If you suffer with cold sores, you'll probably go as far as saying that they're the absolute bane of your existence.
The initial telltale tingling that leads to blistering, itching, stinging, cracking and weeping is enough to put a downer on anyone's week, and that's before we've touched on how they look, not to mention the fact that they're highly contagious...
But there's no need to hide behind your scarf or bail on plans, because there are ways to keep them from rearing their ugly heads.
Soft, smooth lips, here we come.
What Causes A Cold Sore?
In order to keep them at bay, it pays to know exactly what cold sores are.
According to the NHS, cold sores are small fluid-filled blisters that can appear anywhere on the face. They are probably most common on the lips and usually crust over into a scab.
Not pretty. But what causes them?
'Cold sores erupt when the normally dormant herpes virus is reawakened,' explains Dr. Marie-Louise Daly, Consultant Dermatologist at The Harley Street Dermatology Clinic.
A lot of people find that feeling run down, stressed and ill that can contribute to the unsightly blisters, but they aren't the only factors.
'Harsh environmental conditions such as extremes of temperature or wind can dehydrate and damage the lips,' says Dr. Daly. 'UV light has also been demonstrated to lead to reactivation of the virus from its dormant state.'
As with most things in life, even hormonal changes such as menstruating or pregnancy can also be a common trigger for cold sore breakouts.
What Do Cold Sores Look Like?
Cold sores can vary in appearance depending on how severe the infection is, from small spots to full blown blisters.
'Cold sores typically affect the lips, the skin around the mouth, the nose, cheek and chin. These blisters can appear differently in different skin tones. On white skin tones blisters appear pink whilst on black and brown skin tones blisters are either pink or skin-coloured', explains Dr Winnie Uchendu, Aesthetic and wellness doctor at TWN Clinic.
It's worth also noting that cold sores can sometimes leave pigmentation in their wake: 'Most cold sore breakouts don’t cause scarring, however in black and brown skin tones, cold sores can cause hyperpigmentation (i.e. darkening of the affected skin) if the blisters are actively broken open by rubbing, aggressive washing, scratching or squeezing', says Dr Winnie Uchendu.
So it's important to avoid irritating them even further, as much as possible.
How To Prevent A Cold Sore
'Well-hydrated lips are less likely to have fissures and cracks and therefore are more resilient to environmental factors that can exacerbate cold sores,' explains Dr. Daly.
This means slathering on the lip balm, especially one that boasts an SPF to stop the sunshine from making things worse.
There are also some wellness aspect to consider if you're prone to getting cold sores.
'In people that already carry the dormant virus, cold sores usually erupt following triggers such as colds, fatigue, emotional or physical stress, excessive exposure to sunlight or wind, and trauma to the skin or lips. The key to prevention is to avoid these triggers. Getting enough sleep, having a healthy diet, engaging in effective stress management, avoiding excess sunlight exposure and using daily SPF on the face and lips, can all save you from a cold sore outbreak', advises Dr Uchendu.
That means making sure to get those zzz's in and trying some stress-relieving exercises (trust us, it works).
The Best Lip Balms To Treat Dry, Chapped Skin
U Beauty The Plasma Lip Compound
This luxury lip tint has us in a chokehold. The formula is a rich, liquid balm that plumps, hydrates and leaves skin looking glossy. If you love a classic sheer brown shade that you can apply without a mirror, this is the best investment you can make. Our favourite feature? The cool metal tip applicator that smooths lips and leaves no patchiness in sight. Wear on its own or layer on your favourite liner.
La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5 Lips
Recommended by dermatologists, this is like a moisture magnet for parched, sore, red lips. It's all down to the clever lipids and pro-vitamin B5. Not only does it form a protective shield over fragile skin, but it works to heal painful cracks in next to no time at all. The best part? It doesn't feel like glue.
ISAMAYA Lips Lips Balm - Follower
If you're not quite brave enough to go out in public with Isamaya Ffrench's penis-shaped balms, take a look at the latest launch from the MUA. Complete with five shimmery nudes and one clear option, they've been designed to be used as balms in their own right or as a refill for the phallic original.
Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm
As the name suggests, this silky smooth balm melts into lips like melted butter to relieve any patchy dryness. It's ideal to keep in your pockets during winter months to combat any chill-induced cracks to leave lips soft without any greasiness. The vanilla scent has us obsessed and the smooth applicator tip ensures you don't need to get your hands sticky when re-applying.
