Cold sores around lips

Cold sores are recurring fluid-filled blisters, usually on or around the lips, caused by herpes simplex virus infection.

A cold sore often begins with tingling, burning, or itching, followed by grouped blisters that break, crust, and heal. The virus remains in nerve tissue and can reactivate at the lip border.

Triggers can include illness, stress, sun exposure, hormonal changes, or local trauma, though an episode may occur without an obvious trigger. Not every lip lesion is a cold sore; contact dermatitis, a bacterial lesion, and other mouth conditions can look similar.

Keep the area clean, avoid picking the crust, wash hands after touching it, and avoid kissing or sharing cups, lip products, towels, or oral contact while a lesion is present. A clinician can discuss antiviral treatment, which is most useful when started early for suitable patients.

Seek assessment if the lesion is severe, frequent, spreading toward the eye, unusually persistent, or accompanied by fever or immune-system problems. Newborn exposure and eye pain require urgent medical advice.