Archangel_M

Over the past month or so I've had symptoms that sound a lot like what you're describing. In the interests of full disclosure, about a month ago I began dating a woman who gets cold sores from time to time as a result of HSV-1. I was first exposed to the virus when we kissed, because my girlfriend had a scabbed-over sore. So chances are good that if I've contracted the virus, my body may be trying to have an outbreak. But, I'm not yet absolutely certain whether or not I'm experiencing cold sore symptoms. I'll explain what I've been going through, and maybe between the two of us we can figure out what's wrong.

Symptoms: a clogging sensation in the ears, like what you'd experience on an airplane from changes in atmospheric pressure; weak tingling around the base of the nose, where the nostril ends and the rest of the face begins; red, itching sensation at the outer edges of the lips; burning sensation of the eyes, at random periods (mostly at night); what appear to be whitehead pimples at various locations around the nose, mouth and other parts of the face.

The latest round of symptoms involve red irritation akin to itching or burning at the outer edges of my lower lip, and now the outer edge of my upper lip is developing similar bumps to what you're describing (though there is yet no burning or itching there). I applied some anti-bacterial ointment to the area, and the itching/burning sensation went away and the redness had subsided somewhat. The symptoms also appear to be worse in warm and humid environments, while drier, cooler environments seem to help alleviate things. I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow, and I will ask for a blood test to determine if I've contracted my girlfriend's HSV-1.

Now, before we make any conclusions about my symptoms, I want to tell you about something that happened late last month. I was helping out with a workshop hosted by my employer, and I was unable to stay in the meeting room because every time I lingered there for more than a few minutes I would develop redness on my knuckles with that weird itching/burning sensation. When I left the room, my hands began to get better, and when I left the building to go pick up lunch for the group the symptoms disappeared altogether. This was on April 28th. I'm wondering, if my symptoms are not that of someone with a developing cold sore outbreak, whether or not I am developing an allergic rash due to some environmental factor. This week I began using a new type of bath soap, a blend of hemp seed oil and Dead Sea minerals. I haven't had any noticeable effects from the soap on the rest of my body, however, so I'm not sure if the soap is what's bothering me. Frankly, I don't know what to make of all this though I do suspect the presence of HSV-1 (which I will seek to confirm tomorrow at the doctor's), but whatever is wrong with me it is like nothing I've ever experienced before and it's only begun in the month or so since I started seeing my girlfriend.