April 16, 2018 Medical
What is the Difference Between a Cold Sore and a Canker Sore?
Cold sores and canker sores look similar but have different causes and treatments — learn to tell them apart, manage triggers, and take the right precautions.
What are Cold Sores?
What is the difference between a canker sore and a cold sore?
What triggers a cold sore outbreak?
- Physical stress or fatigue
- Mouth trauma
- Illness, such as a cold or flu
- Dental treatment
- An immune system deficiency
- Menstruation or pregnancy
- Injury to the lip due to sunlight exposure or ultraviolet lamps
- Food allergies
What happens when you are first exposed to the HSV1?
What are the stages of a cold sore?
Day 1: Prodrome (tingle) stage
Day 2 to 3: Blister stage
Day 4: Ulcer or weeping stage
Day 5 to 8: Crusting stage
Day 9 to 12: Healing stage
How are cold sores treated?
- Apply ice or a warm washcloth to the sores to help ease pain.
- Wash the blister gently with germ-fighting (antiseptic) soap and water. This helps prevent spreading the virus to other body areas.
- Avoid hot beverages and any spicy or salty foods, and citrus.
- Gargle with cool water or eat popsicles.
- Rinse with salt water.
- Take a pain reliever such as Advil or Tylenol.
What precautions should be taken?
- Avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight and apply sunblock or lip balm containing zinc oxide to your lips before you go outside.
- Avoid intimate physical contact if lesions are present.
- Don’t touch the herpes sores (wash your hands if you do).
- Wash items such as towels and linens in boiling hot water after each use.
- Do not share utensils, straws, glasses, or other items if someone has oral herpes.