not sure if I have a cold sore or an allergic reaction

[achebe74]

I woke up and noticed a tautness inside my mouth, near the lining of the upper lips.  I rolled my tongue along the soft wet tissue and it felt like I had a bunch of blisters that burst since I tasted the saltiness.  It had formed pretty quickly as I went to sleep around 2AM and woke up around 9 AM.  Throughout the day, the blisters stayed the same but as soon as I got home, the blisters spread to the outer lips.  I haven't kissed or had sex with anyone for a long period.  Is this a possible cold sore or something else?  I'm a nail biter so I'm not sure if I transmitted something to my mouth.  Two days ago, I tried a lip plump gloss and I'm wondering if this is the culprit.  Help!

[petal130]

Most communities offer health clinics that allow you to pay on a sliding scale.

[achebe74]

By this point, I figured out it's not a cold sore but contact dermatitis.  I've had it before but never on my lips.  I think it was from the lip gloss I used but wasn't sure at first because it took a day for the reaction to occur.  Lip gloss was only used once but I had it on all day Sunday.  The reaction took place Tuesday.  

I don't have insurance so I'm just going to have to wait it out and hope it goes away on its own.  Been taking benadryl and hopefully that works.

[gracefromHHP]

you need to go and be seen. this isn't likely to be oral herpes going on. if your provider suspects it is, you should have a herpes lesion culture done. many other viruses can cause these symptoms as can allergic reactions and even food allergies.

the plumping lip glosses are very irritating to many people.  If you suspect this is what it's from, discontinue its use immediately.  

grace