Is it a cracked lip or a cold sore??

[Dotty612]

Hi all,
In the past three weeks I have had two occasions this has happened:
The left side of my lip in the corner has become red and cracked.
I'm not sure whether it's just cracked or whether it's actually a cold sore. It's not a large area that's red and seems to be a bit inflamed although not a lot.
I've been under a lot of stress recently and am taking vitamin B supplements for it but this is the second time it has happened in such a short period of time. I don't recall it being blister like or sore. It was straight away cracked and dry and I was constantly moisturising it. I drink lots of water and apply lip balm regularly.

Please help me figure out if I should go to the doctor for this as I don't want to pass it on to my boyfriend!

[sorefinger]

Is it sore or tingly? If it is tingly it is likely a cold sore (herpes). If it is herpes your boyfriend probably already has it. Most people do even if it is dormant and they don't know they have it. It is also passed on before the sore appears, the most infectious time being just before the sore appears when it is tingly. But it can spread even before then too, when there is no tingle and no sore, so you really have no way of knowing. I had it since I was a kid, either from sharing cans of drink with people or from a relative kissing me. It sometimes looks like a bit like a crack when the sore first appears, but usually it will turn round shaped and become scabby. I think if yours doesn't go like that, it is probably something else. Blistex is a good lip balm.

[SlothKing]

try using a good lip balm, not wax or petroleum jelly (vaseline). It could be a cold sore (herpes 1) or just really bad chapped area.  HSV 1 is very common.  It can show up unannounced and direct sun light it known to cause it to spring up. cold sores will clear on their own in a week or so.  try not to lick or chew or pick at that spot.