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Cold Sore Symptoms

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Cold Sore Symptoms

Cold sore symptoms are virtually the same for everyone, making them quite easy to diagnose. Since the life cycle of a cold sore outbreak is usually identical to the last outbreak, many people who get cold sores can detect the onset of an outbreak before physical symptoms can be observed.

Cold sores often start with a tingly or itchy sensation where the sore will appear, usually on the lips. After a day or two, the area becomes extra sensitive to the touch and to hot and cold. For many people, applying a cold sore treatment at the first sign of the tingling or itching sensation can either stop the cold sore from developing further, or significantly reduce the life cycle of the sore. After a few days, a small reddish bump will start to form on the itchy/tingly area of skin. The area may also start to become somewhat painful. As the bump grows, it slowly forms into a blister, sometimes round in shape and sometimes irregularly shaped. The blister fills with fluid and grows larger and in some cases other smaller cold sores may appear close to the initial sore. The blister continues to grow and to get increasingly painful, and usually lasts 2-7 days, and finally bursts or breaks. Once the blister has broken, the cold sore will start to scab over. Still relatively painful, the scabbing sore can last another 2-7 days. The scabbing period, or ‘shedding’ as it is called, is the healing of the sore, which will eventually get smaller, and less painful until it is gone completely.

Here is a pointed list of the symptoms of a cold sore life cycle:

• Itchy or tingling area on or around the lips, lasting for a few hours or a couple of days. This is known as the Prodrome stage and it is the best time to start treatment.
  
  
• Blister stage: The appearance of a small reddish bump, on or around the lips, that is extra sensitive, may be slightly painful, and may feel under pressure. Usually lasts 1-4 days.
  
  
• Full blown blister on or around the lips, usually transparent looking, either red or yellowish. Quite painful and under significant pressure as it grows. Typically lasts 2-7 days.
  
  
• The Weeping or Ulcer stage. The breaking of the blisters membranes, emptying the fluids. Can result in slight bleeding from damaged skin tissue under the blister. This is the most contagious stage.
  
  
• The Crusting stage. Scabbing, or shedding of the infected area. Still very painful. Typical scabbing properties including red, yellow or brownish crusting. Typically lasts 2-7 days.
  
  
• Healing stage. Final scabbing over each sore until they are completely healed.

In almost all cases of cold sore outbreaks, no scarring occurs. The area previously infected by a cold sore usually looks exactly as it did before the outbreak. The exception to this is extreme spreading of the cold sore or severe irritation while it is present.

If severe spreading starts to occur (the spreading of the sores from one side of the mouth to the other, or from the lip area to the cheeks, nose, chin or eyes), it is advisable to see a physician. In some cases, the uncontrollable spreading may be due to lowered immune systems caused by underlying conditions or diseases (such as HIV or pneumonia). In the case of severe spreading, what is initially diagnosed as cold sores may in fact be impetigo, a very different skin disorder.

Next: Cold Sore Causes

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Cold Sore Symptoms