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Dermatology  (Expert Forum)
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Is this oral herpes/cold sore, genital herpes or warts?
Answered by
Alan Rockoff, MD - dermatology, Child Skin Problems
The Rockoff Dermatology Center Brookline - MA
Welcome to the DERMATOLOGY FORUM! Questions in this forum are answered by Dermatologists from St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital, under the direction of Andrew Alexis, M.D., M.P.H.

Is this oral herpes/cold sore, genital herpes or warts?

by Abstractpoetic, Feb 27, 2004 12:00AM
My ex boyfriend has genital herpes which, when he has an outbreak, appears near his lips. I know that this is not usual (i.e., Herpes II usually affect the genitalia).  He has had herpes for about 7 years and rarely has an outbreak. He is very aware of it and if he ever thinks there is a problem he avoided kissing me. I was tested for Herpes I and II a few years ago since dating him. My test was negative for Herpes II (genital) but positive for Herpes I (oral). However, from my knowledge, I've never had a cold sore. The last time I was intimate with my ex was 2 weeks ago. Then, we broke up and I was intimate (kissed and performed oral sex) with another guy who I do not know to have any diseases. Two days after being with the new guy I developed what appeared to be a cut in the corner of my lip right where the two lips meet. Because the "cut" appears at the opening, is very painful every time I open my mouth. The next day my cut appeared open, like a sore, and burned like hell. I eventually noticed that inside my mouth (under the check where the "cut"/open sore appeared, it was very read and looked like v. tiny bumps inside, although when I compare it to the other inside check which is fine, it doesn't look that dramatically different. Still, there is definitely something going on.  I still have the "cut"/open sore, which is so so painful whenever I open my mouth. The area on my lip is now drying up and looks crusty. I've been using Herpecin L. I have a dr. appointment in a few days.  

Does this sound like a cold sore from Herpes I or could I have genital herpes but in the corner/crack of my lip/and inside the check of my mouth? Oddly, there was no tingling or pain before the cut/sore appeared, unless I didn't notice, and when I look at pictures on the Internet of herpes it doesn't really look like that. It does tingle and beat now, but only after put Herpecin on, which burns the hell out of this cut/sore.  Note however, the fact that it is drying up and crusting up makes me think its herpes (either oral or genital). The cut/sore is v. small but painful. The crusting/drying actually looks like a burn when my mouth is close.

Also, my ex has HPV and I got the same from him a few years ago. I had warts in the perinal area which were removed and never came back.  However, he recently had a genital wart on his penis not long ago. He had it removed but I fear that perhaps I could have been infected with that from oral sex, which could be what in the corner of my lip.

Please advise.

by Alan Rockoff, MD, Feb 29, 2004 12:00AM
The corner of the lip is not usually infected by herpes--most of the time that's just an inflamed cut, or a form of (non-infected) dermatitis.  If there were a wart there, you could see a bump, and it wouldn't be infected.  While you're waiting to see the doctor, I suggest applying vaseline or the equivalent, and avoiding any irritation, but I don't think you have an infection there.

Best.

Dr. Rockoff
Member Comments (4)

by Abstractpoetic, Feb 27, 2004 12:00AM
I should also add that I was just recently diagnosed with infected eyelids and dry eyes and some kind of a rash developed  around my eyes that burned in a similar way to the burning I feel near my lips. It may be rosacea although I cannot recall. Could this be the culprit?

by Alan Rockoff, MD, Feb 29, 2004 12:00AM
Unlikely.  Just irritation/eczema.

Dr. Rockoff

by Abstractpoetic, Mar 01, 2004 12:00AM
You were correct. It was just eczema.
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