DEAR DR. GOTT: My 80-year-old mother has been suffering with lip swelling and redness for three months and we can’t seem to find a remedy. They are swollen and red, slightly chapped, but not blistered.
Her family doctor has prescribed long-term Valtrex and lip ointments for herpes but they have had no effect. She was also given Lotramin ointment without success. We have asked her about medication changes, toothpaste changes, etc. but we can’t seem to find her any relief.
She has a dermatologist appointment in the coming weeks but we thought you might have an idea for relief a bit sooner. Thank you for any ideas you might offer.
DEAR READER: Swollen lips are the result of inflammation within the tissue of the lips, resulting from trauma and infection to more serious possibilities. Depending on the cause, the condition can disappear quickly or can take substantially longer if it is the result of infection, allergy or even injury. Sometimes the inflammation can be accompanied by fever, changes in lip color, blisters, pain, fever, chills, congestion, and more. Then there is anaphylactic shock, the most dire form of allergic reaction, which is an emergency.
The swelling can be fungal, viral (herpes simplex) or bacterial (cellulitis) in nature. It can result from an allergy to such things as food, animal dander, drugs such as ACE inhibitors, codeine or penicillin, or even from an insect bite. Other considerations include malnutrition, organ failure, or Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome, a rare neurological disorder characterized in part by swelling of the face and lips.
Herpes simplex virus is often identified by the characteristic lesions that present on the skin. However, there are numerous other conditions that can mimic herpes so the diagnosis cannot always be based on a visual inspection alone, making skin and blood tests necessary for clarification. The Valtrex your mother was prescribed is an antiviral. While it will not cure herpes, if she even has it, the medication can lessen any symptoms she is having. Valtrex is generally safe with minimal side effects if they occur at all, yet a more severe and less common reaction is swelling of the lips. So, the Valtrex her doctor prescribed for her lip swelling could be the culprit within itself of her continued problem.
Your mother should keep her appointment with the dermatologist and be guided by what she is told. If questions remain, ask for a second opinion. Good luck.
