Brief Answer: you could be having herpes labialis Detailed Answer: Hi Thanks for writing to us. From the description, it seems you could be having herpes labialis. It may present as itching, numbness, tingling, blisters or dryness at area of affliction. The lesion may later on heal with post inflammatory hyper or hypopigmemtation. Once its developed, just use a topical antibiotic and a lip balm to help it heal fast. However prior to its development when you have preceding tell tale signs, you may use acyclovir cream to prevent its development. You may transfer it to others through direct contact during your active lesion phase but the contacts wont develop hyperpigmentation directly without developing herpes lesions. So I do not think you have transferred it to others. However avoid contact during active lesion phase. I would appreciate, if you could attach a pic showing your lips to help you further. Take care

---

Brief Answer: Details below Detailed Answer: Hi, Thanks for writing back. Firstly please accept my apologies for delayed response. In the pic attached, I could notice three things - a small red elevated lesion over upper lip, slight change in color of lips at angle of mouth and that you wear braces. Herpes labialis though usually presents with multiple small blisters but it can just present as dry chapped fissured lips or slight swelling of affected mucosa preceded by a sensation of tingling itching numbness or burning sensation at the affected area. So yes, you could be having herpes labialis if the above mentioned features are recurrent and occur at that particular area. However if lips have remain chapped with persistent burning tingling since 7 months, it could not be herpes. As you wear braces, sometimes friction or trauma due to braces along with irritation due to food and saliva can cause such features. Now if its herpes, just use a topical antibiotic cream and a lip balm to help it heal. To combat tingling, a multivitamin supplement should be taken. Also use of acyclovir cream would help to prevent further recurrent episodes. If its due to braces, a lip balm and application of topical antibiotic, steroid antifungal cream should help. The slight elevated red pustular lesion over upper lip could be probably a boil or if its recurrent at same spot, could be herpetic too. I would advise that you meet your dentist as he would be able to diagnose whether its herpes or chapped lips due to braces. Hope this helped. Take care

---

Brief Answer: Details below Detailed Answer: Hi, Thanks for writing back. I cant find any new uploaded pic. I cant comment whether your friends have herpes or not unless I see their pics. Herpes may spread through using lipstick of affected person or sharing utensils but the same can only be confirmed once I have seen the pics. Also as I mentioned earlier, please meet your dentist or dermatologist to confirm the diagnosis of herpes labialis as in your case too the presentation is atypical. Having said this, if you have herpes, you may spread it to your close contacts by sharing lipsticks or utensils Hope this helped. Take care

---

Brief Answer: they do not have any lip infection Detailed Answer: Hi, Thanks for providing the pics. Your friends have not acquired any lip infection from you. They just have slight lip pigmentation which is normal. Lips may get slightly pigmented due to frequent licking, sun exposure, dryness, excessive stress, nutritional deficiency, smoking or caffeine. Basically in my opinion they do not require any treatment, however may use kojic acid based creams to reduce the same. Hope this helped. Take care

---

Brief Answer: details below Detailed Answer: Hi, Thanks for writing back. Please mention the result of your lip swab. Lip pigmentation is quite commonly seen, so as long as your family members do not have tingling numbness, itching at affected area or development of blister, you should not worry about them having herpes. Herpes is contagious but it isnt like that every member in your family will get herpes from you( if in case you are having it). As advised earlier please meet your dentist to confirm the diagnosis. As there could be other causes for such affliction of lip( mentioned in my previous post). Do send back your lip swab report. Hoping to hear from you soon. Take care

---

Brief Answer: details below Detailed Answer: Hi, Thanks for writing to us. We do HSV IgG and IgM to rule out remote as well as recent infection. HSV 1 and HSV 2 are two strains of virus. Now if its negative, it means you do not have herpes labialis right now. But as I said IgG would rule out affliction with the same in past. Right now take a multivitamin supplement daily and apply mild steroid cream for few days. If the itching or tingling is due to some irritation, it would subside with steroid. Hope this helped. Take care

---