{"@context": "http://schema.org", "@type": "MedicalWebPage", "name": "Cold sores", "copyrightHolder": {"name": "Crown Copyright", "@type": "Organization"}, "license": "https://developer.api.nhs.uk/terms", "author": {"url": "https://www.nhs.uk", "logo": "https://digital.nhs.uk/binaries/content/gallery/website/developer/api-catalogue/nhs-website-content/nhs-attribution.png", "email": "nhswebsite.servicedesk@nhs.net", "@type": "Organization", "name": "NHS website"}, "about": {"@type": "WebPage", "name": "Cold sores", "alternateName": ""}, "description": "Find out about cold sores, including what the symptoms are, when to get medical help and how to treat them.", "url": "https://api.nhs.uk/conditions/cold-sores/", "genre": ["Condition"], "keywords": [], "dateModified": "2024-02-28T15:01:42+00:00", "lastReviewed": ["2024-02-19T18:54:00+00:00", "2027-02-19T18:54:00+00:00"], "breadcrumb": {"@context": "http://schema.org", "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [{"@type": "ListItem", "position": 0, "item": {"@id": "https://api.nhs.uk/conditions/", "name": "Health A to Z", "genre": []}}, {"@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "item": {"@id": "https://api.nhs.uk/conditions/cold-sores/", "name": "Cold sores", "genre": ["Condition"]}}]}, "hasPart": [{"@type": "HealthTopicContent", "url": "https://api.nhs.uk/conditions/cold-sores/#symptoms", "hasHealthAspect": "http://schema.org/SymptomsHealthAspect", "headline": "Check if it's a cold sore", "description": "A cold sore usually starts with a tingling, itching or burning feeling. Over the next day or 2, a painful lump or blister will appear on your face.", "hasPart": [{"@type": "WebPageElement", "headline": "", "text": "
A cold sore usually starts with a tingling, itching or burning feeling.
Over the next 48 hours one or more painful blisters will appear on your face.
"}, {"@type": "WebPageElement", "text": "Cold sore blisters are usually small and filled with fluid.
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", "image": [{"@type": "ImageObject", "name": "Cold sore on face just below the nose on someone with white skin.", "url": "https://assets.nhs.uk/nhsuk-cms/images/C0144603-Cold_sore-SPL.max-600x600.jpg", "caption": "The blisters can appear anywhere on the face.", "provider": "Science Photo Library", "license": "PAN XUNBIN/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY https://www.sciencephoto.com/media/479137/view
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", "image": [{"@type": "ImageObject", "name": "Burst cold sore that has become a scab on the lower lip of someone with dark brown skin.", "url": "https://assets.nhs.uk/nhsuk-cms/images/C0473050-Cold_sore_on_lip.max-600x600.jpg", "caption": "The blisters burst and crust over into a scab.", "provider": "Science Photo Library", "license": "C0473050, DR P. MARAZZI / SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY https://www.sciencephoto.com/media/1051811/view/cold-sore-on-lip
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Certain things may trigger a cold sore, such as illness, sunshine or being on your period.
"}]}, {"@type": "HealthTopicContent", "url": "https://api.nhs.uk/conditions/cold-sores/#transmission", "hasHealthAspect": "http://schema.org/ContagiousnessHealthAspect", "headline": "How long cold sores are contagious", "description": "Cold sores are contagious and can easily spread to other parts of your body and to other people. Avoid kissing other people until it is fully healed.", "hasPart": [{"@type": "WebPageElement", "headline": "", "text": "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:
Kissing a baby if you have a cold sore can lead to neonatal herpes, which is very dangerous to newborn babies.
"}]}, {"@type": "HealthTopicContent", "url": "https://api.nhs.uk/conditions/cold-sores/#self-care", "hasHealthAspect": "http://schema.org/SelfCareHealthAspect", "headline": "Things you can do yourself to help with cold sores", "description": "There are things you can do to help ease a cold sore while it heals, such as avoiding acidic or spicy food, and taking painkillers.", "hasPart": [{"@type": "WebPageElement", "headline": "", "text": "There are things you can do to help ease cold sores while they heal and to avoid triggering a cold sore.
"}, {"@type": "WebPageElement", "headline": "Do", "text": "avoid anything that triggers your cold sores, such as sunbeds
use sunblock lip balm (SPF 15 or above) if you're outside in the sun
take paracetamol or ibuprofen to ease pain and swelling (liquid paracetamol is available for children) \u2013 do not give aspirin to children under 16
drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration
do not touch your cold sore (apart from applying antiviral cream) \u2013 and if you do wash your hands before and after
do not rub cream into the cold sore \u2013 dab it on instead
do not eat acidic or salty food if it makes your cold sore feel worse
A GP may prescribe antiviral tablets if your cold sores are very large, painful or keep coming back.
