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Cold sores are caused by the virus herpes simplex and most people are exposed when they are children after close skin to skin contact. Once you’ve had contact it stays in your skin for the rest of your lifecycle risking it to come back at any point
Cold sores are common and usually clear up on their own within 10 days. It usually starts with a tingling, itching or burning feeling and over 48 hours one or more painful blisters will appear on your face. These are usually small and filled with fluid. Cold sores are usually contagious from the moment you feel tingling and can easily spread to other people and other parts of the body
Cold sores usually clear up on their own within 10 days.
To prevent cold sores spreading, wash hands with soap and water regularly, do not kiss anyone and do not have oral sex (could lead to genital herpes)
Our pharmacist can recommend: creams to ease pain, antiviral creams for healing, cold sore patches to protect the skin
Sunbeds can be a trigger for cold sores so keep that in mind if you use them
Use spf 15+ lip balm when outside in the sun (crucial in hot heat)
Take paracetamol or ibuprofen to help with the pain of the blisters.