Cold Sore Myths

Cold sores are commonly caused by certain strains of the herpes simplex virus or HSV-1 for short.  It is a common myth surrounding the virus that if you get it once, you’re immune forever. Unfortunately, once you’ve had an episode of this infection, it stays dormant inside nerve cells in your skin¹ and only stops being contagious once the cold sore has completely healed.

A cold sore can be triggered by common factors² including:

• Fevers caused by viral infections, such as influenza
• Excessive stress and fatigue
• Exposure to cold and windy conditions
• Changing hormonal levels
• Weak immune system.

The cold sore virus is also highly contagious and contracted by close contact³. It is important to avoid transmitting cold sores by:

• Minimising kissing, hugging or any other skin contact
• Not sharing items such as towels, drinking glasses and utensils⁴, although it is rare for the cold sore virus to be spread in this manner.

In the past there has been a lot of confusion around what are the myths and facts, especially when it comes to preventing cold sore outbreaks. Depending on how severe your cold sore is, you may require a health care professional and prescription medicines. But for most people, a cold sore is just an irritating nuisance. Still, if you search for cold sore symptoms online, you may also come across many (unhelpful!) myths.

While the lips are usually where the first sign of a cold sore virus appears with tingling, itchiness, and redness around this area, they can also infect the cheeks, tongue, and the eye areas if you have a habit of scratching your eyes. You can use a Compeed Cold Sore Discreet Healing Patch to both conceal, protect, and heal an active cold sore.

As mentioned before there are many triggers for a cold sore², but the answer as to why it is believed you can get them only in the cold, is all in the name. People assume only cold weather can cause them to spread, but this isn’t always the case as exposure to extreme sunny conditions can also trigger an outbreak. The ultraviolet rays that come from sunlight might weaken your immune system, so if you are sensitive, take extra precautions while out in the sun as well.

Applying a green tea bag over an infected area might not be clinically proven¹ to cure a cold sore but it will reduce redness. Green tea contains powerful antioxidants, which are great for reducing inflammation. You might also want to save a couple of tea bags to drink, as green tea is widely known for its ability to boost your immune system.

A cold sore can start being itchy and irritating, but that first tingle can quickly develop into pain as the sore swells up. To soothe the sting of pain, applying ice directly onto a cold sore can help to reduce the swelling and even redness around the sore. This will only temporarily numb the pain, not get rid of the cold sore all together. Be sure to discard the ice after use!

Always consult a healthcare professional if cold sores worsen or remain after few days.

Drinking alcohol whilst trying to recover from an infection or injury is generally not recommended, as alcohol can negatively impact your immune system⁶ and chances at recovery. However, applying rubbing alcohol⁷ onto one can dry it out and minimise healing time – but it will likely sting, as alcohol is an astringent, which means it removes excess oil from the skin that would otherwise pollute the infected area. Another popular astringent is the plant extract witch hazel.

Nothing can cure a cold sore overnight but hopefully we’ve dispelled some of the myths surrounding the symptoms and triggers for this virus and how to treat them effectively. If you are interested in learning more about cold sores check out more treatment advice.

Please note that you should always consult a healthcare professional if cold sores worsen or remain after few days.

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