Herpes simplex and basal cell carcinoma (BCC) can have similar clinical presentations due to overlapping lesional morphology. We describe the unusual case of a BCC masquerading as herpes labialis due to a possible false-positive Tzanck smear. The confounding diagnosis led to a failed trial of valacyclovir and subsequent loss of the patient for 1 year before the lesion was biopsied and diagnosed as a BCC. This case report highlights the importance of careful inspection of herpetic lesions and that further investigation should be pursued if the etiology is uncertain or if the treatment is not yielding the expected results.
Keywords: Acyclovir; Basal cell carcinoma; Herpes; Herpes simplex; Tzanck smear; Valacyclovir.