I have had both herpes (cold sores) and perioral dermatitis before. The herpes appears on my top lip and I always treated it with over the counter cold sore balms but it still takes up to 2 weeks to get better. It starts as a tingle on my top lip and then forms into one or more sore and swollen, fluid filled blisters which then crust and peel as they get better.
My POD is a different story, When I had it before, the blisters were big and red, some fluid filled, and located between my nose and top lip, sides of mouth, folds of nose, and around my eyes. They had a staedy burning feeling.
I had to take an oral antibiotic
(doxycycline) for 8 months to completely cure it. Even after it had cleared (took 2-3 weeks to look better!) my dermatologist told me to keep taking the doxycycline so that it wouldn't come back.
My problem now is that I do not know which one I have - the cold sores OR the perioral dermatitis! Is it possible to have cold sores and POD at the same time???!! :0
There is a cluster of red and whitish blisters with yellow - on my top lip - the lip border is not spared which I read should be the case with POD. But I also have red bumps under my nose and some in the crease of my nose and on my nose as well, but the ones are fading on their own while the ones between my nose and lips and around the sides of my mouth are angry and red.
All of it, my lip as well the bumps under my nose and beside my mouth have an intense burning and my whole top lip was swollen.
I saw a family physician and she gave me fucidin cream. I have only used it for 3 days so far and it is helping the burning but I'm not sure yet if it is doing anything for my lip blisters and the other red bumps.
I am now waiting for a referral back to the dermatologist to see if I need to take the oral antibiotic again.
I see that your post is quite old and I hope you got to the bottom of your rash are doing well without it coming back!
My cold sores are usually dormant for a couple of years or more between outbreaks. And my previous POD episode was about 3 yrs. ago.
I completely understand and emphasize with your frustration and the SOCIAL HORROR these conditions cause!!! I have not made it to work for the past 3 days and when I was at work before that I holed up at my desk and could not make eye contact with anyone. My head was hanging low on the bus ride home so that no one could see my blistery mouth and nose! I hope that doctors understand that the social toll is often the worst part of these conditions!!!
Hello,
From the symptoms it looks like herpes sores rather than perioral dermatitis which presents with sores around the mouth rather than on the lips and the mouth. Pain, burning, tingling, or itching occurs at the infection site before the sores appear. Then clusters of blisters erupt which break down. You need to get some investigations like sample from the sores to identify the virus, culture analysis, Tzanck smear, antigen and antibody studies and blood sampling for antibody studies done to confirm the diagnosis. My sincere advice would be to consult a dermatologist.
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.