But, turns out, you might not have a reason to be embarrassed. Ian Roth: Cold sores on the lips can be embarrassing and tough to hide. The cold sores don't heal within two weeks.When to see a doctorĬold sores generally clear up without treatment. Canker sores involve only the mucous membrane and aren't caused by the herpes simplex virus. These sores are often mistaken for canker sores. In a first-time outbreak, you also might experience:Ĭhildren under 5 years old may have cold sores inside their mouths. If blisters return, they'll often appear at the same spot each time and tend to be less severe than the first outbreak. And the blisters can take 2 to 3 weeks to heal completely. The first time you have a cold sore, symptoms may not start for up to 20 days after you were first exposed to the virus. Symptoms vary, depending on whether this is your first outbreak or a recurrence.
This can leave shallow open sores that ooze and crust over. The small blisters may merge and then burst. Sometimes they appear around the nose or cheeks or inside the mouth. Small fluid-filled blisters often form along the border of the lips. Many people feel itching, burning or tingling around the lips for a day or so before a small, hard, painful spot appears and blisters form. A cold sore usually passes through several stages:
