Cold Sore or PImple?

[resolute]

This past Monday I had an intense pain right above my lip but no tingling or itching. Later in the day it was red and slightly swollen. I never saw individual pimples or blisters. On Tuesday it looked like a zit and nothing really changed. When Wednesday rolled around it had a whitehead (postule) and I could have easily popped it. I waited so I wouldn't make it worst. Thursday morning it was more white and I could almost see an actual whitehead poking out of the top. It was really hard and dry when I touched it. Later in the day I washed my face and it fell off. At this point there was no pain like the first day. I didn't notice any clear fluid coming out and it hasn't been weeping. The skin was red where the white head fell off, a little swollen but again no oozing. Now it is Friday morning and it looks the same. Also, there are no signs of crusting and it looks like it is healing slowly. Does this sound like a plain old zit or herpes near my mouth? The time line is very similar to herpes which worries me. Thanks

[resolute]

Thanks for the help!

[gracefromHHP]

If this was a newly acquired hsv1 infection, it won't be reflected on a blood test. Also even the best blood tests we have still miss 1 out of every 10 hsv1 infections. Also just because you test + for hsv1, doesn't mean that everything is due to hsv1. Make sense?  Blood testing is helpful but has it's drawbacks which is why a lesion culture of fresh symptoms is the best course of action whenever possible.

What you call an ulceration, I might just call norml healing skin so it's hard to tell if this really is an ulceration or not to be honest.

grace

[resolute]

I am going in for a blood test next week to make sure. Is it possible to have a white head dry up, fall off and expose raw skin (an ulcer)?

Thanks!

[gracefromHHP]

It sounds more like a zit than oral herpes. Too late for a lesion culture at this point to try to figure out what it is.

grace