How To Tell If You Have A Cold Sore

If your lips are feeling more tender than normal and you're wondering what's up, it's important to know how to spot cold sore and what to do if you do have one. According to Livestrong, cold sores develop from the herpes simplex 1 virus, and often appear during times of stress. While this may sound scary, cold sores affect more people than you think. According to Shape.com, around 90 percent of adults have been exposed to the virus. Now, don't go running for the hills just yet. The virus can lay dormant in your body for years without you ever getting a cold sore. However, once you have it, it's not something that you're likely to get rid of.

Wondering how you can get the virus? You can contract a cold sore by sharing drinks, lip balms, or anything else that touches your mouth. In order to avoid getting these sores, it's best to not share any products that come in contact with your mouth. No more swapping lipsticks or trying each other's coffees. Warning signs for cold sores include pain, burning, and increased tenderness on the outer lip area. Once formed, a cold sore looks like small bubbles around your lip. It isn't super sexy, but it will go away with time, so no need to panic. Want to get rid of your cold sore fast? Here are a few easy solutions to healing any cold sore.

1. Don't Pick

The small pustules of the cold sore contain a live version of the virus. Picking at the cold sore can lead to the spreading of the virus to other areas of your body — and trust me, you probably do not want to deal with that.

2. Try Over-The-Counter Creams

Creams such as Abreva that contain docosanol can help aid in the healing of cold sores. The drug contains antiviral properties, which will put the cold sore in it's place.

3. Turn To Natural Options

Some studies show that more natural options such as zinc, peppermint oil, and Lysine can help fight off cold sores. There are dozens of all natural cold sore remedies online. Stick with ingredients that have antiviral and antimicrobial properties in order to DIY a perfect cold sore remedy.

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