Many adults and children carry the virus that causes cold sores.

Cold Sores

Although the virus does not bother them most of the time, certain things, e.g. times of stress or illness, ‘trigger’ the virus and make it active. Each attack of the virus causes sores to form around the mouth or nose. They start as red itchy patches that develop into blisters, then become open weepy sores. The sores form crusty scabs that then crack.

Cold Sore Causes

Cold sores are caused by the virus herpes simplex type 1. This virus is extremely common and it is believed that up to 80% of the population carry herpes simplex.

When exposed to the virus the first time, most people will get infected, but only about 10% will actually develop cold sores. The sores of an initial infection appear 2-20 days after contact with an infected person and can last 10-14 days.

Most people who get cold sores will have caught the virus during infancy or childhood. They usually ‘catch it’ from close contact with family members or friends who carry the virus.

How Are Cold Sores Spread?

You can catch the virus by touching a cold sore. by kissing someone who has a cold sore or who is carrying the cold sore virus, or sharing things like cups, cutlery, face cloths or towels.

People with cold sores may also spread the virus from their mouths to their eyes by touching the sores and then touching their eyes. See you doctor immediately if you have a cold sore and your eyes become red or sore.

The virus can also be spread to sexual organs and to parts of the body where the skin is broken. Cold sores are only a minor nuisance in most people, but babies and people with eczema or other skin conditions can become very ill if they catch the herpes simplex virus.

Cold Sore Symptoms 

• A tingling, burning or itchy feeling where the sore is going to appear. Ideally you should start treatment as soon as you get these feelings.

• A red swollen patch that, over the next 24 hours, turns into a blister or group of blisters. The blisters can be very painful and make it difficult to eat or talk. Treatment at this stage can recue the healing time for the cold sore.

• Without treatment, over the next few days the blisters can become painful sores that weep or crack.

• In a week or so the blisters dry up and form a yellow brown crust. The crust soon falls off and does not usually leave a scar.

• The cold sore should have healed completely and disappeared 10-14 days after it began. However, the virus can be spread from the time the first tingling or burning is felt, until the crust has dried.

Why do cold sores keep coming back?

• After the first attack, the virus gets into the nerves in that part of the body closest to where the cold sore appeared. Here the virus ‘sleeps’ until the next attack is triggered.

• A number of things can make the virus active again - stress or tiredness, menstruation or pregnancy, strong sunlight or sunburn. It may also become active when you are feeling run down or have another illness.

• If you get cold sores more often in the summer because of the sun, or in winter doing snow based activities use sunscreens to help prevent them.  

Cold Sore Treatment

Cold sores will usually heal by themselves within 10-14 days.

• A range of treatments for cold sores are available from you pharmacy. \\they contain either anti-viral medicines, anaesthetics or antispeptics like povidone-iodine. These medicines help either to heal the cold sores, relieve pain or prevent a bacterial infection occurring. Talk to you pharmacist about the most suitable product for you. Tell you pharmacist if you are, or are intending to become, pregnant or are breast feeding.

• With an antiviral cream, apply it as soon as you feel a cold sore coming on since the sooner you start treatment the more likely you are to prevent the cold sore developing further. Rub the antiviral cream onto the cold sore as often as instructed by the directions. Some anti-virals need to be applied 5 times a day and some as often as every one to two hours.

• When the blisters have broken out, keep the area clean by bathing it with warm water and patting it dry with paper tissues.

• When applying a cold sore cream don’t reuse the same finger to get more cream out of the container as this could contaminate the medicine. Use a different finger or an applicator such as a cotton bud.

• Wash you hands thoroughly with soap before and after cleaning the cold sore or applying any medicines.

• To prevent the cold sore drying and cracking and possibly developing into a bacterial infection, use a lip moisturizing cream.

People who get cold sores often or very sever and painful sores, may need medicines only available on prescription from your doctor.

Cold Sore Self Care

You can stop a cold sore spreading to others.

• Avoid skin contact, e.g. kissing, touching or picking the cold sore, especially when it has blistered. do not break your cold sore blister.

• Be careful not to touch the cold sore and then rub your eyes. Take extra care if you wear contact lenses and when applying or removing make-up. If your eye becomes red, watery or sensitive to sunlight see you doctor immediately.

• Use you own eating and drinking utensils, towels and face cloths when you have a cold sores.

• Avoid sharing lipstick or lip balms. Wipe lipstick testers before using them, and preferably test them on your hand or wrist.

• Learn to recognise and manage your cold sore ‘triggers’

• Keep fit - it may help you manage stress and keep your immune system healthy.

• Use sunscreens with high blocking capacity (SPF30) if exposure to sun (e.g. during skiing and beach activities) cause your cold sores.

See your doctor

• If a cold sore spreads from your lips or around your mouth and nose to other parts of your face, or if cold sores appear on other parts of your body.

• If your cold sore does not heal within 3 weeks.

• You have a cold sore and your eyes become red, watery or sensitive to light.

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