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What Is The Difference Between A Pimple And Herpes On The Lip?
Question: How can you tell the difference between a pimple and herpes on your lip?
Brief Answer:
Oral herpes forms blisters then crusts; pimples usually contain oily white material
Detailed Answer:
I am guessing you are having a hard time determining which it is because whatever sore you are having is in it's early stage.
Initially it can be hard to tell pimples and oral herpes apart as they both may start out as irritated looking areas. But after a couple days they differentiate quite rapidly and are usually pretty easy to tell apart.
If you have a history of herpetic infections anywhere on the body, then it is more likely that it is herpes. Oral herpes also has a tendency to come out in the same spot from one outbreak to the next. But not always.
If you are suspecting that it is herpes, you may want to wait on the kissing a few days to see whether it has these features of herpes or a pimple:
If it is herpes you will develop a cluster of tiny blisters which then will turn into a crusty sore. The blistering stage usually happens around days 2 or 3 and usually follows a "prodrome" of 1-2 days of tingling, burning, or itching. After the blisters come out they may start to weep clear fluid. Then it will crust over and heal.
If it is a pimple, you may start to see evidence of it containing whitish or oily material and developing a head. A pimple is inflammation of the skin around an oil gland, so it may start to look like it has something thick and possibly white inside.
Herpes usually has more burning or itching sensation whereas pimples do not. But both can be tender. Herpes is usually more painful.
So I would wait on the kissing and if it is herpes, it will evolve as I described above. And in that case, yes, wait until it is healed over.
I hope this information helps.
Oral herpes forms blisters then crusts; pimples usually contain oily white material
Detailed Answer:
I am guessing you are having a hard time determining which it is because whatever sore you are having is in it's early stage.
Initially it can be hard to tell pimples and oral herpes apart as they both may start out as irritated looking areas. But after a couple days they differentiate quite rapidly and are usually pretty easy to tell apart.
If you have a history of herpetic infections anywhere on the body, then it is more likely that it is herpes. Oral herpes also has a tendency to come out in the same spot from one outbreak to the next. But not always.
If you are suspecting that it is herpes, you may want to wait on the kissing a few days to see whether it has these features of herpes or a pimple:
If it is herpes you will develop a cluster of tiny blisters which then will turn into a crusty sore. The blistering stage usually happens around days 2 or 3 and usually follows a "prodrome" of 1-2 days of tingling, burning, or itching. After the blisters come out they may start to weep clear fluid. Then it will crust over and heal.
If it is a pimple, you may start to see evidence of it containing whitish or oily material and developing a head. A pimple is inflammation of the skin around an oil gland, so it may start to look like it has something thick and possibly white inside.
Herpes usually has more burning or itching sensation whereas pimples do not. But both can be tender. Herpes is usually more painful.
So I would wait on the kissing and if it is herpes, it will evolve as I described above. And in that case, yes, wait until it is healed over.
I hope this information helps.
Note: Hope the answers resolves your concerns, however for further guidance of skin related queries consult our Dermatologist.Click here to book a consultation
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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