I have had a patch of skin on my upper lip for the past three or four weeks that feels dry. For a while, the problem went away but then it came back. It sometime itches if the skin get really dry, so I apply a lot of lip balm and try to drink a lot of water to deal with the problem. I have also noticed that sometimes, when I push that area of skin of my lip forward with my tongue, there is discoloration. It looks as if there is a blister forming under the skin, but there does not appear to be any liquid if I try to pop it (I know I shouldn't do it, but I wanted to make sure). Also, the skin will feel tight at times.
The problem began while I was in Jacksonville a few weeks back. I noticed the area of skin on my lip was feeling itchy and dry shortly after having gone to the beach. I suspect that the lip had gotten sun burned (I used a sun screen but it is very possible that I missed that spot). Could the skin be possibly sun damaged? And, if so, would the problem persist for this long? If is a sun related injury, what is the proper way to remedy it?
I do not believe that it is a cold sore, it has not presented the symptoms of one - pain, a blistering sore, crusting, etc.
Thanks in advance for any help you guys can give me!