Skincare Treated

What to Do When You Have a Cold Sore

Oral herpes or cold sores is a painful skin disease of be afflicted with. You must always be on the alert, either to detect an outbreak or to see that you don’t spread the virus. Therefore there are many things you need to do when you have a cold sore.

Worse, there is no cure for oral herpes or fever blisters, as they are also called. This is because once the virus enters the nervous system, it cannot be flushed out with medication, nor does it leave on its own.

Easing Symptoms

Hence, treatment is aimed at easing symptoms and is largely palliative. Cold sores are usually clustered on and around the lips.

But no matter how painful or itchy, never pick at them, never bite your lips or peel away the skin. And never, ever squeeze the blisters as this only increases the risk of infection.

Oral care is critical when you have a cold sore and it’s a good idea to settle into a regular routine. Use mouthwash or a solution of water with dissolved salt to rinse and gargle regularly.

Personal Hygiene

Also, wash the affected areas of skin with mild soap and water and then daub it with a soft towel. You could use a liquid wash or cleanser if you want.

After meals, always wash the sores and dry them so that particles of food don’t fester in them.

The blisters that form due to oral herpes are filled with fluid, not pus. So if there is any pus formation, take immediate action because this means you have a bacterial infection.

When you have a cold sore, you could coat the area with an antibiotic cream. There are many products on the market. If the sore gets worse, immediately consult a doctor.

Foods to Avoid

Certain types of foods aggravate the blisters and must be avoided such as citrus fruit, pickles and tomatoes. Also avoid salted snacks like wafers and peanuts as these are bound to irritate the blisters.

Sometimes, clod sores can be very painful. But there are a variety of painkillers you can take to ease the pain. Careful not to use analgesics too often as this is not good for the body.

Some topical applications can also numb the sensation temporarily and can be used.

When you have a cold sore, fever blisters usually erupt on and around the lips. Keeping the lips moist with a balm or moisturizer is a good idea so that they don’t crack and invite bacteria.

The area affected becomes hypersensitive to sunlight and ultraviolet rays. If you’re skin is particularly sensitive, you must use sun block or sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 to protect your lips.

Dos and Don’ts

There are many dos and don’ts you can adopt when you have a cold sore to prevent the infection from spreading to others. Herpes blisters contain a fluid that contains the virus.

Any contact with this fluid spreads the virus immediately. Hence, when you have a cold sore, make sure no one else uses your crockery, cutlery, towels, razor or anything that comes in contact with the fluid in your blisters.

For your own protection, make sure you don’t touch your lips and then your eyes. This could result in a painful condition called ocular herpes, where your eyes become infected.

Do not kiss or cuddle other people, especially children if you have a cold sore blister unless you have washed your hands thoroughly with soap and water.