Newborn babies, pregnant women and people with a weakened immune system may be referred to hospital for advice or treatment.
"}]}, {"@type": "HealthTopicContent", "url": "https://api.nhs.uk/conditions/cold-sores/#causes", "hasHealthAspect": "http://schema.org/CausesHealthAspect", "headline": "Why cold sores come back", "description": "Cold sores are caused by a virus called herpes simplex. The virus stays in your skin and sometimes causes a cold sore.", "hasPart": [{"@type": "WebPageElement", "headline": "", "text": "Cold sores are caused by a virus called herpes simplex.
Most people are exposed to the virus when they're children after close skin to skin contact, such as kissing, with someone who has a cold sore.
Once you have the virus, it stays in your skin for the rest of your life. Sometimes it causes a cold sore.
"}]}, {"@type": "HealthTopicContent", "url": "https://api.nhs.uk/conditions/cold-sores/#overview", "hasHealthAspect": "http://schema.org/OverviewHealthAspect", "headline": "", "description": "Cold sores are painful lumps or blisters on the face. They're caused by a virus and are very contagious.", "hasPart": [{"text": "A cold sore usually starts with a tingling, itching or burning feeling. Over the next day or 2, a painful lump or blister will appear on your face.
", "@type": "WebPageElement"}, {"text": "If a cold sores is very large, painful or keeps coming back, a GP may prescribe antiviral tablets.
", "@type": "WebPageElement"}, {"text": "Cold sores are contagious and can easily spread to other parts of your body and to other people. Avoid kissing other people until it is fully healed.
", "@type": "WebPageElement"}, {"text": "There are things you can do to help ease a cold sore while it heals, such as avoiding acidic or spicy food, and taking painkillers.
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"}, {"position": 4, "identifier": "1", "text": "Cold sores should start to heal within 10 days, but are contagious and may be irritating or painful while they heal.
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"}, {"position": 4, "identifier": "1", "text": "Cold sores should start to heal within 10 days, but are contagious and may be irritating or painful while they heal.
Certain things may trigger a cold sore, such as illness, sunshine or being on your period.
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---|---|
\n \n \n Symptoms\n \n \n Painful red spot on the face filled with pus \n | \n \n \n \n \n Possible causes\n \n \n Spot or boil \n | \n \n
\n \n \n Symptoms\n \n \n Blister on the inside of the lip or mouth \n | \n \n \n \n \n Possible causes\n \n \n \n | \n \n
\n \n \n Symptoms\n \n \n Red sores or blisters on the face that become crusty, golden-brown patches \n | \n \n \n \n \n Possible causes\n \n \n \n | \n \n
\n Symptoms\n | \n \n\n Possible causes\n | \n \n
---|---|
\n \n \n Symptoms\n \n \n Painful red spot on the face filled with pus \n | \n \n \n \n \n Possible causes\n \n \n Spot or boil \n | \n \n
\n \n \n Symptoms\n \n \n Blister on the inside of the lip or mouth \n | \n \n \n \n \n Possible causes\n \n \n \n | \n \n
\n \n \n Symptoms\n \n \n Red sores or blisters on the face that become crusty, golden-brown patches \n | \n \n \n \n \n Possible causes\n \n \n \n | \n \n
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:
Kissing a baby if you have a cold sore can lead to neonatal herpes, which is very dangerous to newborn babies.
"}], "description": "Cold sores are contagious and can easily spread to other parts of your body and to other people. Avoid kissing other people until it is fully healed.", "hasPart": [{"position": 0, "identifier": "1", "text": "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:
Kissing a baby if you have a cold sore can lead to neonatal herpes, which is very dangerous to newborn babies.
"}], "hasHealthAspect": "http://schema.org/ContagiousnessHealthAspect", "headline": "How long cold sores are contagious"}, {"identifier": "0", "name": "section heading", "position": 4, "@type": "WebPageElement", "mainEntityOfPage": [{"position": 0, "identifier": "1", "text": "A pharmacist can recommend:
You can buy electronic devices from pharmacies that treat cold sores with light or lasers.
You may find these helpful, but there's not much evidence to confirm they work.
", "@type": "WebPageElement", "name": "markdown", "headline": ""}, {"position": 1, "@type": "WebPageElement", "name": "Information", "identifier": "3", "text": "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.
