Thanks for all the suggestions. 2013bluem3w, sounds like hot and humid Houston and central FL are a main culprit - I did not notice this during the winter months. Interestingly enough, it is also worse on the driver's side for mine...I think I'll try your clean up technique and then see if hi temp paint will reduce re-incidence, as RoadsterBoy and others have suggested.
Gabriel
It has to be the humidity. Personally, I'm not sure I would try the paint as I'd be too worried about overspray or changing the look of chrome finish. It's definitely more work to keep it polished, but it's such a small area that it's not too much trouble.
