Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
Is A Blister On The Edge Of Upper Lip Contagious?
Question: About 4 weeks ago i had a blister on the edge of my upper lip. The walk-in doctor said its most likely hsv 1. She gave me a prescribed cream that didnt seem to do anything. the blister popped itself after on the 3/4 th day. after 3/4 days it just left a red mark. Now the red mark (a bit raised, doesn't hurt) has been there for approximately or atleast a week. My question is it still contagious? It has been very stressful, I have been cleaning my face by wiping with cotton pads. I would like to go back to my normal life where I can wash my face.
my skin medical history. For few years I was getting a single raised red bump on my left wrist (the bump was not a blister, there was no fluid. It was somewhat hard but skin texture like to touch). It itches but bearable, it goes away after couple of hours. It comes back in same place after couple years, or few months.
I went to the doctor she took a look and said it was eczema. Not sure if she is right, but it just didnt look like eczema to me. i took her words though.
now i am recalling all the weird skin problems that comes and goes. I recall a blister , was not itchy. Don't remember where it was exactly on my body ( i think on top of my foot or top of my hand). I popped it and it took only 3-4 days to heal, didnt really hurt. the pictured show not actual blister of mine but it had look like that.
My other question is, is there any possible correlation to the blister on the edge of my top lip (recently, hopefully it'll always be a single blister), the raised bump that comes and goes, and the one single blister i had on my foot or hand?
I guess i'm asking this because I don't want to believe I have cold sore.
my skin medical history. For few years I was getting a single raised red bump on my left wrist (the bump was not a blister, there was no fluid. It was somewhat hard but skin texture like to touch). It itches but bearable, it goes away after couple of hours. It comes back in same place after couple years, or few months.
I went to the doctor she took a look and said it was eczema. Not sure if she is right, but it just didnt look like eczema to me. i took her words though.
now i am recalling all the weird skin problems that comes and goes. I recall a blister , was not itchy. Don't remember where it was exactly on my body ( i think on top of my foot or top of my hand). I popped it and it took only 3-4 days to heal, didnt really hurt. the pictured show not actual blister of mine but it had look like that.
My other question is, is there any possible correlation to the blister on the edge of my top lip (recently, hopefully it'll always be a single blister), the raised bump that comes and goes, and the one single blister i had on my foot or hand?
I guess i'm asking this because I don't want to believe I have cold sore.
Brief Answer:
Addressed all your queries in order ma'am
Detailed Answer:
Hello ma'am and welcome.
Thank you for writing to us.
I have gone through your query with diligence and would like you to know that I am here to help. Let me address each of your queries as asked in order:
1. The chances of it being contagious are very low, and this usually is only the case if there is some break of skin in the region where the sore was present (edge of your mouth). So usually, as doctors we recommend healthy individuals to avoid touching even the red spot below a scab that was present, not knowing whether there is a break in skin there or not
2. Sounds like eczema to me too.
3. Blisters around the body have numerous causes to them like:
+Cold
+Friction
+Chemicals
+Heat
+Burns
+A few medical conditions (e.g. scabies, eczema, herpes, chicken pox, etc.)
But, blisters on the foot and other general regions are less likely with HSV-1, so I wouldn't want you to immediately link this with herpes as yet.
I know you seem quite worried about you being diagnosed with herpes and also don't want it to be, so I would recommend visiting a clinic and getting tested for HSV-1, if this is possible then you can get rid of your fear for good, don't you think ma'am? Is there anything stopping you from getting tested ma'am? Or are you worried someone will find out? Your doctor already diagnosed you with it, so you may as well get tested and confirm/rule it out?
I hope I have addressed your queries well enough. Please do not hesitate to write to me for any further clarifications, I would be more than happy to be of assistance.
Best wishes.
Addressed all your queries in order ma'am
Detailed Answer:
Hello ma'am and welcome.
Thank you for writing to us.
I have gone through your query with diligence and would like you to know that I am here to help. Let me address each of your queries as asked in order:
1. The chances of it being contagious are very low, and this usually is only the case if there is some break of skin in the region where the sore was present (edge of your mouth). So usually, as doctors we recommend healthy individuals to avoid touching even the red spot below a scab that was present, not knowing whether there is a break in skin there or not
2. Sounds like eczema to me too.
3. Blisters around the body have numerous causes to them like:
+Cold
+Friction
+Chemicals
+Heat
+Burns
+A few medical conditions (e.g. scabies, eczema, herpes, chicken pox, etc.)
But, blisters on the foot and other general regions are less likely with HSV-1, so I wouldn't want you to immediately link this with herpes as yet.
I know you seem quite worried about you being diagnosed with herpes and also don't want it to be, so I would recommend visiting a clinic and getting tested for HSV-1, if this is possible then you can get rid of your fear for good, don't you think ma'am? Is there anything stopping you from getting tested ma'am? Or are you worried someone will find out? Your doctor already diagnosed you with it, so you may as well get tested and confirm/rule it out?
I hope I have addressed your queries well enough. Please do not hesitate to write to me for any further clarifications, I would be more than happy to be of assistance.
Best wishes.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you Doctor.
Yes I will book an appointment to get tested. Are the chances of positive for HSV are high of a single blister on the edge of top lip?
Yes I will book an appointment to get tested. Are the chances of positive for HSV are high of a single blister on the edge of top lip?
Brief Answer:
As it was just 1 blister I would say chances are about 75 %
Detailed Answer:
Hello once again ma'am.
The chances do exist, especially because the presentation of a blister around the oral cavity is usually almost always related to herpes, but as it has been 1 isolated blister, the chances are not a 100 %. I would say about 75 % are the chances of this being herpes ma'am.
Best wishes.
As it was just 1 blister I would say chances are about 75 %
Detailed Answer:
Hello once again ma'am.
The chances do exist, especially because the presentation of a blister around the oral cavity is usually almost always related to herpes, but as it has been 1 isolated blister, the chances are not a 100 %. I would say about 75 % are the chances of this being herpes ma'am.
Best wishes.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Ok thank you Dr. XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
It was my pleasure entirely ma'am
Detailed Answer:
Hi ma'am.
You are most welcome.
Write to me anytime, I am always here to help.
Best wishes.
It was my pleasure entirely ma'am
Detailed Answer:
Hi ma'am.
You are most welcome.
Write to me anytime, I am always here to help.
Best wishes.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Sorry, which specific test do I go for? Since the doctor took a brief look and said its most likley HSV 1
Brief Answer:
any clinic or medical centre can help diagnose/rule out HSV-1
Detailed Answer:
Hello once again ma'am.
1. A viral test culture
2. PCR test
You can request your doctor or any clinic to help you to test for HSV-1, anyone can help you ma'am.
Best wishes.
any clinic or medical centre can help diagnose/rule out HSV-1
Detailed Answer:
Hello once again ma'am.
1. A viral test culture
2. PCR test
You can request your doctor or any clinic to help you to test for HSV-1, anyone can help you ma'am.
Best wishes.
Note: Hope the answers resolves your concerns, however for further guidance of skin related queries consult our Dermatologist.Click here to book a consultation
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
