What To Do With A Cold Sore

Cold sores usually clear up without treatment.  In the meantime, the following may provide relief:

• topical ointments:  lidocaine, or benzocaine (Zilactin over the counter) can help ease discomfort
• benzocaine should not be used in children younger than 2 years without a doctor's approval
• adults should use the recommended dose only

Oral antiviral medications

•  may shorten the duration of the sores and decrease pain if started early
•  include: acyclovir (Zovirax), Famcyclovir (Famvir), and Valacyclovir (Valtrex)
•  may also be prescribed to prevent recurrence for those who experience them frequently, experience   related illness during an outbreak or have indentifable triggers, such as intense sunlight
•  over the counter pain relievers may help
•  ice or warm compresses to the blisters may ease pain

Most important: let it heal without squeezing, pinching or picking at any blister.

Robert G. Tupac, DDS, FACP, Inc., Diplomate, American Board of Prosthodontics (661) 325-1275 | www.drtupac.com 5060 California Ave., #170, Bakersfield, CA 93309

Cold Sore Prevention

You can take steps to guard against cold sores, to prevent spreading them to other parts of your body or to avoid passing them along to another person.  Cold sore prevention involves the following:  

Avoid kissing and skin contact with people when blisters are present:  The virus spreads easily as long as there are moist secretions from the blisters.  

Avoid sharing items:  Utensils, towels, lip balm and other items can spread the virus when blisters are present.  

Keep hands clean:  Wash hands carefully before touching another person when you have a cold sore.  

Be careful about touching other parts of your body:  Your eyes and genital area may be particularly susceptible to spread of the virus.  

Avoid triggers:  If possible, avoid or prevent conditions that stress your body, such as getting a cold or the flu, not getting enough sleep, or staying in the sun for long periods of time without applying sunblock.  

Use sunblock:  Apply sunblock to your lips and face before prolonged exposure to the sun, during both winter and summer.  

Robert G. Tupac, DDS, FACP, Inc., Diplomate, American Board of Prosthodontics (661) 325-1275 | www.drtupac.com 5060 California Ave., #170, Bakersfield, CA 93309

What To Do With A Cold Sore

Cold sores usually clear up without treatment.  In the meantime, the following steps may provide relief:  

Topical ointments:  lidocaine, or benzocaine (Zilactin) can help ease discomfort.  Benzocaine should not be used in children younger than 2 without a doctor's orders.  For adults, never use more than the recommended dose.  

Oral antiviral medications:  these may modestly shorten the duration of cold sores and decrease pain, if started very early.  They include: acyclovir (Zovirax), Famciclovir (Famvir), and Valacyclovir (Valtrex).  These may also be prescribed to prevent a recurrence of cold sores if you have frequent bouts of them, experience significant related illness during an outbreak or have an identifiable trigger of cold sore recurrences--such as intense sunlight--and you anticipate exposure to that trigger.  Over-the-counter pain relievers (aspirin, tylenol, advil) may also help.  Applying ice or warm compresses to the blisters may ease the pain.  

Most important:  let it heal without squeezing, pinching or picking at any blister.  

Robert G. Tupac, DDS, FACP, Inc., Diplomate, American Board of Prosthodontics (661) 325-1275 | www.drtupac.com 5060 California Ave., #170, Bakersfield, CA 93309

What Is A Cold Sore?

Signs and symptoms for cold sores

Cold sores--also called fever blisters--are fluid-filled lesions caused by herpes simplex virus type 1 infection.  If you've had one before, you may sense a new one coming by a telltale tingling on your lip.  Sure enough, in a day or two, red blisters appear on your lip.  It's another cold sore, probably happening at a bad time, and there's no way to hide it or make it go away quickly.  Cold sores are quite different from canker sores.  Though you can't cure or prevent cold sores, you can take steps to reduce their frequency and to limit the duration of an occurrence.  They are small, painful, raised fluid-filled blisters.  Tingling often precedes them, and they usually last 10 to 14 days.  

Signs and symptoms may not start for as long as 20 days after exposure to the herpes simplex virus, although more typically they appear within about one week of exposure.  The blisters form, break and ooze.  Then a yellow crust forms and finally sloughs off to uncover pinkish skin that heals without a scar.  

Source:  Mayo Clinic    

Robert G. Tupac, DDS, FACP, Inc., Diplomate, American Board of Prosthodontics (661) 325-1275 | www.drtupac.com 5060 California Ave., #170, Bakersfield, CA 93309