What to Expect from Your Cold Sore

It is that time of year where cold sores start to thrive, and if you suffer from these then you know how painful and irritating they can be. For those that have never suffered from cold sores before, there are a few things to prepare yourself for that will make the process easier.

Stage 1: Burning

The first tell-tale signs of a cold sore is the tingling stage. It often starts on the first day of the cold sores lifecycle and is characterised by the itching or burning sensation it causes under the skin.

If you start to notice this feeling under the skin, then it is a good time to add antiviral cream to the area. This can not only help ease the symptoms but can also propel healing time.

Stage 2: Blistering

On the second or third day of a cold sore is when the blistering starts to appear. These are often small clusters of fluid filled blisters developing on the edge of the lips. They are also common on the nose or cheeks.

Stage 3: Weeping

It is on day four that these blisters that have formed start to weep. The bursting of these blisters often causes open sores, or ulcers, to be left behind. This is when the cold sores are most contagious, so it is important to refrain from sharing drinks or food, and to wash hands after contact.

Stage 4: Drying

After the weeping stage finally comes the drying stage, whereby the blisters have emptied and start to crust over. This can happen as soon as a day after the weeping, or up to 5 days after the weeping stage. These are not to be picked by the individual and should be left to fall off naturally.

Stage 5: Healing

Finally, we have reached the final stage of the cold sore- the healing stage. This is often the end of the nine-12-day cycle of the cold sore. This is where any scabs should start to come off and be replaced by smaller scabs that should heal within four weeks. No scars should be present, but it is worth noting again that cold sores can be reoccurring if you are susceptible to the herpes simplex virus type one (HSV-1).

One common problem when an individual is faced with a cold sore is little motivation to clean teeth, due to the pain it may cause. It is highly important, however, to keep up with regular oral hygiene during this period. After the sore goes away, replace the toothbrush to avoid older germs resettling and causing another sore to appear. For more information, talk to the experts at Dental on Clarendon.