Stages of cold sore development: What to know

Cold sores inside your mouth aren’t cold sores at all — they’re canker sores (mouth ulcers). Cold sores and canker sores look and feel similar, although canker sores can be quite painful. They’re both small, round sores that develop near your mouth. But canker sores only develop inside your mouth, including:

Cold Sores

A cold sore is a blister that typically appears on your lip or around your mouth. The herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) causes most cold sores. HSV-1 is very contagious. You can prevent getting cold sores by avoiding kissing people with them or sharing objects with them. Cold sores usually go away on their own within a couple of weeks.

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Overview

A cold sore on the mouth of a child.

What is a cold sore?

A cold sore is a fluid-filled blister (or a cluster of blisters) that usually appears on your lip or around your mouth. They can also affect your cheeks, nose and chin. The herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) causes most cold sores.

Are cold sores herpes?

Other names for cold sores include oral herpes, fever blisters and herpes simplex labialis. Even though people use the name oral herpes — and HSV-1 can spread to your genitals — HSV-1 isn’t the same as HSV-2. HSV-2 is the sexually transmitted virus that causes most cases of genital herpes.

How often do people get cold sores?

A cold sore can develop multiple times a year or only once or twice in your lifetime. The frequency of an outbreak varies from person to person.

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Who do cold sores affect?

The virus that causes cold sores can infect people of all ages. Exposure to the virus typically occurs during childhood. Many people catch HSV-1 by the time they turn 5 years old.

It’s possible to develop a cold sore at any age, though the chance of having any outbreak decreases after the age of 35.

How common are cold sores?

Cold sores are widespread. HSV-1 infects more than half of Americans between the ages of 14 and 49. However, many people never develop the sores or have any symptoms. About 20% to 40% of people who have the virus develop the sores.

Cold sore vs. canker sore

Cold sores inside your mouth aren’t cold sores at all — they’re canker sores (mouth ulcers). Cold sores and canker sores look and feel similar, although canker sores can be quite painful. They’re both small, round sores that develop near your mouth. But canker sores only develop inside your mouth, including:

On your gums.
Inside your cheeks and lips.
Under your tongue.
On the back of your throat.

Canker sores have a variety of causes. But unlike cold sores, they don’t occur due to a virus, and they aren’t contagious. Causes of canker sores may include:

Injuries to the inside of your mouth.
Vitamin deficiencies.
Stress.
Hormonal changes.
Food allergies.
Health conditions that affect your immune system.

Symptoms and Causes

What does a cold sore look like?

Cold sores first look like small blisters that form around your lips and mouth. A cold sore on your lip usually only affects one side of your mouth. They can also show up on your cheeks, nose and chin. After two to three days, the blisters often start to ooze and then form a crust. Healing typically occurs within one to two weeks.

What happens the first time you get a cold sore?

For many people, cold sore symptoms are more severe the first time they have an outbreak. You may experience the following cold sore stages:

The first sign is often a tingling, burning or itching sensation on or around your lips. This cold sore early stage begins about 12 to 24 hours before the sore develops.
The area becomes red, swollen and painful as the blisters form.
Over the next two to three days, the blisters rupture and ooze a clear or slightly yellow fluid. This is sometimes called the “weeping phase.”
About four to five days after the cold sore appears, it crusts and scabs over. It might crack or bleed as it heals.
The scab then falls off, revealing skin that may be a little more pink or reddish than usual for a few days. It usually takes one to two weeks for the sore to heal completely.

What causes cold sores?

Cold sores are sometimes called oral herpes because the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) causes them. This virus is very common and highly contagious. It spreads through saliva or close contact — often through kissing or by sharing utensils, straws, towels or lip balm with someone who has a cold sore.

How do you get cold sores?

After HSV-1 has infected you, the virus never goes away. It remains inactive (dormant) in a group of nerve cells in your face called the trigeminal ganglion. Because it can be dormant, some people aren’t aware they have the virus for months or even years after exposure.

When something triggers — or activates — the virus, it “wakes up” and travels through your nerves to your lips, where a cold sore develops. After an outbreak, the virus goes back to sleep in your body.

What triggers a cold sore in one person might not cause an outbreak in another person. Some people with HSV-1 never develop sores.

A variety of factors can activate a cold sore, including:

Hormonal changes during menstruation or pregnancy.
Sunburn.
Extreme temperatures (hot or cold).
Stress (physical or emotional).
Fatigue.
Fever and illness, such as cold or flu.
Damaged, dry or cracked lips.

Are cold sores contagious?

Yes, cold sores are highly contagious. They can spread easily from person to person through saliva or direct contact with a person who has one.

How long are cold sores contagious?

In healthy people, cold sores generally clear up on their own in one to two weeks. You’re contagious until all of the sores have scabbed over.

What are the complications of cold sores?

