5 CONDITIONS WITH SIMILAR FEATURES TO COLD SORES

Mouth ulcers: these occur on the mucous membranes and tongue inside the mouth, not on the outside of the lip and mouht.

Chickenpox: vesicles can occur both around the outside and inside the mouth, but they are also widespread on other parts of the body.

Impetigo: a bacterial skin infection, more common in children, that usually affects the face but can spread more widely. Lesions are itchy and not confined to the area round the lips, although they may first appear there.

Lip cancer: lesions develop slowly and are initially painless.

Primary chancre of syphilis: sores can occur on the lip. A single hard ulcer appears, which is painless, followed by swelling and hardening of lymph glands in the neck, then spreading to lymph glands elsewhere in the body.

Angular cheilitis: cracks occurring at the corners of the mouth that become inflamed and macerated. It is most common in elderly denture wearers.