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Cold Sores Are Caused by Herpes Virus? Is Vaseline a Quick Fix?
Author
Bowtie Team
Updated on
2025-08-05
Disclaimer: This article is translated with the assistance of AI.
Beyond acne spoiling your vibe, cold sores can wreck your look too – they’re itchy, painful, and a total nightmare for anyone who loves to glow! If you’re skipping workouts, short on sleep, or stressed out, you’re more at risk. Can you prevent them? Got one? What’s the fast relief? Makeup cover-up safe? Let Bowtie debunk these cold sore myths for you!
What Are Cold Sores?
Cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infection, typically appearing around the lips and edges of the nostrils. The fluid from these sores also contains the contagious HSV-1 virus.
Cold Sore Symptoms
People with cold sores often feel itching and burning at the affected area, followed by small blisters that burst and turn into irregular ulcers.
Stages of Cold Sores
| Stage | Symptoms |
| Early / Initial | When cold sores first appear, you’ll feel itching or tingling at the site. |
| Middle | A few days later, small, hard blisters emerge with pain.
They usually form around the mouth, or on the nose and cheeks; some cluster together and may ooze fluid. |
| Late | After a few more days or weeks, the blisters burst, leading to scabs on the ulcers. Once the scabs fall off, they rarely leave scars. |
Cold sores might come with other symptoms too, like sore throat , bad breath, fever , or swollen lymph nodes in the neck.
Causes of Cold Sores
You’re more likely to get cold sores when your immunity is low, under high stress, during a cold, or with other illnesses. Once infected with HSV-1, the virus hides in your body and reactivates when your resistance drops.
Factors that weaken immunity include:
- High stress
- Extreme fatigue
- Cold or other illnesses
- Menstrual cycle
- Sun exposure / UV light
- AIDS
- Cancer
Emergency Treatment for Cold Sores
To quickly resolve cold sore issues, consider the following treatment methods and precautions.
If the cold sore is very severe, seek medical attention at a clinic immediately. The doctor may prescribe acyclovir tablets (Acyclovir)*. Acyclovir is an antiviral medication effective against herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2, shingles, and chickenpox, and can be used to treat and prevent cold sores.
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Apply Over-the-Counter Cold Sore Cream or Vaseline
If the cold sore is not too severe, you can buy over-the-counter cold sore cream, such as acyclovir ointment (Acyclovir)* or Vaseline (apply with a cotton swab), to relieve symptoms and speed up healing.
-
Avoid Scratching the Affected Area with Hands
Nails harbor many bacteria, which can easily cause the cold sore to become inflamed again and spread.
-
Thoroughly Clean Lips After Meals
When wiping your mouth, first use a tissue dampened with clean water to wipe your lips, then pat dry with another tissue.
-
Use a Soft-Bristled Toothbrush
To prevent the cold sore from bleeding due to friction from the toothbrush, choose one with soft bristles. Once the cold sore heals, replace it with a new toothbrush to avoid recurrent infections.
-
Stop Using Toothpaste with Special Features
Temporarily avoid toothpastes with extra foaming or special functions (like teeth whitening) to prevent increased itching and pain at the cold sore site during brushing.
- * In Hong Kong, acyclovir ointment is an over-the-counter medication available at pharmacies or drugstores, while the tablets are prescription drugs
Ways to Prevent Cold Sores
The herpes simplex virus type 1 that causes cold sores can lie dormant in the nerve ganglia of the body and may remain in the human body for decades.
Currently, there are no medications or treatments that can completely eradicate the cold sore virus. To prevent or avoid recurrence, the key is to boost your body’s immunity, including staying mentally and physically happy, getting enough rest, maintaining a balanced diet, and engaging in moderate exercise.
Common Questions About Cold Sores
1. Are Cold Sores Contagious?
The secretions from cold sores contain herpes simplex virus type 1, which is contagious. Transmission can occur through air, droplets, kissing, unsterilized towels, or teacups. Therefore, when you have a cold sore, avoid touching the affected area with your hands and steer clear of intimate contact with others (such as kissing).
If you accidentally touch the sore, wash your hands immediately to prevent spreading it to others or other parts of your body.
2. Can I Wear Makeup with a Cold Sore?
It’s recommended not to wear makeup during a cold sore outbreak to avoid worsening the infection with the wrong cosmetics.
If your lips feel dry, use a cotton swab to apply Vaseline to the affected area. Avoid direct contact with stick lip balms to prevent the virus from clinging to the balm and causing endless recurrent infections.
3. Do Cold Sores Easily Recur?
Since herpes simplex virus type 1 lies dormant in the body’s nerve cell nuclei, there is no cure, and recurrence is highly likely. To avoid recurrence, ensure adequate rest, a balanced diet, moderate exercise, and maintain a positive mood to strengthen your body’s resistance.
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