📝 Editor's Note: Part 3 of my cheilitis diary from August 2025. Outdated in some details, but sharing it anyway in case it helps someone going through the same thing. Not medical advice!
August 20, 2025.
My neighborhood clinic, Yedam Dermatology, is going on a one-week vacation starting August 22nd. So today I rushed in during my lunch break to get checked before the doctor disappears.
I told him:
"I applied Advantan for 4 days, but yesterday I skipped it because these little bumps appeared all around my lips. What are they? And should I keep using the Advantan?"
His answer: since the stinging has subsided, go ahead and stop the Advantan. If the stinging comes back, apply a little again then. For the topical ointment — unlike oral steroids, you can stop as soon as symptoms improve, no tapering needed. Good to know! (I'd read somewhere that you need to taper steroids slowly, but apparently that applies to the oral version, not the ointment. I mentioned this and he kind of laughed it off — the vague half-knowledge I'd picked up from blog posts clearly wasn't quite right.)
So what were those bumps?
Folliculitis.
Apparently caused by applying too much Vaseline too thickly. The excess occlusion blocked my hair follicles and caused a bacterial infection around the lip area.
My doctor shared this breakdown to help me tell the difference:
Milia vs. Folliculitis — How to Tell Them Apart
| Milia | Folliculitis | |
|---|---|---|
| Cause | Sebum, dead skin cells, hormones | Bacterial infection (usually Staphylococcus) |
| Pain | None | Yes — stinging or itching |
| Location | Forehead, cheeks, nose, chin | Beard area, neck, chest, groin |
| Appearance | Small, uniform white bumps | White pus-filled bumps or red rash |
| Treatment | Exfoliation, sebum control, acne-specific care | Antibiotic ointment, disinfection, hygiene |
So I got prescribed antibiotics — both oral and topical.
Please, lips. Just go back to normal. ㅠㅠㅠㅠ
One month in
It's been about a month since this all started. The stinging has improved a lot… but you know that feeling where something is still just off? The best way I can describe it: still dry, still feels like things could crack if I move my mouth the wrong way, and the stinging is gone but not gone gone.
After about two days on the antibiotics, the folliculitis seems to be calming down, but the red marks are still lingering. Keeping an eye on it.
New problem: the corners of my lips
My lip corners (commissures) have become dry and feel like they might split when I smile or eat. I did a deep internet dive and kept seeing Titrosyn Gel recommended for this. So I marched to the pharmacy and explained my whole situation in great detail.
The pharmacist recommended CellMed Cyaplex Balm instead.
I also picked up sterile saline solution and gauze — I've started cleaning my lips gently before applying anything, just to make sure the surface is clear before layering products on. Somehow this feels both medically sensible and slightly unhinged.
(Side note: CellMed Cyaplex Balm was actually something my mom had given me a while back — told me to apply it whenever my lips felt dry. I didn't think much of it at the time. Now here I am buying it with full conviction.)
The plan: apply the prescribed antibiotic topical first, then layer the CellMed on top. The pharmacist said this combo should be fine, and that it's also okay for general cheilitis.
The pharmacist's dietary lecture
I thought I was doing okay with the diet. I was not prepared for what came next.
Pharmacist: Cut out flour completely. No sugar or refined carbohydrates at all — they directly trigger inflammation. No coffee either. And chicken especially — it's one of the more inflammatory meats, so avoid it. Fruit has too much sugar, dairy isn't great either. Basically, let's eliminate everything that causes inflammation. Together! 💪
Me: …So what can I eat?
Pharmacist: Honestly, not much. Vegetables from shabu-shabu, and if you want meat — boiled.
Me: ^^
I sat with that for a moment.
Will the day ever come when I can just… eat normally again?
The corner of your lips matters more than you think. I once saw a clip where someone said: "If a person stands up straight and lifts the corners of their mouth — there's nothing they can't do in this world." Right now, mine won't even cooperate enough to smile without threatening to crack. The goal of lifting them feels very far away.
But we keep going. 🙂
→ Next up: My Cheilitis Diary #4 — Slow Progress & What's Actually Helping