Cold Sores Treatment

What is the cause of cold sores?

How do you prevent cold sores?

Do cold sores itch?

Are cold sores a bad thing?

How to Get Rid of a Cold Sore Overnight

Cold Sore Causes

Cold Sore Treatment Fast

How to Get Rid of a Cold Sore in 24 Hours

Cold Sores Cool Compress

Cold Sore Medicine

Cold Sore Stages

Cold Sore Contagious

Cold sores

Also called: herpes labialis or fever blisters

Infection with the herpes simplex virus around the border of the lips.

Very common

More than 3 million US cases per year

Spreads easily

Can't be cured, but treatment may help

Usually self-diagnosable

Lab tests or imaging rarely required

Chronic: can last for years or be lifelong

Oral herpes spreads through close personal contact, such as kissing.

Oral herpes causes tiny, fluid-filled lesions called cold sores or fever blisters, which can recur.

Medications can speed healing and reduce recurrence.

Ages affected

0-2 Rare

3-5 Common

6-13 Common

14-18 Very common

19-40 Very common

41-60 Very common

60+ Very common

How it spreads

By saliva (kissing or shared drinks).

By skin-to-skin contact (handshakes or hugs).

By having unprotected vaginal, anal, or oral sex.

Consult a doctor for medical advice

Sources: Mayo Clinic and others.