Although complications from cold sores are rare, they can include:

Eye infections: The herpes simplex virus (HSV-1) can spread to your eye when you touch a cold sore and then touch your eye. If HSV-1 spreads to your eye, it can cause HSV keratitis, a potentially serious infection of your cornea. Severe HSV keratitis infections can lead to blindness.
Genital sores: HSV-1 can spread to your genitals through oral sex. This can produce warts or ulcers on your genitals or anus. However, HSV-1 isn’t the same virus that causes most cases of genital herpes. That’s HSV-2.

For certain groups of people, cold sores can lead to serious complications. The following groups of people should receive medical treatment immediately if they have a cold sore:

Newborns: Babies younger than 6 months old may develop complications such as high fever and seizures because their immune systems aren’t fully developed yet.
People with compromised immune systems: For people with weakened immune systems, the herpes simplex virus can lead to encephalitis (swelling of the brain). If you have HIV or are receiving chemotherapy treatment, sores could be more severe and could take longer to go away.
People witheczema: The herpes simplex virus can cause a life-threatening infection called eczema herpeticum in adults and children with eczema. It’s important to see your healthcare provider right away if you have eczema and you develop a cold sore.

Diagnosis and Tests

How is a cold sore diagnosed?

Your healthcare provider will probably be able to tell if you have a cold sore by looking at the affected area. They may also swab the sore to test the fluid for the herpes simplex virus.

How do I know if I have a cold sore?

If you’ve had one before, you’ll likely recognize the symptoms: a tingling sensation followed by redness, swelling and blisters on or around your lips. You can visit your provider for a diagnosis, although it’s not always necessary.

Management and Treatment

How to get rid of cold sores

You can’t cure oral herpes. The goal of treatment is to heal the outbreak, but it can’t cure the virus. Once you have it, you have it for life.

Although it may take a while to get rid of a cold sore, some medicines can shorten the healing time and make the symptoms less painful. Cold sore treatment may include:

Over-the-counter (OTC) medications: You can buy cold sore medicine without a prescription. These are creams or ointments that you apply directly to the sore. If you start using these creams when you first notice tingling or itching — before the cold sore forms — you may be able to prevent it from appearing.
Oral antiviral medicine: To treat cold sores, your provider may prescribe an antiviral medication that you take by mouth (orally).
Intravenous (IV) antiviral medicine: If other medications aren’t working, your provider may need to prescribe an antiviral medication that they’ll give to you through an IV. In this case, your provider will monitor you closely throughout treatment.

Prevention

How can you prevent cold sores?

To avoid getting HSV-1, you should take the following precautions around people who have cold sores:

Avoid kissing, intimate contact and oral sex with someone who has a sore.
Don’t share towels, razors, dishes, cutlery, straws, lip balm or lipstick.
Wash your hands before touching your lips, eyes or genitals.

Outlook / Prognosis

What’s the outlook for people who have cold sores?

The majority of people who develop cold sores learn to live with and manage their outbreaks. They typically clear up quickly and have no lasting effects. However, in certain groups of people, cold sores can cause life-threatening infections. Newborns, people with eczema and people with compromised immune systems should see a provider right away.

How long do cold sores last?

In healthy people, cold sores usually clear up in one to two weeks.

Living With

What can I do to help relieve the symptoms of cold sores?

While cold sores are uncomfortable, you can find relief at home. Suggestions to help manage them include:

Use over-the-counter creams and ointments: Wondering how to get rid of cold sores fast? Creams and ointments can shorten the healing time and ease your symptoms. They’re most effective when you use them as soon as you feel a sore coming on.
Take pain relievers: If you’re in a lot of pain, your provider may recommend an over-the-counter topical pain reliever such as lidocaine that you can apply directly to the sore. You can also take acetaminophen or ibuprofen by mouth to ease your discomfort.
Wear sunscreen and SPF lip balm: It’s important to make sure a sore doesn’t get sunburned while it’s healing. Also, wearing a lip balm with SPF 30 every day could prevent future cold sores.
Avoid acidic foods: Orange juice, tomatoes and other acidic foods can aggravate a sore.
Apply a cool compress: You can use a cool, damp washcloth to soothe a cold sore. Apply it for a few minutes off and on throughout the day. Be sure to wash the towel after you’ve used it to avoid spreading the virus to others.

When should I see my healthcare provider?

You should seek treatment for a cold sore if you have:

Eczema (also known as atopic dermatitis).
Numerous, frequent or extremely painful cold sores.
An outbreak that doesn’t clear up on its own within two weeks.
Sores on your eyes, hands, genitals or another part of your body.
HIV or cancer.
A compromised immune system, or if you’re getting chemotherapy or taking medication that weakens your immune system.

A note from Cleveland Clinic

Once you contract HSV-1, you have the virus for life. Some people will never develop a cold sore, but others will experience regular outbreaks. Once a cold sore starts, it has to run its course. Although it can be bothersome, it typically goes away on its own within two weeks. If you develop a cold sore and have a weakened immune system or eczema, talk to your healthcare provider. They’ll help you determine the best treatment option and avoid complications.

