Got a tingling, itchy, or burning feeling coming on in your nose or mouth? It could be a cold sore. While there may not be a way to 100% prevent your cold sore from happening, here are our dermatologist-recommended tips for getting relief and helping to prevent against future cold sores.
Tips for Relief
- Treat it as soon as possible. Over-the-counter treatments are available at most drug stores. Look for a medication with ingredients such as benzocaine or benzyl alcohol and docosanol.
- Apply medication with a clean cotton swab – not a finger.
- Apply a clean damp washcloth or suck on an ice cube to help reduce pain.You can also take NSAIDs for pain.
- Avoid spicy foods that may hurt the open wound.
Prevention After it Heals
Unfortunately, if you have a cold sore that finally heals, there’s not necessarily anything you can do to “prevent” it from coming back. But, there are some tips you can employ to try and avoid it:
- Avoid reinfection from personal contaminated items
- You’ll want to stop using or throw out any item that came into contact with the infection. These include your toothbrush, lip balms, lipsticks and glosses, cosmetics and other items that may have touched the cold sore. You’ll also want to wash towels, sheets, and pillowcases that came into contact with your skin.
- Prohibit contact with others’ cold sores
- The blister and its fluid are contagious. Avoid touching anyone else’s cold sore by refraining from kissing, or using the same drinking and serving ware as an infected person, such as a spouse or family member.
- Try to reduce stress levels.
- Stress can trigger viruses to flare, such as the the virus that causes cold sores.
- Watch for triggers. Identify and steer clear of your triggers. If you experience recurrent cold sores, it’s beneficial to monitor your activities preceding an outbreak. Were your lips excessively dry? Have you been getting sufficient sleep? Did you expose your lips to the sun without adequate protection?
The information presented in this blog is for informational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. Sources for the above information include The American Academy of Dermatology. If you have questions or concerns, please call our office or make an appointment with a medical professional. Savannah River Dermatology is located at 575 Furys Ferry Rd in Augusta, Ga. Our office can be reached at 706-691-7079.
