One topic that is very common and can be quite distressing for patients is ‘cold sores’ sometimes referred to as ‘fever blisters’. A very common presentation to the doctor!Â
Â
What are cold sores?Â
- Small fluid filled blisters appear on the skin, often in patches.Â
- Usually on the lips, chin or cheeks, or nostrils.Â
- Sometimes can occur in the roof of the mouth or gums.Â
- Often start with tingling or itching. Over 48 hours blisters develop, then burst and ‘crust over’, and dry out.Â
- Can take 2-3 weeks to heal completely.Â
- Occasionally you also get a temperature, sore throat, and headache.Â
 Â
What causes them?Â
- They are caused by a virus – herpes simplex virus 1.Â
- They can be spread through close contact – kissing, shared utensils, towels.Â
- More likely to spread when the blisters burst.Â
- The virus can hide in nerve cells and be triggered by:Â
- Stress, fatigue, fever, trauma, sun, or wind.Â
 Â
How do you treat them?Â
- They get better over 2-3 weeks.Â
- Use sunblock lip balm outside.Â
- Paracetamol can help the pain.Â
- Avoid salty food. Also, ice or warm flannels.Â
- You can be prescribed or buy antiviral cream from a chemist to speed up the healing.Â
 Â
Is there anything else I should think about?Â
- It’s important to avoid close contact such as kissing, touching, or sharing towels when you have cold sores.Â
- They can recur and be triggered, so avoid trigger factors if possible – sun, stress.Â
- There is a natural remedy: kanuka honey-based cream shown to be effective.Â
- See your GP if it’s not healed within 14 days, occurs near the eye, very large, or you have other issues such having chemotherapy.Â
Â
LISTEN ABOVEÂ
Take your Radio, Podcasts and Music with you