What could cause a small cut at the corner of the mouth?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am worried, that I may have come in contact with herpes. I woke up this morning with a small cut like marking on the corner of my mouth. My top lip has a red patchy spot on the inside of the lip. Last night, I drank a ton of alcohol, smoked multiple cigarettes and took ecstasy. Is the symptom possible from that?

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern. Drugs like alcohol, ecstasy, and cigarettes reduce saliva secretion and blood flow to our mouth, lips, and gums. A dehydrated oral cavity is prone to mouth ulcer, cancer sores and the lips tend to get chapped and cracked. This could be a simple mouth ulcer from dry mouth caused by heat due to multiple cigarette smoking or could also be an HSV (herpes simplex virus) infection.

Herpes simplex infection of lips spreads through saliva by personal or intimate contact, sharing cigarettes or drinks with the infected person. A clear picture of the ulcer and lip sore will help to diagnose it. Please visit a dentist immediately and get the ulcers examined. Watch for signs of fever, stinging or burning of the ulcer, mucosa, and gums.

Treatment is symptomatic if it is a simple mouth ulcer. A topical anesthetic will help control the pain and burning sensation, if present. After an initial examination, if the doctor suspects HSV infection, he will advise you to get a series of lab tests for confirmation. Meanwhile, keep yourself hydrated at all times and maintain good oral hygiene to prevent further infection of the mouth ulcer.

I hope this helps.