Garak-dong Dental Clinic: What Are the Symptoms and Treatment Methods for Cold Sores and Stomatitis?

Hello.

Garak-dong Dental Clinic, Yonsei Dagam Dental Clinic

I am Dr. Seo Ho-yeon.

When blisters or scabs appear on the lips, people often dismiss them at first.

However, if the lesion spreads quickly and begins to produce discharge or blood scabs, it is natural to become increasingly concerned, wondering, “Is this simply a wound, or has an infection developed?”

Today, based on the case of a patient who actually visited our clinic, I will explain what to look for when lip herpes is suspected and how it can be managed.

(April 30, 2026)

This patient was a high school student.

The patient visited our clinic saying that the lips were very swollen, that blood scabs and discharge had developed, and that the lesion seemed to be gradually spreading.

As you can see in the photographs, the entire lips were swollen, and extensive scabbing and signs of bleeding were visible on the surface of the lips.

The patient said they had a habit of picking at their lips with their fingernails.

When the lips are frequently touched or picked, a small wound can become larger through repeated irritation.

In addition, if bacteria enter through the hands, there is a possibility that a secondary infection may develop in the damaged area.

Therefore, rather than judging the condition only by the visible wound, it is important to consider how the wound developed, how quickly the lesion spread, the degree of pain and swelling, and the person’s usual habits.

Symptoms of Lip Herpes

Garak-dong Dental Clinic, Yonsei Dagam Dental Clinic

If blisters develop around the lips, followed by scabbing or a stinging sensation, herpes may be suspected.

Herpes is caused by a viral infection and may appear around the lips or on the mucous membranes inside the mouth in the form of blisters, stinging, pain, or ulcers.

It may begin as small blisters, which then burst and release fluid, followed by the formation of scabs.

However, not every lesion that develops on the lips is herpes.

It is also necessary to distinguish it from impetigo caused by a bacterial infection, wounds caused by picking the lips, allergic reactions, and other conditions.

In this patient’s case, based on the appearance of the lesion, we proceeded with the examination while keeping the possibility of herpes in mind.

Herpes often heals naturally over time.

However, as in this patient’s case, if discharge or blood scabs are visible, or if there is a habit of repeatedly touching the wound, it is better to check the current condition and possible cause rather than simply waiting and watching.

(April 30, 2026)

On the day of the visit, we applied the necessary ointment to the lip area and dressed the lesion so that it would not be irritated again.

As shown in the photographs, we protected the lip area with gauze and secured it with tape.

Although this may look uncomfortable, it was done to protect the wound so that it would not continue to be exposed to the hands or other external irritation.

We then checked the progress again about one week later.

(May 6, 2026)

Compared with the first visit, the swelling and discharge from the lips had decreased significantly, and the scabbing had also subsided.

With lesions like this, it is important to reduce irritation early and manage the area to prevent a secondary infection.

In this patient’s case as well, we protected the wound to prevent continued picking and monitored the healing process while providing the necessary treatment.

What Is the Relationship Between Herpes and Erythema Multiforme?

Garak-dong Dental Clinic, Yonsei Dagam Dental Clinic

Erythema multiforme is one of the conditions that may be considered together with herpes.

Erythema multiforme is an immune-mediated condition in which lesions such as red spots, blisters, or ulcers appear on the skin or the mucous membranes inside the mouth.

Simply put, it can be understood as a condition in which inflammation appears on the skin and mucous membranes as the body responds to external stimuli such as an infection or medication.

Typically, red spots may appear on the hands, feet, arms, or legs, or rashes may develop in which the colors of the center and outer area appear different.

When the lips or the mucous membranes inside the mouth are affected, the lips may crack or develop blood scabs,

and ulcers may form inside the mouth, making it uncomfortable to eat or swallow.

Erythema multiforme can develop for various reasons, but herpes virus infection is known to be one of its possible triggers.

In other words, herpes may not remain limited to the lips; by stimulating the body’s immune response, it can appear as a more widespread reaction on the skin or mucous membranes.

That does not mean, however, that every case of blisters or scabs on the lips will lead to erythema multiforme.

Nevertheless, if the lip symptoms are severe or recurrent, if ulcers spread throughout the mouth, if red spots appear on the hands or feet, or if eye redness or stinging occurs as well, it is necessary to check whether there is also a systemic reaction.

When scabs appear on the lips, most people initially find it easy to dismiss them, thinking, “Maybe my lips are just dry,” or “Maybe it is because I picked at them.”

In fact, frequently picking the lips can cause wounds or further irritate an existing lesion.

Therefore, when a lesion is present on the lips, it is important to avoid touching or picking it as much as possible.

In particular, lesions that develop on the oral mucosa or lips cannot always be explained by a single cause.

Even when herpes infection is suspected, if repeated irritation or the possibility of a secondary infection is present, the management approach may be different.

Garak-dong Dental Clinic, Yonsei Dagam Dental Clinic considers discomfort affecting not only the teeth but also the oral mucosa and lips to be part of oral health.

We offer evening appointments until 8:30 p.m. on Mondays and Thursdays, and visits are also available on Saturdays.

If you have uncomfortable symptoms on your lips or inside your mouth, please have your current condition checked first rather than simply enduring them.

Thank you for reading this far today.

I hope you have a wonderful day. ^^

Garak-dong Dental Clinic, Yonsei Dagam Dental Clinic

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