What does it mean when you have a bump on your top lip, but isn't a herpes or cold sore?

See below: Most people get infected by human herpes virus type i (hsv-1) during their childhood. This virus remains dormant to be activated when the host is stressed or running a fever. "cold sore" is tingling blistery bump developing when hsv is reactivated.

Lip bumps : A "bump" on the lip can be an infection, a benign growth, or a malignancy, among other things. A clinical exam is needed to narrow down the diagnosis, & sometimes a biopsy sample is done to know for sure.