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tiny red bumps on upper lip

I have these very small raised red bumps on the cupids bow part of my upper lip. They have been there since I was a teenager. I had them lasered off a few years ago, and this worked - they disappeared. But then they came back a year or so later, and got a bit bigger! I've been to numerous dermatologists and doctors and tried numerous treatments, and none have worked. I've been told it's benign, but it bothers me and if I accidentally scratch my lip, they will bleed. I have no idea what to do - nothing is working! The last doctor even tried to freeze them off like warts, and nothing happened. Any ideas on what these bumps are, and what I can do to make them go away?
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Avatar universal
Hi,

If you have tried laser treatment and it has helped and the other dermatologists you have consulted have not been able to come up with a diagnosis or solution to your symptoms i would suggest you to see a cosmetologist - so that some permanent treatment can be planned even if we do not have the diagnosis.

Let us know about how you are doing and post us about what the specialist advises.

Post us if you have any other doubts.

Regards.
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Avatar universal
Thank you for the post. I should take a photo and post it - I'll try to do that today.

The dermatologists have said that they might be little red warts, but freezing them didn't work. That's the only thing they've said - the other dermatologists have said that they're not sure what they are. A few people have suggested that they're cold sores, but they most certainly are not because I'm on anti-virals for cold sores (I had been getting them regularly due to stress in grad school) and I know what a cold sore looks like. Also, cold sores don't get lasered off and reappear a year later. So I know it's not that.

I have not been prescribed any medications or creams, only the laser treatment (which actually worked, until they came back) and then a freezing treatment (which didn't work).

I'm allergic to white-fleshed fish (although I'm going to get re-tested soon) - when I eat the fish, I go into anaphylactic shock. I have no other symptoms, I'm under 30, and I don't smoke (never have). I'm in good health, drink plenty of water, eat very well, and exercise regularly.

What sort of skin specialist do you recommend? I have a PPO so I can see whomever I wish without a referral. I've seen 3 dermatologists and none of them have been able to give me an answers.

They don't bother me on a regular basis, and I've been told numerous times that they're benign, but I'd really like to have a solid diagnosis and hopefully have them removed in some manner.

Thanks again for your post! Please let me know if there is a particular kind of skin specialist you'd recommend.
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Avatar universal
Hi,

Nothing can be said with surety without looking at the lesions.

What diagnosis are the dermatologists saying? Have you been prescribed any medications?

You need to drink plenty of water and also keep your lips well moisturised. Apply a medicated lip balm with a sunscreen to avoid damage due to the sun.

Are you allergic to any substances? What symptoms do you have other than the lip lesion? What is your age? Do you smoke?

If your lesions still persist, it would be best to see a skin specialist for a confirmed diagnosis and to rule out any other cause of the spot.

Let us know if you have any other doubts and also about what the specialist advises.

Hope this helps.

Good luck.
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