"}, {"position": 2, "@type": "WebPageElement", "name": "Find a service", "identifier": "2", "text": "\n"}], "description": "", "hasPart": [{"position": 0, "identifier": "1", "text": "A pharmacist can recommend:
You can buy electronic devices from pharmacies that treat cold sores with light or lasers.
You may find these helpful, but there's not much evidence to confirm they work.
", "@type": "WebPageElement", "name": "markdown", "headline": ""}, {"position": 1, "@type": "WebPageElement", "name": "Information", "identifier": "3", "text": "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.
"}, {"position": 2, "@type": "WebPageElement", "name": "Find a service", "identifier": "2", "text": "\n"}], "headline": "A pharmacist can help with cold sores"}, {"identifier": "0", "name": "section heading", "position": 5, "@type": "WebPageElement", "mainEntityOfPage": [{"position": 0, "identifier": "1", "text": "There are things you can do to help ease cold sores while they heal and to avoid triggering a cold sore.
", "@type": "WebPageElement", "name": "markdown", "headline": ""}, {"position": 1, "@type": "WebPageElement", "name": "Do/Don't", "identifier": "9", "text": "avoid anything that triggers your cold sores, such as sunbeds
use sunblock lip balm (SPF 15 or above) if you're outside in the sun
take paracetamol or ibuprofen to ease pain and swelling (liquid paracetamol is available for children) \u2013 do not give aspirin to children under 16
drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration
do not touch your cold sore (apart from applying antiviral cream) \u2013 and if you do wash your hands before and after
do not rub cream into the cold sore \u2013 dab it on instead
do not eat acidic or salty food if it makes your cold sore feel worse
There are things you can do to help ease cold sores while they heal and to avoid triggering a cold sore.
", "@type": "WebPageElement", "name": "markdown", "headline": ""}, {"position": 1, "@type": "WebPageElement", "name": "Do/Don't", "identifier": "9", "text": "avoid anything that triggers your cold sores, such as sunbeds
use sunblock lip balm (SPF 15 or above) if you're outside in the sun
take paracetamol or ibuprofen to ease pain and swelling (liquid paracetamol is available for children) \u2013 do not give aspirin to children under 16
drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration
do not touch your cold sore (apart from applying antiviral cream) \u2013 and if you do wash your hands before and after
do not rub cream into the cold sore \u2013 dab it on instead
do not eat acidic or salty food if it makes your cold sore feel worse
A GP may prescribe antiviral tablets if your cold sores are very large, painful or keep coming back.
Newborn babies, pregnant women and people with a weakened immune system may be referred to hospital for advice or treatment.
", "@type": "WebPageElement", "name": "markdown", "headline": ""}], "description": "If a cold sores is very large, painful or keeps coming back, a GP may prescribe antiviral tablets.", "hasPart": [{"position": 0, "identifier": "1", "text": "A GP may prescribe antiviral tablets if your cold sores are very large, painful or keep coming back.
Newborn babies, pregnant women and people with a weakened immune system may be referred to hospital for advice or treatment.
", "@type": "WebPageElement", "name": "markdown", "headline": ""}], "hasHealthAspect": "http://schema.org/TreatmentsHealthAspect", "headline": "Treatment for cold sores from a GP"}, {"identifier": "0", "name": "section heading", "position": 8, "@type": "WebPageElement", "mainEntityOfPage": [{"position": 0, "identifier": "1", "text": "Cold sores are caused by a virus called herpes simplex.
Most people are exposed to the virus when they're children after close skin to skin contact, such as kissing, with someone who has a cold sore.
Once you have the virus, it stays in your skin for the rest of your life. Sometimes it causes a cold sore.
", "@type": "WebPageElement", "name": "markdown", "headline": ""}], "description": "Cold sores are caused by a virus called herpes simplex. The virus stays in your skin and sometimes causes a cold sore.", "hasPart": [{"position": 0, "identifier": "1", "text": "Cold sores are caused by a virus called herpes simplex.
Most people are exposed to the virus when they're children after close skin to skin contact, such as kissing, with someone who has a cold sore.
Once you have the virus, it stays in your skin for the rest of your life. Sometimes it causes a cold sore.
", "@type": "WebPageElement", "name": "markdown", "headline": ""}], "hasHealthAspect": "http://schema.org/CausesHealthAspect", "headline": "Why cold sores come back"}, {"identifier": "0", "name": "section heading", "position": 9, "@type": "WebPageElement", "mainEntityOfPage": [], "description": "", "hasPart": []}]}