How to hide cold sores on lips: Tips for Covering Up a Cold Sore

02.09.202321.06.2023 by alexxlab

How To Hide A Cold Sore: A Guide

Content

Overview
What are cold sores?
Symptoms of cold sores
How to hide a cold sore
The best techniques to cover a cold sore
The lowdown
Frequently asked questions

Cold sores, also known as fever blisters, form on the lip or around the mouth. They are tiny, fluid-filled blisters often grouped together in patches. Cold sores develop as a result of a herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection.

The WHO estimates that 3.7 billion people worldwide have a cold sore-causing herpes infection. Even though herpes is incredibly common, you might feel self-conscious about your appearance when you have a cold sore.¹

If you have an important event coming up, you may be wondering if you can cover or clear up a cold sore. Let’s have a look at what you can do.

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The American Academy of Dermatology Association (AAD) defines cold sores as small blisters or a group of blisters that mainly develop on the lip or around the mouth. These blisters develop after infection with the herpes simplex virus (HSV).

More than half of Americans 14–49 years old carry HSV.²

If you have a healthy immune system and no other underlying conditions like contact dermatitis or eczema, your cold sores will clear up within ten days.

Cold sores usually pass through various stages, displaying different symptoms. Here are some signs to watch out for:

Itching and tingling

You may feel burning, itching, or tingling around your lips a day before the blisters form. They start as small, hard, and painful spots before the blisters erupt.

Blisters

After some time, you’ll notice small, fluid-filled blisters along the borders of your lips. Sometimes, these blisters may erupt around the cheeks or nose or inside the mouth.

Oozing and crusting

Fever blisters may merge and burst, leaving open sores that ooze and crust over.

Having a cold sore may temporarily lower your self-confidence, especially as we live in a world that’s so focused on appearance. Unfortunately, you can’t get rid of a cold sore overnight.

However, you can use several tricks to lessen the cold sore appearance. However, before you conceal these pimple-like blisters, there are a few things you need to know.

You should never attempt to cover up a cold sore in its early stages because the blisters are open and vulnerable to infection. Therefore, applying any product to a new cold sore could trigger an infection and slow the healing process. So, if your cold store is still fresh, it’s best to wait until the blisters have scabbed over with a brown or yellow crust.

Use ice

While you’re not strictly covering a cold sore with this tip, using ice can reduce swelling and the appearance of blisters.

Covering cold sores with makeup

To cover a cold sore, wait until it scabs over before applying a full-coverage foundation that blends well with your skin.

Then, use a cotton ball or disposable applicator to apply concealer over the blisters. Do this lightly and in layers until the blisters blend in with your skin.

Consider a face mask

During the pandemic, many people discovered that face masks are perfect for covering blemishes and boosting self-confidence. If you’re attending a big event with lots of people, a face mask might be a wise idea to reduce your risk of viral illness anyway. They’re a great way to cover your cold sore without worrying about infection.

Cold sores can pop up at really inconvenient times. If you need to attend an event like a wedding or dinner date, it might feel like they were waiting for the occasion! Cold sores usually start as a burning, itching, and tingling sensation before the blisters form on or around your mouth.

Luckily, there are various ways to hide your cold sore. During the early stages of cold sore development, use ice or face masks to conceal the blisters. As the blisters dry and scab, you can cover them with makeup.

How do I prevent an outbreak?

Learn about your triggers so you can avoid them
Pay attention to your stress levels and general health
Try to avoid viral infections
Wear sunblock on your lips and face when outdoors

Stryx | How to Cover Up a Cold Sore

Cold sores seem to pop up at the most inopportune times. Whether you get these blemishes frequently or once in a blue moon, the last thing you want to do is go around to public events with a massive sore on your face. Fortunately, there are several techniques for dealing with cold sores, so you can find the best one that works for you.

What is a Cold Sore?

