Im worried? Swollen lower lip...

[trey1987]

The other day I realized I had a pimple beneath my lower lip, so I popped it. The following day my lip began to swell up and now it is really swollen, I cant feel anyhting from my lower lip to my chin, it severely hurts at night that I cant sleep, my lip is different colors and drying up. What should I do? I have been to the ER and was prescribed antibiotics and pain pills but just strted those today. Im worried... Do I have some weird disease?

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
From the symptoms it can be due to boil or a cold sore. 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 dermatologist. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.

[Angebelle]

No weird disease.  When you extracted the pustule, you most likely did not clear the pore of all the bacteria, thus spreading the bacteria to other pores.  Unfortunately, the problem is festering.  Use ice to relieve swelling temporarily.  Use OTC acne spot treatment day and night after washing your face with a quality cleanser.  You can also use aloe-based lotions or gels, or diluted tea tree oil as part of the regimen.  Hope that you get relief within the next two weeks.