A cold sore is a minor ailment which can be treated in a pharmacy. They are quite common and usually clear up on their own within 10 days.
Important: a cold sore on a new born baby can become serious and complicated. Ask for an urgent appointment with a doctor.
Important: Do not kiss a baby if you have a cold sore
NHS Information for Patients
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cold-sores
Cold sore blisters are common and usually clear up on their own within 10 days. There are things you can do to help ease the pain.
A cold sore usually starts with a tingling, itching or burning feeling around the lips and face. Over the next 48 hours one or more painful blisters will appear. Cold sore blisters are usually small and filled with fluid
Cold Sores are Contagious
Cold sores are contagious from the moment you first feel tingling or other signs of a cold sore coming on to when the cold sore has completely healed.
They can easily spread to other people and other parts of your body.
To help stop cold sores spreading:
- wash your hands with soap and water whenever you touch your cold sore
- do not kiss anyone while you have a cold sore
- do not have oral sex until your cold sore completely heals as you could give your partner genital herpes
Pharmacy Treatments
A pharmacist can recommend:
- creams to ease pain and irritation
- antiviral creams to speed up healing time
- cold sore patches to protect the skin while it heals
If you regularly get cold sores, use antiviral creams as soon as you recognise the early tingling feeling. They do not always work after blisters appear.
Patient Leaflet
NHS Nottinghamshire ICB has produced a very helpful patient information leaflet
https://www.nottsapc.nhs.uk/media/131lslnp/cold_sores_self-care_apc.pdf