Experiences with
Cold soresCheck if it's a cold sore
A cold sore usually starts with a tingling, itching or burning feeling.
Over the next 48 hours one or more painful blisters will appear on your face.
Cold sore blisters are usually small and filled with fluid.
The blisters can appear anywhere on the face.
The blisters burst and crust over into a scab.
Cold sores should start to heal within 10 days, but are contagious and may be irritating or painful while they heal.
Certain things may trigger a cold sore, such as illness, sunshine or being on your period.
How long cold sores are contagious
Cold sores are contagious from the moment you first feel tingling or other signs of a cold sore coming on to when the cold sore has completely healed.
They can easily spread to other people and other parts of your body.
To help stop cold sores spreading:
- wash your hands with soap and water whenever you touch your cold sore
- do not kiss anyone while you have a cold sore
- do not have oral sex until your cold sore completely heals as you could give your partner genital herpes
Kissing a baby if you have a cold sore can lead to neonatal herpes, which is very dangerous to newborn babies.
Things you can do yourself to help with cold sores
There are things you can do to help ease cold sores while they heal and to avoid triggering a cold sore.
avoid anything that triggers your cold sores, such as sunbeds
use sunblock lip balm (SPF 15 or above) if you're outside in the sun
take paracetamol or ibuprofen to ease pain and swelling (liquid paracetamol is available for children) – do not give aspirin to children under 16
drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration
do not touch your cold sore (apart from applying antiviral cream) – and if you do wash your hands before and after
do not rub cream into the cold sore – dab it on instead
do not eat acidic or salty food if it makes your cold sore feel worse
- a cold sore has not started to heal within 10 days
- you're worried about a cold sore or think it's something else
- the cold sore is very large or painful
- you or your child also have swollen, painful gums and sores in the mouth (gingivostomatitis)
- you have a weakened immune system – for example, because of chemotherapy or diabetes
Treatment for cold sores from a GP
A GP may prescribe antiviral tablets if your cold sores are very large, painful or keep coming back.
Newborn babies, pregnant women and people with a weakened immune system may be referred to hospital for advice or treatment.
Why cold sores come back
Cold sores are caused by a virus called herpes simplex.
Most people are exposed to the virus when they're children after close skin to skin contact, such as kissing, with someone who has a cold sore.
Once you have the virus, it stays in your skin for the rest of your life. Sometimes it causes a cold sore.
SymptomsMedical treatmentsTransmissionSelf-careA cold sore usually starts with a tingling, itching or burning feeling. Over the next day or 2, a painful lump or blister will appear on your face.
If a cold sores is very large, painful or keeps coming back, a GP may prescribe antiviral tablets.
Cold sores are contagious and can easily spread to other parts of your body and to other people. Avoid kissing other people until it is fully healed.
There are things you can do to help ease a cold sore while it heals, such as avoiding acidic or spicy food, and taking painkillers.
Related links
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