Dark skin around my mouth and white patches, is this from chapped lips or a cold sore?

Constantly peeling the dry layer can irritate the skin and lead to darkening over time, so switching to a plain balm with spf helped me finally stop picking. Drinking more water made a real difference for my chapped lips too.

Darkening with white patches does not sound like a typical cold sore, since a fever blister usually starts with a tingle and then small fluid filled blisters. It is worth having a dermatologist take a quick look so you know exactly what you are dealing with.

I keep a simple wellness routine, lysine with breakfast, a gentle spf lip balm during the day, and abreva in my bag just for peace of mind. For patches like yours though, a professional opinion is the safest first step.