Credit: Healthy Food Guide

A cold sore is actually a group of tiny blisters that occur from a viral infection. These blisters are filled with fluid and form around the mouth. Over time, the blisters tend to break, and after several days, scabs will develop.

Cold sores occur as a result of the herpes simplex virus (HSV) being present in the body, but don’t worry if you end up with a cold sore outbreak. Estimates indicate that 3.7 billion people around the globe have HSV-1. Mouth sores are incredibly common, and they’re most often passed through the population through oral contact, such as by kissing.

There are several symptoms that allow you to tell whether you have a cold sore or a different blemish. Cold sores tend to be characterized by:

Crusting and oozing
Blisters along the lips
Itching and tingling sensations

The body should make antibodies to HSV once it’s present in the body. Some people get cold sores once and then never again while others have cold sores regularly.

Should You Cover Cold Sores?

Credit: Cleveland Clinic Health Essentials

You need to be extremely cautious about how you cover up a cold sore. If the blemish is closed, then you can cover it up with concealer or lipstick. However, if the blister has popped, causing it to be open, then you want to keep the surrounding area clear. Applying makeup to an open cold sore could result in an infection, so you want to wait until the sore begins to heal by scabbing before putting anything over it.

How to Cover a Cold Sore for Guys: Tips and Tricks

Provided it’s safe to do so, you should apply a high-quality concealer tool to the affected area to reduce redness. It’s important to remember that a little goes a long way, so you should apply a small amount at first and go from there.

After you apply your concealer, you want to add a foundation that matches your skin tone. You can apply the foundation all over your face for an even tone, and when you’re done, you should throw the sponge away. You don’t want contaminants from the cold sore getting caught on the sponge you’ll end up using in the future that could cause another outbreak.

You can wrap up with a finishing powder. Foundations and powders are available for men as well as women because no one should have to contend with unsightly cold sores on their faces.

How to Treat a Cold Sore

There is no known cure for cold sores, and they tend to go away on their own within two to four weeks without treatment. However, there are steps you can take to expedite the process and make the blemishes less noticeable for the time being.

You can talk to your doctor about getting Denavir, Valtrex, or Zovirax prescribed. These are antiviral medications that can help clear up cold sores sooner than four weeks.

For the time being, you can apply ice to reduce redness. It’s also a good idea to wear lip balm and sunscreen if you plan on going outside. Exposure to the sun can make cold sores appear more severe than they are.

Can You Treat a Cold Sore Overnight?

There’s no way to get rid of a cold sore overnight. Your best bet is to apply concealer and foundation if you want to limit its appearance before going to any kind of social function. Outside of that, you can take medication and apply cold cloth to get the cold sore under control. While cold sores don’t cause any other major health problems, they can severely impact your confidence. Talk to your doctor if you have any concerns about your blemishes. You may get the advice you need to get the sores under control.

References:

https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/understanding-cold-sores-basics#1

https://www.who.int/news/item/01-05-2020-massive-proportion-world-population-living-with-herpes-infection

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cold-sore/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20371023

How to cover up herpes on the lip with makeup

Beauty / Makeup

June 25, 2020

Herpes on the lip can upset even the most confident girl. There are even those who are ready to refuse a date with the guy of their dreams because of the appearance of this ill-fated woman. If we already know how to properly mask pimples, then it seems impossible to hide herpes on the lip. But it only seems. And we will prove it.

To begin with, it is important to know that herpes is a virus that appears in people with reduced immunity. This may be due to stress, hypothermia, or, conversely, overheating in the sun.

It comes on gradually. First, the lip or skin on the cheek swells, then there is a burning sensation, itching, and only then small bubbles form, which, bursting, form a dark crust. You can play ahead of the curve and prevent a rash from appearing. To do this, within 24 hours after the onset of the first symptoms, apply Zovirax, Acyclovir or Panciclovir cream to the painful area five times a day every four hours.

If the bubbles still appear, do not despair, decorative cosmetics will help to disguise herpes on the lip. Only three means will help to hide this “little nuisance” – foundation, powder and lipstick. Well, and sleight of hand, of course.

