Cold sores are common and usually clear up on their own within 10 days. But there are things you can do to help ease the pain.
Check if it's a cold sore
A cold sore usually starts with a tingling, itching or burning feeling.
Over the next 48 hours:
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Cold sores should start to heal within 10 days, but are contagious and may be irritating or painful while they heal.
Some people find that certain things trigger a cold sore, such as another illness, sunshine or periods.
When it's not a cold sore
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.
A pharmacist can help with cold sores
A pharmacist can recommend:
- creams to ease pain and irritation
- antiviral creams to speed up healing time
- cold sore patches to protect the skin while it heals
You can buy electronic devices from pharmacies that treat cold sores with light or lasers.
Some people find these helpful, but there have not been many studies to find out if they work.
If you regularly get cold sores, use antiviral creams as soon as you recognise the early tingling feeling. They do not always work after blisters appear.
Things you can do yourself
Cold sores take time to heal and they're very contagious, especially when the blisters burst.
Important
Do not kiss babies if you have a cold sore. It can lead to neonatal herpes, which is very dangerous to newborn babies.
Do
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eat cool, soft foods
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wash your hands with soap and water before and after applying cream
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avoid anything that triggers your cold sores
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use sunblock lip balm (SPF 15 or above) if sunshine is the trigger
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take paracetamol or ibuprofen to ease pain and swelling (liquid paracetamol is available for children) – do not give aspirin to children under 16
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drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration
Don't
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do not kiss anyone while you have a cold sore
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do not share anything that comes into contact with a cold sore (such as cold sore creams, cutlery or lipstick)
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do not have oral sex until your cold sore completely heals – the cold sore virus also causes genital herpes
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do not touch your cold sore (apart from applying cream)
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do not rub cream into the cold sore – dab it on instead
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do not eat acidic or salty food
Non-urgent advice: See a GP if:
- the 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're pregnant – there's an increased risk of neonatal herpes
- you have a weakened immune system – for example, because of chemotherapy or diabetes
Treatment 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.
Once you have the virus, it stays in your skin for the rest of your life. Sometimes it causes a cold sore.
Most people are exposed to the virus when they're young after close contact with someone who has a cold sore.
It does not usually cause any symptoms until you're older. You will not know if it's in your skin unless you get a cold sore.
Page last reviewed: 4 July 2017
Next review due: 4 July 2020