Probably just a burn, but...

[RobinHood70]

For the last two days, I've had a slight tingling/numb sensation in a small area on the inside of my lower lip.  It's just like when the dentist numbs your mouth and it's almost-but-not-quite worn off.  "Tasting" the area with my tongue, it has that "injured mouth" taste.  Grabbing the lip and folding it down, I notice that there's a slight redness and swelling to it that's not present on the other side.

Is this just a minor burn, or is there something else I should be worried about?  Probably the biggest concern (at least in my mind) is the possibility of Herpes, though there are no cold sores or anything of that nature so far, and I've only had one new partner recently who is unlikely to be infected and had no visible cold sores himself at the time.

If it wasn't for the very mild tingling, I'd dismiss it as a burn, but the tingling is a new one on me, so thought I'd ask.

[RobinHood70]

So much for it going.  I've been up one side of the internet and down the other, and it just doesn't seem to resemble anything I can find, benign or serious.  My best guess at this point is a developing mucocele that's just not quite obvious yet and is pressing on the nerve ever so slightly, causing intermittent localized tingling and itching (like I said initially, very much like when the dentist has frozen your mouth and it's wearing off, but only in that one small area).

In any event, I have to go to the clinic in a couple of weeks for something else anyway, so if there's no significant change before then, I'll wait until then and show it to the doctor at that point.

[RobinHood70]

Well, whatever it was, it seems to be going now.  I'm assuming it was a burn, but how I got a burn on the inside of my lower lip — bad enough to cause what I assume was slight nerve damage — without burning the gums or anything else, and with no memory of the event, I don't know.

Thanks for all the help, guys.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,

Numbness and tingling are abnormal sensations that can occur anywhere in your body. Did you injure yourself recently on the lips? Maybe you had injured your lower lip while eating food.Pls take cold compresses and some OTC anti-inflammatory drugs in that case.

The causes of tingling sensations in the lips are diabetes, stroke, multiple sclerosis and underactive thyroid and hypoparathyroidism. Abnormal levels of calcium, potassium, or sodium in your body and a lack of vitamin B12 can also cause tingling.
Do you take alcohol? Parasthesias are common in alcoholics.

Get your blood sugar and thyroid hormones levels evaluated. You can take some vit B12 and calcium supplements for some days and see if the tingling is gone or not.

If the tingling or swelling continues then please consult a physician and get yourself evaluated.

Take care and do keep us posted on how you are doing.

[DrNoopurMD]

Hi,

How are you?
Yes it does not seem to be a cold sore. Cold sores are painful fluid filled blisters usually on or around the lip. They do not usually occur inside the mouth.
This just seems to be a lip burn like you mentioned.
However it is important to examine it clinically for a clear diagnosis. If it persists and spreads to larger area, please get it checked out. Take care!

[Jashebja]

Just call your doc and see what they say.  It could be a virus there are a lot out there right now.  Trust me I know.  I have 3 children who catch everything and anything.  my daughter has the same thing and the doc told me it was a virus.  Just get checked.  NO harm in that.