Treat it early

The earlier you treat a cold sore, the better.

The best time to start treatment is when that tingling sensation first happens, before any visible sign of cold sore appears. If you miss it, don’t worry, it’s not too late to treat!

It’s always a good idea to pop into your local pharmacy. Many cold sore treatments, available from most pharmacies or supermarkets, act as mild antiseptics and skin moisturisers. Products containing an antiviral ingredient, such as aciclovir, can work against the virus itself.

Stages of the virus

After the itchy, tingly stage, the site of the cold sore gradually develops into a blister or a small group of blisters, surrounded by red and swollen skin.

After a day or so these burst to produce the typical open sore.

Like a sore anywhere on your body, these sores gradually dry up and form a crusty scab, which is usually a yellow-brown colour.

The sore gradually heals. The scab falls off over a few days and should completely disappear after around 10 days, or faster with the use of Zovirax Cold Sore Cream. The area may be a bit swollen for few days.

When you have a cold sore, try not to spread it - do's and don'ts

Don’t kiss anyone especially young children and babies. Open sores can spread the virus, but so can saliva.

Don’t share things like towels, glasses or plates. These can all spread the virus through contact with your saliva.

Do be careful when you’re around anyone who is especially vulnerable to infections, such as transplant patients and people on cancer treatments or living with AIDS. The cold sore virus can cause serious problems in people whose immune system is weakened.

Do always wash your hands before or after touching the cold sore