How Can I Prevent Spreading A Cold Sore?

Do you avoid intimate contacts, including kissing, sexual contact, and other skin-to-skin contact (contact sports) until your cold sore heals?

Do you avoid sharing personal care items, such as towels, toothbrushes or cosmetics (lipsticks, lip glosses, lip balms, or foundations)?

Do you avoid sharing food, eating utensils, straws, cups, glasses, or anything else that has come into contact with your saliva or cold sore?

Do you know that you should replace your toothbrush when you get a cold sore, and replace it again after the sore has healed?

Do you avoid touching and picking at a cold sore?

Do you wash your hands before and after you apply the ointment or touch a cold sore?

Based on your answers, there are several other ways that can help you prevent spreading a cold sore. Cold sores are contagious from the moment you feel the first symptoms, such as itching, burning or tingling around the lips, until they are completely healed. They are highly contagious when the blisters burst. You should avoid any skin-to skin contact until your cold sore heals, including kissing, sexual contact and contact sports. Also, do not share drinks, dishes, towels, toothbrushes, cosmetic products (lipsticks, glosses, and lip balms), cold sore cream as well as any other items that have come into contact with your saliva or cold sore.

Based on your answers, you know a lot about how to prevent spreading a cold sore. Try not to touch or pick at a cold sore because that way you can transmit the virus from your lips to the surrounding skin. Also, touching the cold sore can cause an infection, which will prolong the healing process. You should avoid picking the scab as this will deepen the lesion and lead to scarring. Be sure to wash your hands frequently, especially before and after applying the ointment to the herpes lesion. It is also important to replace your toothbrush after a cold sore has healed to prevent re-infection.