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How to Prevent and Treat Cold Sores

Contributed by: Alyssa Greedy, Pharm.D. Candidate

UMKC School of Pharmacy

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Text Box: One of the most common mouth sores that cause millions of Americans discomfort each year is cold sores, also known as fever blisters. Since this affects so many people it is important to know what causes them and also how to treat and prevent them from recurring. What is a cold sore? Cold sores are more commonly on the lips and outer edges of the mouth, and they will usually take 7 to 10 days to heal. The first couple of days you will feel the symptoms (mouth soreness, fever, sore throat, swollen glands in the neck) and will most likely feel a tingly and itchy (burning, numbness, and tenderness are also common) spot on your lip. Following that, you will see a red, swollen area, and small blisters form. The blisters will often weep a clear, yellowish fluid, and scab over after a few days. What causes a cold sore? The cause of cold sores is a virus (Herpes Simplex Virus Type I). Most people are infected with this virus (most when they were children) and it remains in their body dormant until it is triggered. Triggers can vary from person to person, but can include fatigue, stress, hormone changes, sun exposure, extreme cold and wind, and trauma to the mouth. Since cold sores are caused by a virus, they are contagious and can be spread from person to person. The spread of infection usually occurs between blister formation and the time it completely scabs over, but the virus can be passed even when blisters are not present. How do I treat and prevent cold sores? Unfortunately, there is no cure for cold sores, but it is possible to shorten the duration of the symptoms (blisters) and relieve the discomfort. Treatments can include OTC products, or with more frequent outbreaks, a physician can pre

Text Box: scribe an antiviral medication. Also, if the sore does not heal within 14 days, it is important that you see a physician. · Apply a cool, wet towel three times a day for 20 minutes to reduce redness and swelling · Take ibuprofen or acetaminophen to help with the pain and inflammation · Apply OTC anesthetics (Orajel® or Anbesol®) to numb the pain · Apply a lip balm to ease the dryness and cracking. Be careful to apply only to the unaffected part of the lips to avoid spreading the sores. · Abreva® is an OTC product that has been approved by the FDA. Apply the product at the first sign of a cold sore (the tingly stage) and it helps to shorten the length and severity of symptoms. How do I prevent cold sores from coming back? The best treatment for cold sores is prevention. You need to find out what triggers an outbreak for you (sun, stress, being sick, etc). Most people will have three to four cold sores a year, but following the tips below might help to decrease that. · Try to avoid or protect against triggers (stress, sickness, etc) · Use a lip balm with SPF all the time · Wash hands frequently · Avoid sharing towels, silverware, toothbrushes or other objects that someone with a cold sore may have used until it has been thoroughly disinfected. · Do not kiss anyone while you or they have a cold sore, especially children. The best treatment for a cold sore is prevention. When cold sore outbreaks do occur, ask your pharmacist to recommend a product for you. For additional information visit www.animated-teeth.com.