What Is Herpes Labialis?

Herpes labialis is the medical term for cold sores or fever blisters. These are small, painful blisters that form on or around your lips. Cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), one of the most common viral infections in the world.

What Causes Cold Sores?

Cold sores are caused by HSV-1, a highly contagious virus. Up to 90% of people worldwide carry at least one form of the herpes simplex virus. The virus spreads through direct contact with cold sore blisters, saliva, or skin around the mouth. This can happen through kissing, sharing utensils, or touching your face after contact with the virus.

Once you have HSV-1, the virus stays in your body for life. It lives in nerve cells near your face and can reactivate at any time, causing new outbreaks.

Common Symptoms

Cold sores typically go through several stages. First, you may feel tingling, itching, or burning around your lips about a day before blisters appear. Then, small fluid-filled blisters form in clusters on or near your lips. These blisters break open, ooze, and form a crust or scab. Most cold sores heal on their own within one to two weeks.

Treatment Options

There is no cure for cold sores, but treatments can help them heal faster and reduce discomfort. Antiviral creams like acyclovir (Zovirax) or docosanol (Abreva) work best when applied at the first sign of tingling. For severe or frequent outbreaks, doctors may prescribe oral antiviral medications such as acyclovir, valacyclovir, or famciclovir.

Prevention Tips

To reduce the spread of cold sores, avoid kissing or close contact when blisters are present. Do not share items that touch your mouth, such as lip balm, utensils, or towels. Wash your hands often, especially after touching a cold sore. If you get frequent outbreaks, talk to your doctor about daily antiviral medication to help prevent them.

When to See a Doctor

Most cold sores are harmless and heal without treatment. However, see a doctor if you have a weakened immune system, cold sores that do not heal within two weeks, frequent outbreaks, or cold sores near your eyes. In rare cases, the virus can cause serious complications like eye infections or encephalitis.