Westman Atelier Squeaky Clean Liquid Lip Balm
Looking for a lip treatment that looks and feels sophisticated? This nourishing Westman Atelier balm is the perfect balance of an oil, gloss and tinted balm. Aside from the beautiful minimalist matte packaging, the six shades span berry reds and neutral nudes but this high-shine pink 'Ma Puche' is our all-time favourite.
Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask
The OG lip mask achieved cult status thanks to a little app called TikTok and has remained relevant ever since. It really, really works, soothing and sealing cracked lips overnight. Make it part of your bedtime ritual pronto and apply liberally all over.
Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Kiss Cupuaçu Lip Butter
We’re suckers for anything that smells of that signature Sol De Janeiro scent, and its lip balm doesn't disappoint. Enriched with acai and coconut oil, this keep lips soft and provides a subtle shine that you'll want to re-apply all day long.
Naturium Phyto-Glow Lip Balm
If you love a red lip but can't stand the feeling or drying, mate formulas that leave your skin chapped, add this berry balm to your lip arsenal ASAP. Made with a hydrating, soothing blend of shea, cupuacu butter and plant-derived squalane, it will leave skin feeling silky soft. The subtle vanilla scent goes down a treat too.
Rhode Peptide Lip Treatment
The Rhode lip balms are pretty much a Gen-Z staple, and the unscented version is a true crowd pelaser. It has everything your lips could possible need - hydrating shea butter and plumping peptides with extra luminosity to take glazed lips to the next level.
Hourglass Phantom Volumizing Glossy Balm
This high-shine 3-in-1 lip colour is chic to the max. Densely pigmented with a vinyl shine, its vibrant colour has the lasting power of a luxury lipstick but with all the skin-loving benefits of a balm. What more could we want?
Glossier Balm Dotcom
No lip balm list is complete with a tube of Balm Dotcom. While the salve-formula feels pretty thick on application, it melts on contact with lips, turning them from dry and deflated to sensationally soft. Our favourite 'flavour' is 'Lavender', bright and floral with a pretty soft purple tint.
Tatcha The Kissu Lip Mask
When it comes to brilliant textures, we trust Tatcha to get it right. This non-sticky jelly treatment envelopes the best Japanese skincare ingredients while managing to stay totally weightless. It melts into parched lips easily, softening fine lines and boosting hydration.
Antipodes Kiwi Seed Oil Lip Conditioner
New Zealand-based brand Antipodes is an underrated gem in our opinion and our top pick is this lipstick-style balm. Perfect for your handbag and bedside, it's a softening, soothing salve that we can't be without when the weather gets cold and chapped skin becomes inevitable.
Medik8 Mutiny Lip Balm
We know and love Medik8 for their innovative approach to skincare, so it's no surprise that this gel-like lip remedy made it onto our roundup. Calming and conditioning, it supports the lip’s natural barrier for skin and feels better even after the balm has worn off.
Nars Afterglow Lip Balm
Originally launched as a limited edition treat, NARS brought this hydrating bullet back due to popular demand. And we can see why. It leaves lips soft but not sticky, with a peachy-pink glow.
How To Get Rid Of Cold Sores
We hate to break it to you, but cold sores can't actually be cured.
Once you've been exposed to the virus, it stays in the skin for life. Although cold sores usually clear up after ten days, there are proven ways to speed up the healing process.
Creams like Zovirax and Virasorb (both of which can be purchased over the counter in pharmacies) contain Aciclovir, an antiviral ingredient that inhibits the infection from spreading further. Be sure to dab it on gently as not to irritate the blister.
'In terms of pain relief, creams containing lidocaine, benzocaine and benzyl alcohol can be very effective at settling the uncomfortable symptoms of cold sores. To prevent dryness and cracking from cold sores, creams containing calamine, petroleum and zinc oxide can effectively soften and protect the skin and the lips', explains Dr Nicole Uchendu, Aesthetic and wellness doctor at TWN Clinic.
Cold sore patches, such as Compeed, are also brilliant at easing the pain of lip blisters and protecting against harsh weather, which can sometimes make sores more uncomfortable or dry and flaky. Nail perfect application the first time round by using a magnifying mirror.
Dr Nicole Uchendu advises getting these products on ASAP for them to be the most effective: 'In order for topical creams to be effective, they must be applied in the early stages of the cold sore, before the blisters have appeared, i.e. as soon as you experience itching, pain, tingling or burning.'
ELLE Edit: Cold Sore Solutions
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