The corners of my lips are red and dry and now...?

im getting these little cracks on both sides... I use Neosporin lip treatment, but I think i made it worse. I tried some cold sore stuff but it just burned and hurt, and they are not cold sores anyway. It's like tiny paper cuts minus the blood. My mom (whos a nurse) told me its cuz of iron deficiency. I cant eat cuz i dont want to agitate it. any 1 know what this is ? and how 2 prevent and get rid of it?

oh and its not an allergy...
and i use chapstick regularly...
oh ya....i took some colloidal silver the other day...
but that couldnt be the cause. could it?

It could be one of two things:

Your mom may have been right, it could be an iron deficiency (anemia), or it could be Angular cheilitis, which can be caused by an infection, or a vitamin B deficiancy.

Go see your doctor. If it is anemia, your symptoms may get worse over time, and may include inability to concentrate, weakness, exhaustion, and dizzyness.

If you want to know more about either of these, go to www.webmd.com, click on Symptom Checker, zoom in on the mouth, and select "cracks at the corner of mouths".

You have a Vitamin B deficiency. It's not an iron deficiency. Take a good multi-vitamin daily, and eat plenty of green vegetables. I once had the same problem, had to go to the dentist and hold my mouth open for awhile. Ouch! Dentist said it was due to a lack of Vitamin B in my body.

Now when it happens, I just start eating more green veggies, at least two servings a day, and usually start clearing up within a couple days.

If your mom thinks it is related to iron deficiency then take some iron. I am a nurse also, have never heard of low iron doing that to your mouth BUT I dont know everything.

My lips have done that before but it was just due to dryness. Instead of chap stick, try some vaseline or some A&D ointment. Keep it on your mouth overnight, a good amount. See how that works for you.

I agree with both of the other people

I get this in the winter time- but summer can be just as brutal on the lips- as a kid, and now a 40 yr old adult I have had both the burning lips with cracked sides and tried everything known to man, the ONLY thing that helps it AND heals it fast is Avon Care Deeply Lip Balm. I buy about 5 a year online, you can get them on Ebay as well as Avon website.
Nothing and I mean NOTHING else ever worked for me. My husband and mainly my 12 year old goes through the same thing usually in winter months and it is the only thing that helps them too so there must be something to it. Give it a shot, when they are on sale they are only about $1.00 small price to pay to relieve the agony. Oh, and just a small tip, avoid salty foods and ketchup or steam will come out of your ears, it hurts so bad when salt hits the areas and adds to the prolonged healing.
PS you might want to get some multi vitamins :0)