Can You Have Cold Sores Without Having Herpes
Cold sores are common and commonly clear up on their own within 10 days. But there are things you tin practise to assist ease the hurting.
Bank check if information technology's a cold sore
A cold sore normally starts with a tingling, itching or burning feeling.
Over the adjacent 48 hours:
Common cold sores should beginning 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 common cold sore, such as some other illness, sunshine or menstrual periods.
When it'due south not a cold sore
| Symptoms | Possible crusade |
|---|---|
| Painful crimson spot on the face filled with pus | Spot or boil |
| Cicatrice on the inside of the lip or mouth | Mouth ulcer |
| Red sores or blisters on the face up that become crusty, gilded-brownish patches | Impetigo |
How long common cold sores are contagious
Common cold sores are contagious from the moment y'all starting time feel tingling or other signs of a common 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 fourth dimension
- cold sore patches to protect the skin while it heals
You tin can buy electronic devices from pharmacies that treat cold sores with light or lasers.
Some people find these helpful, but there take not been many studies to ostend if they piece of work.
Information:
If you regularly get cold sores, apply antiviral creams as soon as you recognise the early tingling feeling. They exercise not always work after blisters announced.
Find a pharmacy
Things you can practise yourself
Cold sores have fourth dimension to heal and they're very contagious, especially when the blisters flare-up.
Important
Kissing a baby if y'all have a cold sore can lead to neonatal canker, which is very dangerous to newborn babies.
Do
-
eat cool, soft foods
-
wash your hands with soap and water before and subsequently applying foam
-
avert annihilation that triggers your cold sores
-
use sunblock lip balm (SPF 15 or higher up) if you lot're outside in the dominicus
-
take paracetamol or ibuprofen to ease pain and swelling (liquid paracetamol is bachelor for children) – practice non give aspirin to children under sixteen
-
potable enough of fluids to avoid dehydration
Don't
-
do non kiss anyone while you have a common cold sore
-
do not share anything that comes into contact with a cold sore (such as common cold sore creams, towels, cutlery or lipstick)
-
do not have oral sex until your common cold sore completely heals equally you could requite your partner genital herpes
-
do not impact your cold sore (apart from applying cream) – if you practice wash your hands
-
exercise not rub cream into the common cold sore – dab it on instead
-
do not eat acidic or salty food if it makes your cold sore feel worse
Non-urgent communication: Run across a GP if:
- the cold sore has not started to heal within x days
- you're worried about a cold sore or think information technology'due south something else
- the cold sore is very large or painful
- yous or your child besides have swollen, painful gums and sores in the oral cavity (gingivostomatitis)
- yous have a weakened immune organization – for instance, because of chemotherapy or diabetes
Information:
Coronavirus (COVID-nineteen) update: how to contact a GP
It's withal important to get help from a GP if y'all demand it. To contact your GP surgery:
- visit their website
- use the NHS App
- call them
Discover out about using the NHS during COVID-xix
Treatment from a GP
A GP may prescribe antiviral tablets if your cold sores are very large, painful or keep coming back.
Newborn babies, significant women and people with a weakened allowed organisation may exist referred to infirmary for advice or handling.
Why cold sores come back
Cold sores are caused past a virus called herpes simplex.
Once you have the virus, it stays in your skin for the remainder of your life. Sometimes it causes a common cold sore.
Most people are exposed to the virus when they're young subsequently shut pare to skin contact, such equally kissing, with someone who has a common cold sore.
It does not usually cause any symptoms until you're older. You volition not know if it'due south in your skin unless you lot get a cold sore.
Page final reviewed: 20 July 2020
Next review due: twenty July 2023
Source: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cold-sores/
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