Do you have a place on your lip that is painful, tingly, and reacts badly to heat or cold? Are you trying to get rid of it? You may have a cold sore. Cold sores are usually harmless, but you need accurate information in order to get your cold sore taken care of.
What's a Cold Sore?
Cold sores and canker sores are not the same thing. Canker sores occur inside your mouth, and cold sores are on the outside of your mouth. Both can be painful, but cold sores are contagious.
The herpes simplex virus causes cold sores. If you kiss or come into very close contact with someone who has a cold sore, you can get the virus.
What Do Cold Sores Look Like?
Cold sores look like a group of blisters that are usually at the corner of the mouth. The blisters are painful until the blisters break and scab over. As long as you have blisters or scabs, you are contagious, so you can't come into close contact with anyone. The blisters and scabs will eventually disappear, without leaving a scar, in about two to three weeks.
Cold Sore Treatment
Once you have the herpes simplex virus, you cannot get rid of it. However, you can treat cold sores. There are prescription medications you can take and other medications you can take over the counter to help with shortening the amount of time you have to suffer from cold sores. You can also maintain a healthy diet and exercise program, which can reduce stress. Stress and severe emotional upset can trigger cold sores. You may notice that when you are going to experience an outbreak of cold sores that your lips start to tingle or burn. You may also have a headache and a low-grade fever.
If you are having very painful cold sore outbreaks, it's a good idea to see a dentist. The dentist will be able to suggest treatment options for you and can prescribe medications to shorten the duration of your cold sore outbreak.
Do you have a place on your lip that is painful, tingly, and reacts badly to heat or cold? Are you trying to get rid of it? You may have a cold sore. Cold sores are usually harmless, but you need accurate information in order to get your cold sore taken care of. 
