Cold sores, also known as fever blisters, are a common viral infection that many Brits experience.
These small, fluid-filled blisters appear on and around the lips, often grouped together in patches. After the blisters break, a scab forms that can last several days. Cold sores usually heal in two to three weeks without leaving a scar.
If you’re unsure about when to seek medical advice about them, then you’re in luck, as a leading pharmacist has shared his advice
Phil Day, Superintendent Pharmacist at Pharmacy2U, has provided expert insights on what cold sores are, their causes, and how to effectively manage them.
What are cold sores?
Cold sores are small fluid-filled blisters that typically appear around the lips and mouth. Approximately 1 in 5 people in the UK experience recurring cold sores, making them very common amongst Brits.
While cold sores can be uncomfortable and unsightly, they usually clear up on their own within 7-10 days. However, there are instances where you should seek medical advice.
According to Phil, these are:
What are the causes of cold sores and what treatments should you use?
Phil explains that stress, tiredness or illness, hormonal changes, sun exposure or cold weather and physical injury to the area can all trigger cold sores.
Effective treatments include antiviral creams such as aciclovir, cold sore patches, pain-relieving gels or over-the-counter painkillers and keeping the area clean and dry.
Pharmacist Nyrah, known as @healthwithnyrah on TikTok, also recently shared a video with her 456,000 followers on the site to share cold sore treatments. She suggested taking paracetamol for pain and also recommended aciclovir cream.
She told followers to put a thin layer on the cold sore five times a day and doing it every four hours.
How to prevent cold sores
Cold sores are very contagious, especially during outbreaks. You can help prevent them by SPF lip balms, maintaining overall health, and avoiding triggers. You should also wash your hands frequently during outbreaks and avoid scratching sores.
How to identify cold sores
The NHS states on its website that a cold sore “usually starts with a tingling, itching or burning feeling”. It adds: “Over the next 48 hours one or more painful blisters will appear on your face.”
Cold sore blisters are usually small in size and filled with fluid and these blisters can appear anywhere on your face and burst and crust over into a scab.
How long are cold sores contagious for?
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, according to the NHS. They can easily spread to other people and other parts of your body. To stop them spreading, you should:
- Wash your hands with both warm water and soap whenever you touch a cold sore
- Do not kiss people while you have one
- Avoid having oral sex until your cold sore completely heals as you could give your partner genital herpes