Cold sores strike 500,000 Americans each year, according to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. While most people have just one encounter with these painful, unsightly lesions, about 20 percent of affected people experience recurrent outbreaks. As the Academy of General Dentistry explains, the best way to handle a cold sore is not to handle it at all. Kept clean, cold sores resolve on their own within 10 to 14 days. Picking or playing with cold sores increases the risk of scarring and secondary bacterial infections. If you find your hands or tongue are continually drawn to the area, over-the-counter local anesthetics can help.
Practice Good Skin Hygiene
Step 1
Flush the affected area with mild soap and warm water at least twice a day. Do not use exfoliating cleansers or abrasive cloths until the cold sore has healed completely.
Step 2
Pat dry gently with a paper towel or facial tissue. Discard the towel or tissue into the garbage as soon as you are finished.
Step 3
Apply moisturizer or lip balm with SPF 15 or higher.
Step 4
Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.
Step 5
Dry your hands with a paper towel. Use the towel to turn off the water taps, then discard.
Use Topical Local Anesthetics
Step 1
Open the jar or tube of topical local anesthetic.
Step 2
Dispense a small amount of product onto a clean cotton swab.
Step 3
Apply the product to the cold sore, covering completely.
Step 4
Discard the swab. Replace the jar or tube cap.
Step 5
Repeat every four hours as needed or as directed by the manufacturer's instruction.
Tips and Warnings
- According to MedlinePlus, topical local anesthetics work best when they're started as soon as the cold sore appears. If you find yourself tempted to pick or play with your cold sores despite using a topical local anesthetic, consider covering the area with a bandage. The Academy of General Dentistry specifically recommends moisturizing products that contain aloe vera because aloe promotes cold sore healing. After four or five days, cold sores usually develop a crust. When the crust starts to flake off, you can attempt to remove the loose portion of the crust by rubbing gently with olive oil.
- Always wash your hands before and after handling a cold sore. Washing hands before you touch the cold sore reduces your risk of secondary bacterial infections. Washing hands after you touch the cold sore reduces your risk of spreading the infection to others or inoculating new sites on your own body. Do not engage in intimate contact such as kissing or oral sex until your cold sore has completely healed.
Things You'll Need
- Soap
- Moisturizer or lip balm with SPF
- Paper towels or facial tissue
- Cotton swab
- Over-the-counter topical local anesthetic such as lidocaine, benzocaine or tetracaine
