Cold Sores:
No Appointment Necessary

Aired on Lifetime Television for Women
Sunday, January 8 and October 8
Show 301

Many people get cold sores, which are also known as fever blisters. These small and painful blisters usually appear on your lips and are caused by the herpes simplex virus type one. There are ways to reduce their frequency and duration. Try to avoid common triggers such as sunlight, stress, fatigue, and food allergies. There are several simple treatments that may alleviate the irritation of your cold sore, such as over-the-counter pain relievers, or applying ice, or a warm compress to the blister. Most cold sores take 10 days to heal. Abreva is a non-prescription medicine that is proven to shorten healing time. Be sure to let it heal, don't squeeze or pinch the blister. Cold sores are contagious, so wash your hands after touching the blister and avoid skin contact with others-- especially infants when the blisters are present. A word of caution: cold sores in a newborn and the chronically ill, should prompt a call to your doctor.