Your pharmacist’s role in managing cold sores
Your pharmacist can coach you on treating cold sores by providing advice suited to your situation. They can counsel you on warning signs and prescribe appropriate treatments. If a previous treatment can no longer be renewed, your pharmacist can assess your case and recommend over-the-counter medications or prescribe antivirals to ease symptoms and shorten the outbreak’s duration.
What are cold sores?
Cold sores, also known as fever blisters, are infections caused by the herpes simplex virus. These lesions generally appear around the mouth and on a person’s lips. And although they’re highly contagious, cold sores don’t present a health risk for most people.
What causes cold sores?
The herpes simplex virus may be inactive in a person’s body, but certain factors can cause it to emerge and cause fever blisters. These are the main triggers:
Stress – Periods of stress can weaken the body and stimulate the onset of cold sores.
Fatigue – A lack of sleep and rest can weaken a person’s immune system and lead to outbreaks.
Sun exposure (UV rays) – Excessive sun exposure can damage the skin and trigger fever blisters.
Infections – Other infections, such as a cold, may also lead to a reactivation of the virus.
Weakened immune system – When the body is less resistant, for example due to an illness or prolonged stress, the virus may manifest itself.
Hormonal changes – Hormonal fluctuations, often observed in women’s menstrual cycles, pregnancies and menopause, can also play a role in cold sore outbreaks.
Oral trauma – Injuries to the mouth or irritations such as cuts, burns or lesions caused by ill-fitting dental prostheses can also awaken the oral herpes virus and cause fever blisters to appear.
By understanding these triggers, cold sore sufferers can better avoid and manage outbreaks.
What are cold sore symptoms?
When a cold sore appears, it comes with unpleasant symptoms. Cold sore symptoms include tingling, itching, slight pain, a burning sensation, fluid-filled blisters, scabs, redness, slight swelling, low-grade fever, as well as sensitive or enlarged lymph nodes. By recognizing these symptoms, you can act quickly and relieve discomfort. At any sign of a potential cold sore, it’s best to take immediate action.
How to tell if a cold sore is about to appear
The beginnings of a cold sore can often be felt by small warning signs, i.e., tingling, itching, pain or even a burning sensation on or around the lips. These forewarnings usually come up 12 to 24 hours before lesions appear. Recognizing signs in a timely manner can make all the difference in limiting the extent of symptoms and lesions. When a cold sore is about to break out, the best course of action is to start antivirals as quickly as possible, while at the same time avoiding products that may worsen things. As they say, an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure.
Where do cold sores appear?
Cold sores can show up on various parts of the body, most commonly:
On the lips and around the mouth – This is where cold sores most often occur. Fever blisters break out on or around the lips, causing a burning, tingling sensation.
Inside the mouth – Lesions can also appear inside a person’s mouth, including on the gums, the tongue and inside the cheeks.
On the face – Although less common, the herpes simplex virus can cause outbreaks on other parts of the face, e.g., on the nose, neck, chin or cheeks.
Are cold sores contagious?
Did you know that cold cores are highly contagious? The herpes simplex virus that causes them spreads easily, even before an affected individual starts showing symptoms. Here’s everything you need to know.
How do cold sores spread?
When a cold sore breaks out, it is extremely contagious. The virus spreads mainly through direct contact with the small blisters that form, or indirectly via a contaminated object such as a towel, utensil or even saliva. This means that a simple kiss or sharing of a glass can suffice for the virus to spread.
That’s why it’s important not to touch cold sores, to wash one’s hands regularly and not to share personal items. If you have a cold sore, don’t kiss anyone and don’t share meals until it goes away completely.
How long do cold sores remain contagious?
Generally speaking, the infectious period starts 1 to 2 days before blisters appear and lasts until lesions are completely healed, which can take about 10 to 14 days. That’s why it’s crucial for cold sore sufferers to take proper precautions to avoid spreading the virus to others, especially people whose immune system is compromised, as they are more at risk of developing serious complications.
Cold sores: what treatments are used for quick healing?
Many types of treatments are effective in alleviating symptoms and helping cold sores to heal.
Antiviral treatments
Antiviral treatments are often the first line of defence against sold sores. Antiviral medications can shorten the duration of outbreaks and relieve symptoms. They are particularly effective when administered at the very first signs of an upcoming outbreak, e.g., itching or tingling.
Creams and ointments
Treatments in the form of creams or balms can be used to relieve pain and accelerate healing. Apply these directly to lesions several times a day as per your doctor’s or pharmacist’s recommendations, or according to the instructions on the package.
Pain relievers
To manage the pain associated with cold sores, over-the-counter analgesics such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen can be helpful. These help to soothe discomfort and reduce inflammation.
Preventive measures
Lastly, proper hygiene is essential in preventing the recurrence of outbreaks. Avoid touching your eyes or other parts of the body after touching a cold sore and wash your hands often. Also use a lip balm with SPF to reduce the risk of an outbreak due to sun exposure.
When to see a health professional for a cold sore
It is recommended to see a health professional for a cold sore if the first outbreak symptoms are particularly severe, such as intense pain and several lesions, especially if these are in the mouth or on the gums. It is also recommended to consult a doctor if a child has a fever or larger lesions that can make it difficult to swallow saliva.
In such cases, an effective antiviral medication to alleviate the gravity and duration of symptoms can be prescribed, as long as treatment is started within 48 hours of the appearance of symptoms.
If you’ve already seen a doctor regarding the treatment of cold sores in the past, you can see your pharmacist directly to obtain a new prescription. This will save time and avoid long wait times at the clinic. Feel free to book an appointment with your pharmacist to assess your situation and get the treatment that is best suited to your needs.
