Treatment for poorly healed hard skin on side of lip

I recently had a pimple on the side of my lip between my upper and lower lips.  It took several months to heal as it kept breaking open and bleeding.  I am having difficulty with it fully healing - at the moment it is somewhat hard raised, dry skin on the corner of my mouth.  Please help!!! What can I use on it to speed up the healing. I need it to be gone in a month! It has taken 2-3 months to close. Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
From the symptoms it can be infected hair follicle. The second possibility is of a cold sore. Please keep the area clean and apply some topical antiseptics. Also wear loose-fitting cotton clothing and use an antibacterial soap or mild soap like dove. Topical antibiotics such as mupirocin or neomycin containing ointment are also useful In case the symptoms persist then oral antibiotics may be needed. Please consult a dermatologist in that case.

It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your doctor. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.