What are the symptoms of cold sores?
You may feel a tingle or itch before the blisters appear, usually around your lips or nose. This can last several hours, or up to a day or so. After the tingle, one or more blisters appear which are usually sore. They may weep and take several days to scab. The scab slowly disappears over a week or so leaving no scar. Some virus will remain dormant in the nerve sheath ready to cause another cold sore sometime in the future.
Can cold sores be passed on to other people?
Yes. When you have a cold sore you should not kiss anyone or allow anyone to come into skin contact with the sore. In particular, avoid kissing newborn babies and anyone who has a poor immune system such as people on chemotherapy or with AIDS. However, when you have no symptoms (when the virus is dormant), you are not usually infectious. Also, healthy people who already have cold sores cannot be re-infected.
What are the treatments for cold sores?
- If you find that sunlight triggers your cold sores try using sunscreen lip balm when out in bright sunlight. This has been found to prevent some bouts of cold sores in some people.
- Pain can be eased by painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen.
- A pharmacist can advise a soothing cream or gel.
- Antiviral creams. You can buy these at pharmacies or get them on prescription. These do not kill the virus, but prevent the virus from multiplying. They have little effect on existing blisters, but may prevent them from getting worse. So, if you use an antiviral cream as soon as symptoms start then the cold sore may not last as long, and may be less severe. There is debate as to how well these creams work. Some people say that they help a lot to limit symptoms. Others feel they make little difference.
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danielle, about 1 year
hello i suffer with coldsores most of the year, i have them at the moment on my top and bottom lips. my lips have swealed i cant drink or eat because they are so painful.I dont get a tingle or burning sensation to the lips before the blisters they generally just appear.can you give me some advice as to what to use, as i do get embaressed and wont go out the house not even to work, I feel dirty please please help me. Many regars thank you. danielle chesworth
Report this commentSHIRLEY OWENS, about 1 year
I find the best remedy of all for cold sores is a dab of perfume. As soon as you feel the tingle dab perfume on it, or as soon as you feel your lip is hot, and the cold sore goes right away. It may try to break out again further along your lip as they are really crafty, so be on your guard and and always carry a little bottle of perfume with you. Honestly it does work.
Report this commentjenna, about 1 year
my boyfriend has a coldsore its nearly gone but i don't no when i can kiss him without being @ risk of catching it please help me ?? can you email me back with the answer please
Report this commentJenna D, about 1 year
my boyfriend has a coldsore its nearly gone but i don't no when i can kiss him without being @ risk of catching it please help me ?? can you email me back with the answer please
Report this commentjenna, about 1 year
my boyfriend has a coldsore its nearly gone but i don't no when i can kiss him without being @ risk of catching it please help me ?? can you email me back with the answer please
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val, about 1 year
I get a lot pf cold sores should i do somethink about it and y do a get tham a lot
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