Jan 5, 2024 · The virus can spread even if you don't see the sores. There's no cure for cold sores, but treatment can help manage outbreaks. Prescription antiviral medicine or creams can help sores heal …

Sep 11, 2025 · Learn about how cold sores develop on the lips, face, and nose; stages of an outbreak; and how to manage or prevent symptoms.

Aug 11, 2025 · Cold sores, or fever blisters, are groups of small blisters on the lip and around the mouth. The skin around the blisters is often red, swollen, and sore. Photo credit: Courtesy of the CDC....

Cold Sores Cold sores are painful bumps that form on or around your lips when you have an oral herpes infection. Once you catch oral herpes, the virus stays in your body for life. From time to time, it may …

Cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus. Once this virus is in you, it can cause outbreaks of cold sores. Cold sore outbreaks are often triggered by exposure to the sun, cold wind, a cold or other …

Nov 2, 2025 · Most cold sores heal within 7-15 days, though initial outbreaks may last longer. 2 You may have flu-like symptoms just before your first cold sore develops, such as: 3. Once you have an...

Jul 9, 2025 · Cold sores return because HSV-1 remains dormant in the trigeminal nerve and reactivates whenever internal or external stressors lower local immunity. Understanding those stressors helps …

Aug 26, 2025 · Cold sores, alternatively called fever blisters, on the lips are small, blister-like lesions. They may also form on the chin, cheeks, or in the nostrils, as well as the gums or the roof of the...

Jul 20, 2025 · Cold sores and canker sores both cause pain and discomfort, but that’s where their similarities end. Canker sores are ulcers that form on the inside of the mouth, tongue, throat, and …

Some people have triggers that cause outbreaks of cold sore. A serious sunburn triggered this teen’s cold sores. What causes cold sores? A virus causes cold sores. Most cold sores are caused by the …