On the inside of my lips both top and bottom are red in a circular pattern and there is a numbness in my tongue. I’ve this problem for a few days. What could be the cause?

Hello Anon

Thank you for writing.

There could be several causes. You may have canker sores inside your mouth/lips; canker sores, also called aphthous ulcers, are painful, annoying sores that appear inside the mouth, on the tongue or inside the cheek. It is estimated canker sores affect at least one in five Americans. Canker sores are not related to the cold sores which appear as small outbreaks on the outside of the mouth.

It's even possible you have ringworm - ringworm is a fungal infection of the skin. Despite its name, it has nothing at all to do with worms. Fungal infection may appear on the skin, nails, hands, feet, or scalp. It can also occur around the mouth and the lips but is not found on the tongue or inside the mouth so your risk is low.

You may have some other kind of infection in your mouth.

To know what it is exactly, will require an examination, especially if this does not clear up within another couple of days. Once a diagnosis is given, treatment can start.
Best,
Susan