Is this a cold sore?

I noticed a small red patch on the top of my lip last week. Then, small pinpoint sized bumps appeared and a few days later they just flaked off. I never had any stinging, tingling or pain. They never left a crust. All that remained after the flaking off of skin was some redness. Is this a cold sore? Contact dermatitis? or just dry skin? I thought cold sores were painful. Just curious.

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

It's hard to say.  If the same thing ever happens again in the same way, that would argue for a cold sore.  Most cold sores are clusters of blisters which dry into a crust, so what you had seems different, but it's possible that it was just a mild form.  Right now it's mot catchy, so it's academic until/unless it comes again.  In answer to your last point, cold sores are usually a little sore, but not really painful.

Best.

Dr. Rockoff