There are a lot of myths surrounding what you should and shouldn’t do when you have a cold sore.
The painful blisters, which can appear anywhere on the face and usually begins with a burning, itching or tingling sensation, usually clear up on their own within two weeks. In the first 48 hours, the blisters tend to fill with fluid, before crusting up and forming into an unsightly scab. Until fully healed, cold sores can be extremely contagious.
The NHS in the United Kingdom recently released a list of dos and don’ts when it comes to treating cold sores. Because they can be quite painful and usually form on or around the lips, it’s recommended that people eat cool and soft foods where possible.
The pain can be so bad that it’s almost impossible to brush teeth in extreme cases. When this happens, using an antiseptic mouthwash is acceptable. You need to maintain oral hygiene where possible to fight infection and prevent the cold sore from sticking around longer than it needs to.
While most people know to apply cream to a cold sore to prevent pain and itching, many are unaware that they need to wash their hands with soap and water both before and after applying the cream.
Because cold sores are contagious, you’re essentially spreading the virus even more if you don’t wash your hands. You also don’t want to touch your cold sore, infect all your cream and continue to apply it to your face. The only time you should touch your cold sore is to apply cream.
It can be easy to lather your face in cream, but it’s important not to rub the cream into your face. Instead, using a dabbing notion. This will ensure that the cold sore continues to absorb the cream and in turn, heal faster.
Where possible, try and keep your fluids up, especially when the cold sore is in the scabby stage. This is going to ensure that you stay hydrated and that the blister heels as quickly as possible. In addition to water and cream, try and keep your cold sore moist with lip balm.
It’s also vital that you don’t share anything that comes in contact with the cold sore, as this will increase the risk of spreading the virus. In addition to avoiding kissing someone with a cold sore, never share foods, cups, cutlery, lip balm or creams. It’s also a good idea to dispose of lip balms and creams when the cold sore is healed, just to ensure you’re not unintentionally infecting yourself again.
If the pain gets too bad and you haven’t visited a GP or doctor, it’s best to take paracetamol or ibuprofen to relieve pain and prevent further swelling.
While you shouldn’t let your cold sore get in the way of your life too much, indulging in salty or acidic foods will make it harder for the cold sore to heel on its own. This means staying away from snacks including chips, spicy foods and even foods with rough textures.
If your cold sore hasn’t healed or shown signs of healing within 10 days, it’s best to seek medical help.