Foundation apply not only on herpes, but on the whole face. Choose a fat-free foundation.

You can hide herpes with lipstick, but it should not be nutritious. In addition, it should not be dark. Yes, rich burgundy or scarlet colors look spectacular, but they will make the rashes more noticeable. Therefore, if you want to mask herpes, give preference to light opaque tones.

That’s all the secrets. If you suddenly have herpes on your lip, just use these little tricks and no one will even notice it.

Author: LizaZ9

Photo: Shutterstock

Tags: #herpes on the lip, #how to hide herpes on the lip

Special projects 90 003

How to treat herpes on the lips so that it disappears faster

December 12, 2022

Likbez

Health

This is a manifestation of an incurable virus against which there is no protection. But not everything is so scary.

You can listen to the article. If it’s more convenient for you, turn on the podcast.

What is a cold on the lips

A cold on the lips is a small blistering rash caused by the herpes simplex virus. They infect most adults. Infection can occur through kissing, oral sex, and even in everyday life – when sharing utensils, razors or towels.

See what a cold looks like on the lips

Usually, herpes lives in the body, without affecting the human condition in any way. But during the period of exacerbation, rashes appear on the lips. At first, unpleasant itching and tingling are felt – this means that bubbles with liquid inside will soon come out, which will hurt and itch. After a while, they will burst and crust over, and then disappear. The entire life cycle of the rash lasts 7-10 days, and complete healing occurs in three weeks.

Why does a cold appear on the lips

Several factors lead to exacerbations:

Injuries and other diseases, such as SARS, relapse of chronic infections.
Severe stress.
Hormonal changes. Suppose, in women before menstruation.
Overwork.
Exposure to sunlight and wind.
Changes in the immune system.

How dangerous is herpes on the lips

There are many herpes viruses. They cause chickenpox and shingles, roseola in children, and in some cases even cancer.

As we have already said, from time to time herpes simplex reminds of its existence with rashes. But it can also lead to complications. Among them:

Finger infection. It usually occurs in children who put their hands in their mouths.
Eye damage. Repeated infections can cause scarring that impairs vision.
Spread to skin. This is possible if a person suffers from dermatological diseases, such as atopic dermatitis.

The sores themselves are unpleasant and interfere with eating. And another infection can get on the bursting bubbles, then it will be more difficult to recover. In severe cases, when the body is weakened, herpes simplex can lead to encephalitis.

How to treat herpes on the lips

The general practitioner can suggest:

Antiviral tablets and ointments. They will not destroy the virus forever, but they will help to quickly remove the sores.
OTC pain relievers. They reduce discomfort.
Anesthetic cream or ointment. Also for pain relief.

In order not to irritate the inflamed areas, during an exacerbation, do not eat spicy, sour and salty, use lipstick and aggressive cleansers. You can moisturize your lips with cream, make cooling compresses.

How not to catch herpes

There is little chance of this. According to the World Health Organization, the infection most often occurs during childhood.

The most contagious period is when the bubbles are already large and can burst at any moment. Then their contents, along with the virus, are outside. But even if there are no visible manifestations of herpes, the infection may be in the body. Although it is possible to reduce the risk of infection, if you do not contact a person during the acute period of the disease, do not use common utensils, towels and bedding.

How to avoid aggravation of a cold on the lips

If herpes on the lips appears more than nine times a year, the doctor will prescribe antiviral pills, which will have to be taken regularly.

If sunlight seems to be causing the recurrence, apply UV protection before going outside. Experts also recommend using moisturizing lip balms or creams with zinc oxide.

Can herpes appear not only on the lips

Maybe there are two types of herpes simplex virus. The first one just causes a cold on the lips. The second is the cause of genital herpes, in which the same sores and blisters appear on the genitals.

Sometimes the first type of virus also leads to rashes in intimate places.

In general, herpes lives in the nervous tissue, and therefore it can appear wherever there are nerves.