Question:
About two weeks ago, I had what seemed like a painful pimple on the right side my upper lip -- the skin above the lip, not the lip itself, basically about halfway between the lip itself and the edge of my nose. It was quite painful to the touch for a while, but didn't seem all that different from other pimples I've had in the past. It was difficult to see it, though, because I have a mustache/goatee.

At that time, it felt like it was "in" the skin, and an expert on another website had often written that one crucial difference between acne and herpes was that herpes was "on" the skin while acne was "in" the skin. So that made me feel better about it.

As I often do, I picked at it until it popped and bled. A day or two after that, it developed a scab, which felt more "on" the skin. But still, I figured it was a scab -- where else would it be? Still, it's uncommon for pimples (at least for me) to scab over after being popped. So that was another warning sign.

Well, this morning I woke up and had pain on the other side of my upper lip (left side) that feels a lot like the pain I had two weeks ago. It was painful, for example, when I brushed against my mustache. I applied Carmex (which contains camphor), and right now there is no pain. However, I am now extremely worried that I have oral herpes.

I suppose all I can really do is wait and see whether this morning's pain (which doesn't exist right now) ever develops into anything. I guess my question is: could the symptoms I'm describing be something OTHER than herpes? Do pimples ever scab over like the scab I had two weeks ago?

Is it too early to be tested? I am extremely worried, almost sick to my stomach. I want to go to a clinic *today* and get examined and tested. Is that reasonable?

Answer:
Oh, one more thing: I also have an irritation in my inner thigh, where my leg meets my crotch. I have gotten this before after working out or being otherwise active, as a result of skin rubbing together with sweat and what not. It started the day I moved a lot of stuff from one apartment to another, and I was very sweaty that day, so I am assuming that that was the cause. There are no blisters or anything that seems like herpes other than the skin being irritated and a little bit painful to the touch sometimes.

Just thought I'd add that.

Answer:
I don't agree with the "on" the skin "in" the skin comparison.

This is why - a pimple is caused by bacteria in the pore that causes a small infection and the body sends white blood cells to fight the infection and it erupts out of the skin.

Hsv is a virus that infects the skin on contact and then retreats to live in the nervous system which is inside the skin and when it reproduces it travels the nerve pathways and causes ob's. Because hsv is connected to the nerves it can be more painful than a pimple.

What you need to do is go to the dr and get tested.

you can do this two different ways. see your general dr and explain your concerns or go to a dermatologist. Make sure that you mention both the sores on your lip and in your genital area. They could be hsv or not. No one on this site can diagnose you just recommend you see a dr.

There are two methods of testing one is a herpes specific blood test and the other is a swab of the infected area that is cultured in a lab.

Note: a swab culture is a very reliable testing method and a positive result is usually correct. but you must have a sore that is active to be cultured. A blood test will show antibodies if you have been exposed but may require you to be retested numerous times. Blood tests have a high frequency of false negative results.

Here are some links.




Answer:
OK, so I went to the doctor today, and both she and a colleague (she wanted a second opinion) said it was just a whitehead. They did not swab. They said, among other things:

-- Herpes does not look like a normal pimple. If I had herpes, I'd know.
-- I should be on the lookout for draining (beyond what a normal pimple would do), fever, or redness/swelling.

Does that sound accurate? I know doctors can be wrong, but the confidence they expressed seemed convincing...for now. If this one drains heavily and scabs over, then I'll go back to the doctor again.

I didn't mention the leg stuff, because honestly I don't think it has anything to do with anything -- I've had this sensation before, and it happens because of irritation with skin-on-skin or skin-on-sweaty-boxers.

Answer:
My only concern is that my own dr's failed to diagnose hsv in me for 10 years. I had many tests and many diagnosis that were for things like allergies. I saw specialists and they prescribed medications that never really helped and infact may be what eventually caused me to start having ob's because they weakened my immune system.

At the same time I hope that you do not have it. If you would take the time to research and check out the links I attached at least you will be able to monitor your own health and if something makes you wonder perhaps you will go and ask for testing. There is no harm in just being tested to be sure.

Best wishes.

Answer:
If I had herpes, I'd know.
That could very well be the dumbest thing I've heard from doctors. And I've heard them say some stupid shiat...

Answer:
I may have transcribed it not quite right. The gist was that herpes looks *different* from a normal pimple, so much so that if I had herpes, it would be obvious that it wasn't "normal." He may very well be wrong about that, but that's what he said (among other things).

Answer:
usually we expect the dr's to be the one to tell us when something isn't right instead of us diagnosing ourselves.

if you have reason to believe you might ever have been exposed to herpes you should request and get some herpes specific blood work done just to have some idea of whether you have it or not.

Answer:
Well, he also said that what I have looks just like a whitehead, not herpes.

Anyway, isn't it too soon for me to get a blood test for herpes? I thought I had to wait ~3 months?