Bumps and Ulcers on Lips

Sunday I was laying out in the sun for a couple of hours and noticed my lips felt sunburned.  I noticed 3 small fluid filled pinpoint bumps in the bow of my right lip.  The next day they were gone and I developed a large ulcer on my right lower lip where the lips meet together.  I had noticed small little bumps come and go.  Just on the inside of my bottom lip appears to be small ulcers developing, but not painful.  My lips feel very, very dry and uncomfortable to smile. I have never had anything like this before and I am very upset and worried it's herpes.

[Vanessa Lacuesta]

Hi

This sounds like cold sores. Cold sores are relatively common and they are caused by herpes simplex type 1. I do not think this is sun allergy as, if this is a photosensitivity reaction ,then it should involve other sun exposed areas of the body as well.

HSV type 1 may present as blisters and usually involves the inner lip. Just have this assessed by your physician. Herpetic cold sores usually resolve spontaneously. It may however recur under stress and other factors like extreme heat and poor diet.