Symmetrical "Somethings" on Corner of Mouth

[IntenselyAnxious]

Hello,

Two somewhat symmetrical "somethings" have appeared on the corners of my mouth (see link to photo below) over the past five days. Mildly irritating, no pus, no white or yellow liquid, no scabs, no bursting, and some clear liquid discharging from one but not the other.

For background, I haven't been eating the best the last few months. Admittedly, it's been either not enough food or not enough vegetables. Which is why I tagged angular cheilitis/candida/etc. I've also recently moved to a desert climate from a very humid environment.

However, I did begin dating a girl (kissing included, nothing beyond) who did not show any visible signs of cold sores and who said she wasn't afflicted. I've also read on here that cold sores I've been tested negative for HSV-1 and HSV-2. Granted, I know that doesn't mean much for me currently, but wanted to provide as much background as I could. Could it also be her lipstick?

Lastly, I have been smoking marijuana out of a water pipe (bong) with regularity. Could it possibly be an irritation from either the glass, the smoke, or some kind of allergic reaction? I understand that a visit to the doctor in person may be in order, but I wanted to check here first.

http://i1289.photobucket.com/albums/b502/intenselyanxious/IMG_0526_zps0d6aa036.jpg

Thanks,

Some Guy

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
Thanks for posting your query.

I can understand your concern for these symptoms. I have checked the photograph and from the symptoms and photo, it looks like angular cheilitis.
Since the lesions are present symmetrically on both sides and clear liquid discharging from the lesion, it looks more like angular cheilitis. Your history of recent staph infections and not changing the teeth aligners for such a long time may be the contributory factors. Even allergic contact dermatitis to the marijuana water pipe or your girlfriend’s lipstick can be contributing factors for the same. In nutshell, all of these can be the causes for the pathology- angular cheilitis but not the diagnosis. So one important possibility is angular cheilitis. Apart from that, although it does not look like a cold sore especially if there is no history of any unprotected oral ,vaginal or oral intercourse but since kissing was involved, so it is important to rule out this possibility also.

The HPV1 virus spreads through direct contact — through skin contact or contact with oral or genital secretions. Transmission may also occur through skin-to-skin contact during periods of asymptomatic shedding. So even if there was no visible cold sore, the virus may spread if your girlfriend is having the HPV 1 infection.

So to confirm the diagnosis, you need to get a culture sensitivity (bacterial/ fungal and viral) of the sores and the discharge from the sores done. Then depending on the diagnosis, treatment is planned. It may be topical or oral antibiotics/ antifungals and antivirals depending on the causative infection.

Till you get the investigations done, dry out the lesions completely by patting and air drying after washing with a mild soap and use petroleum jelly to lock out moisture. It is vital that the affected areas be clean and completely dry before application of the jelly. Also take some Vitamin B 12 supplements for some days and eat foods rich in vitamin B 12 like meat and poultry products.

Hope that this information helps and hope that you get better soon.

Wishing you good health.

[IntenselyAnxious]

Also, I've had a history of staph occurrences three or four times over the last four years.

I wear Invisalign, and have been wearing the same tray for some time now as moving has prevented a visit to a new dentist.

I've had no fever, body aches, swelling of lymph nodes, headaches, sore throat. I've felt completely normal apart from the two irritations.

Thanks.