soda, mix 1/3 cup of warm water with 1/3 teaspoon of baking soda. This tastes nasty but it can be beneficial.
Eat more foods rich in iron and Vitamin B12. A quick search will yield lists of these foods.

At least try the Orajel. There are Magic mouth rinses your doctor can order which have lidocaine to numb the area as well.
Have you tried anything other than the anti-virals? I mean besides the Carmex. That one is not helpful in this case as you’ve found out.

Thank you for the info Lori!
I am in perfect health…no colds or flu or Covid!
I will try your suggestions. I don’t think it is serious, just a mystery as how long it is taking to heal. Most mouth sores heal quite quickly, at least for me. I’ll keep you posted, and again, thanks for your posts!
I truly appreciate them!
Debie

Debie, another toothpaste you can try is Burt’s Bees Kids. The Strawberry Splash is really good, no mint and contains xylitol that helps promote healing. I use it and it’s really helped calm my mouth down. ☺️

Thanks so much! I will get some today.

My daughter had the same situation a number of years ago. Her dermatologist considered it a pre-cancerous lesion and treated it with Efudex. She went through excruciating pain from the treatment, and, as a Prosecutor at the time, wasn’t able to speak in court for a week as a result of the treatment. After treatment with Efudex, the sore recurred. I encouraged her to go to the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix. The dermatologist there told her it was a reaction to one of the ingredients in her lipstick. She changed brands and never had the problem again.

Hi Debbie! Wondering if there’s been any improvement with your sore lip?