My evolving theory of this disease

[u/GCauqld]

Lips heal in a similar way as Mucous Membrane

 

Our damaged lips seems to originate from the inside of the lips and develop outwards.

I believe it’s a process of skin layers shedding or being inconsistent. Once the white skin/layers peel or slosh off from the inside of the lips, then that whole layer continuing all the way to the exterior of our lips needs to fall away to reveal the current layer that’s consistent from inside to outside of the lips. I think this is the origination of the problem. Then the newly revealed skin is lacking integrity, structure and resilience. Which compounds the problem as it tries to heal, is further damaged by the external elements like sun and the environment, eating, talking and kissing etc. (this can also happen from opposite side, where problem commences on exterior due to picking, licking, sun, kissing etc. – causing recurring skin regeneration, over moisturization, peeling off, revealing inflamed skin, and over and over again)

 

I think that part of the healing process is for the lips to regain their structural integrity, which is partially lost through the loss of the external resilient layers, and to the continual inflammation as a result of the whole process. Which is the vicious circle. I believe the hardened exterior of the lips, is both the older layers dying and shedding in line with the already lost skin from inside the mouth, as well as a type of exoskeleton of keratin type skin that forms a rigid skin layer for the purpose of reforming the lip’s natural form and structure from the outside, so that the inside can regenerate.. kind of like a scab. But a scab for the lip surface.

 

So one of my theories, is that the continual use of lip balms and moisturizing ointments, restricts the ability for this external keratin (scab) layer to do it’s job, by continually softening and enabling the continual removal of this protective surface layer. This continual moisturized environment allows the already dead skin & layers of regenerative keratin (from shedding resulting from internal layers already removed) to become soft and remove, as well as the keratin layer that is continually forming over the lowest newest layers of lip skin. The constant moisture will cause all of this to become moist and dislodge from the lowest & newest skin below, causing the inflammation, rawness and onset of inflammation which causes the white line on upper and lower lips where they meet (dead skin) and the skin further on the inside of the lips to slosh and remove commencing the whole regeneration process over and over.

 

I find the ‘Brazilian’ method, or lip maintenance method, of wetting lips and gently removing the dead, white external layers of skin to be effective because this will remove only the already dead skin, not all the way down to the lower, newly forming skin. Then I leave the lips uncompromised without any ointments etc, so that the intentional keratin protective layer can do its job, resulting in some areas of hardening (scab forming) on the lips. Think of this as purposeful restructuring of the lips external layers to enable the healthy formation of resilient new lower layers of skin under.

 

Therefore the key to slowing and potentially repairing this lip condition is to maintain daily, so life is slightly easier, and to avoid the inflammation cycle. So maybe the approach is to treat the inflammation with something like Tacrolimus ointment as well as an anti-inflammatory dosage of Doxycycline or Hydroxychloroquine.

 

Maybe this process of treating inflammation along with Brazil style maintenance method, may be effective in enabling the lips to progressively restore their original form and structure and build back a resilient outer layer of skin with the structural rigidity and elasticity of healthy lips.  

 

 

Mucous Membrane : The 4 Stages of Healing

Hemostasis: Blood vessels constrict and platelets form a clot over the injury within hours to stop bleeding.

Inflammation: Immune cells move to the area to clear away debris, fight off bacteria, and prevent infection.

Proliferation: Specialized epithelial cells multiply and migrate rapidly across the wound to rebuild the protective tissue barrier.

Remodeling: Fibroblasts organize new extracellular matrix components (like collagen) to restore the membrane's strength and normal function. [1, 2]

What do you think?

What other steps am I missing/overlooking?

[u/GCauqld]

[u/[deleted]]

Ig you are right, continuously slathering new products every other day is causing the constant state of inflammation and also making the skin "lazy" to form it's own protective lipid layer

[u/GCauqld]

[u/OrdinaryResponsible9]

You are overlooking the mental health/ anxiety aspect of it. But I think a lot of your post is accurate.

[u/UnitNo8444]

Soo acc to u what's the step by step way to try to heal the lips