Cold sores first look like small blisters that form around your lips and mouth. A cold sore on your lip usually only affects one side of your mouth. They can also show up on your cheeks, nose and chin. After two to three days, the blisters often start to ooze and then form a crust. Healing typically occurs within one to two weeks.
For many people, cold sore symptoms are more severe the first time they have an outbreak. You may experience the following cold sore stages:
- The first sign is often a tingling, burning or itching sensation on or around your lips. This cold sore early stage begins about 12 to 24 hours before the sore develops.
- The area becomes red, swollen and painful as the blisters form.
- Over the next two to three days, the blisters rupture and ooze a clear or slightly yellow fluid. This is sometimes called the “weeping phase.”
- About four to five days after the cold sore appears, it crusts and scabs over. It might crack or bleed as it heals.
- The scab then falls off, revealing skin that may be a little more pink or reddish than usual for a few days. It usually takes one to two weeks for the sore to heal completely.
What are the benefits of using a laser in treating cold sores?
- Laser energy destroys the virus that causes the sore
- Relief is immediate and profound
- Help prevent sores if treated once the lip starts tingling
- Arrests the progression of the lesion after treatment
- Promotes Faster healing
- Treatment takes just a few minutes and without anesthesia