Cold sores are an outbreak of herpes simplex type I. Often the virus enters your system in childhood and remains dormant. But illness, sunburn, stress or the onset of a hormonal change, like your menstrual period, can bring the virus to life, resulting in an unsightly cold sore that can last up to 14 days. Treating the sore when it first begins to develop can minimize the time it shows on your face, perhaps to as little as two to four days. But to treat it effectively, you need to know the first signs.
Tingling
If you feel a tingling sensation at the bottom of your nose or the area surrounding your mouth, it may be the onset of a cold sore. This is called the prodrome stage, the time when there's no physical appearance of the sore. It is the best time to begin treatment to minimize or prevent the sore's appearance, according to The Children, Youth and Women's Health Service.
Itching
Along with the tingling, you may feel your skin itching where the sore is trying to break through. This is because the blisters are beginning to develop. Treating the itching with ice or antiviral treatments, such as aciclovir or idoxuridine, both available as topical treatments, can help minimize the sore's development and appearance.
Redness
You may see a red spot develop where the sore is forming--evidence of the tiny blisters that make up the cold sore. Again, the use of ice or antivirals will minimize the sore's appearance and may even prevent its development.
Burning
Depending on where the sore is developing, you may feel a burning sensation. While cold sores typically develop on your lips, and the most common symptom in this area is itching and tingling, they can also develop on your fingers, nose or chin, according to the Mayo Clinic. These areas of the body may not provide the clear signal that a cold sore around the lip area will, so be alert for the onset of blisters.
Blisters
By the second or third day, the sore erupts in either one, large blister or several, tiny blisters. These will break, ooze fluid and scab over. While you can use pain medication to minimize the discomfort of the sore, it's too late to effectively treat the cold sore with antivirals. The good news is that cold sores don't often leave a scar.
