A couple days ago, I started noticing a small lump on the corner of my lips/mouth. It's only really noticeable if you look at it up close. But still, I started freaking out that it was a cold sore (I've never gotten one before). I did some research, and apparently you're supposed to feel tingling/itching as a cold sore starts, and I haven't felt any of that. It only hurts if I apply a LOT of pressure to it, otherwise, it doesn't bother me at all. It's just this stupid little lump on my lip, and I have no idea why it's there. Also, just today I started noticing some puffiness on the right side of my mouth, away from my lips. Is this related to the original bump or just a part of my acne (which I have pretty bad)? A quick response would be great. I'm seeing my boyfriend tomorrow and need to know whether or not I could give him herpes or whatever. :/
I doubt very much that it's a cold sore. Cold sores aren't normally 'bumps' and more scabby kind of sores. Changes are it just a blind pimple or a Limple (Lip pumple). My guess is a limple, the pores around your top lip and base of nose are generally smaller then the rest of your face so it's a lot more common to find smaller, blind pimples around those areas. Good luck.
Speaking as a person who deals with serial cold sores, I would say that it sounds very unlikely to be a cold sore. Generally speaking, cold sores tingle a lot (mine tingle to the point of pain) and are itchy, and become kind of crusted bumps which look like a shocking pimple near your mouth. If you're only getting pain when you apply pressure, you're not having any tingling sensations at all, then I would say no. If you're still worried, go grab some Zovirax (it's a cold sore cream, they'll have an equivalent in america), and whack it on liberally to see if that makes a difference, and try to abstain from kissing your boyfriend. The puffiness could mean you're about to have a majorly nasty blind pimple breakout or something else entirely. If you're worried about it, go see a doctor or a dermatologist (a doctor who specialises in skin diseases and problems)
Thanks you guys. I'm applying ice to the swollen part of my face to see if I can get the swelling to go down. I'm pretty sure it's just a part of my acne, and although it's not attractive, I don't think it's contagious. I'm glad my boyfriend isn't shallow.
If there's swelling, it might very well be some type of hives/allergic reaction. I get stuff like that occasionally around my mouth. Or, as you say, a blind pimple. A cold sore is pretty unmistakable and if I have read correctly (happily I've not had to deal with them personally), usually get progressively worse before they resolve--i.e. they don't stay stuck in neutral very often.