Pictures 1 & 2 have no flash. Pictures 3 & 4 are w/ flash.
Got my first cold sore ever 2-3 years ago. When I do get them, it’s on my lower right lip. Always itches, blisters, scabs, and heals within 2 weeks.
This time, when I thought I felt a “tingle” on my upper right lip, I immediately iced the area and applied abreva. Got some blisters but they didn’t really look like a cold sore. For treatment, iced 2x a day, applied abreva 2-3x a day, applied aquaphor lip treatment, and took 1000mg lysine. Always used a different q-tip.
Two weeks in, no scabbing or healing. No more itchiness. Went to dermatologist who recommended I eat foods higher in arginine, take up to 2000mg lysine, only use Vaseline, and prescribed Valacyclovir 2 pills, 2x a day. I followed that for another 2 weeks.
Four weeks in, bumps did not go away and I ran out of Valacyclovir. Got irritated and just popped them myself. All went away except for the bump pictured. However, no rough texture, no discoloration, no itchiness, or pain. Decided to stop everything and stick to only Vaseline thinking maybe it was all an allergic reaction. Also started using a new toothbrush.
Now 5.5 weeks in, I’m only using Vaseline. Bump is a bit rough, not itchy, not painful, only slightly darker than my natural lip shade. I don’t smoke at all, only drank alcohol twice in this time period (at the beginning of course), and avoided kissing / all sex activity. I’m starting to get concerned since it’s been so long.