Stages of cold sore development: What to know

Cold sores, also known as herpes labialis, are caused by nongenital herpes simplex virus type 1. People can develop a cold sore on their lips or in their mouth.

Transmission of the nongenital herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) occurs during childhood through nonsexual contact, but adults can contract the infection through sexual activity. HSV-1 hibernates inside skin cells and neurons under the skin until a trigger stimulates it.

Before the cold sore appears, people may feel a burning, stinging, or itching sensation on their lips. For best results, doctors recommend starting treatment as soon as the tingling begins, before the cold sore appears.

In this article, we discuss the stages of a cold sore and what to do if a cold sore develops. We also explore how doctors treat the infection and how people can avoid getting a cold sore.

A cold sore develops in five stages and will typically last between 9 and 12 days.

Stage 1

Initially, people will feel a tingling, itching, or burning sensation underneath the skin around the mouth or base of the nose. Doctors call this the prodrome stage.

Other symptoms that may occur during this stage include:

malaise
fever
tender or swollen lymph nodes

At this first stage of the cold sore, people will not see a blister. People with recurring cold sores may present milder symptoms. Doctors recommend starting treatment as soon as these symptoms begin.

Treatment for cold sores may include oral or topical medications. Sometimes people will use both types to treat a cold sore.

Oral medications for cold sores include:

acyclovir (Zovirax)
famciclovir (Famvir)
valacyclovir (Valtrex)

Stage 2

If the person does not use any medication, a fluid-filled blister will likely develop around 1 to 2 days after the initial symptoms.

Stage 3

The third stage, which occurs around day 4, involves the blister opening up and releasing its fluid. Doctors call this stage the ulcer or weeping stage. If another person comes into contact with the blister’s fluid, they may develop a cold sore as well.

Cold sores are contagious and tend to be painful during this stage.

Stage 4

Between days 5 and 8, the cold sore will dry up, leaving a yellow or brown crust. The crust will eventually flake off.

People must take care of the scab during this stage because it can crack or break.

Stage 5

The final stage of a cold sore is the healing stage.

Several scabs may form and flake off during this stage. Every new scab will be smaller and smaller until the wound heals completely. Most often, the cold sore will not leave a scar.

Some doctors suggest that a cold sore can last around 2 to 6 weeks .

People who come into contact with another person’s cold sore may be at risk of infection. However, they would have to come into contact with the fluid when the blister ruptures.

Some people may develop recurring cold sores. According to the American Family Physician (AAP), various stimuli can awaken the hibernating virus, such as:

stress
fever
sun exposure
extremes in temperature
ultraviolet radiation
a compromised immune system
injury

When a cold sore enters the ulcer or weeping stage, around the fourth day, the cold sore becomes contagious.

People who come into contact with the fluid from another person’s open blister can develop a cold sore between 2 to 20 days after contact.

People can come into contact with fluid from another person’s cold sore through kissing or sharing utensils, drinkware, cosmetics, or towels.

Doctors suggest that treating a cold sore at the start of symptoms, before the blister appears, may prevent the cold sore from appearing.

People with a history of cold sores can usually detect the initial symptoms and know they need to start treatment right away.

Some people get chronic cold sores and may require preventive treatments. Taking acyclovir or valacyclovir every day may prevent cold sores.

According to the AAP, the recommended doses for each drug are:

acyclovir 400 milligrams (mg), twice daily
valacyclovir 500 mg, once daily

People with chronic cold sores will need to take preventive treatments regularly. Also, doctors and dentists recommend:

eating foods high in lysine, such as red meats, fish, and dairy
applying sunscreen to the face and lips before going outside throughout the year
shaving with a disposable razor blade when a cold sore appears
replacing toothbrushes
avoiding stress

People should avoid intimate contact with people who have cold sores. Avoid sharing utensils, toothbrushes, towels, and razors.

People with cold sores should avoid touching the blister, and if they do, they need to wash their hands thoroughly.

Cold sores are a common infection of nongenital HSV-1 that people can contract through sexual and nonsexual activities.

People who start treatment when they feel tingling and itching around their lips may block the cold sore from appearing.

If a cold sore appears, it will go through five stages from the prodrome stage to healing. During the ulcer stage, people can transmit the virus to another person. The fluid in the blister contains the virus. People with cold sores must avoid kissing and sharing utensils, towels, and drinkware.

A person may have a cold sore for about 2 weeks, but some doctors suggest that a cold sore can last up to 6 weeks. Medications can help shorten the duration of a cold sore.

Last medically reviewed on January 15, 2020

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Spruance, S. L., et al. (2003). High-dose, short-duration, early valacyclovir therapy for episodic treatment of cold sores: Results of two randomized, placebo-controlled, multicenter studies.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC149313/
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Stages of cold sore development: What to know

Cold Sores