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Prevention

By Mayo Clinic staff

Your doctor may prescribe an antiviral medication for you to take on a regular basis, if you develop cold sores frequently or if you're at high risk of serious complications.

To help avoid spreading cold sores to other people or to other parts of your body, you might try some of the following precautions:

  • Avoid skin contact with others while blisters are present. The virus spreads most easily when there are moist secretions from the blisters.
  • Be careful about touching other parts of your body. Your eyes and genital area may be particularly susceptible to spread of the virus.
  • Avoid sharing items. Utensils, towels, lip balm and other items can spread the virus when blisters are present.
  • Keep your hands clean. Wash your hands carefully before touching another person when you have a cold sore.
Alternative medicine
References
  1. Habif TP. Clinical Dermatology: A Color Guide to Diagnosis and Therapy. 5th ed. Edinburgh, U.K.; New York, N.Y.: Mosby Elsevier; 2010. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/about.do?about=true&eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-7234-3541-9..X0001-6--TOP&isbn=978-0-7234-3541-9&uniqId=230100505-57. Accessed March 9, 2012.
  2. Herpes simplex. American Academy of Dermatology. http://www.aad.org/skin-conditions/dermatology-a-to-z/herpes-simplex. Accessed March 9, 2012.
  3. Ferri FF. Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2012: 5 Books in 1. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2012. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/about.do?about=true&eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05611-3..C2009-0-38601-8--TOP&isbn=978-0-323-05611-3&uniqId=291436269-101. Accessed March 9, 2012.
  4. Klein RS. Clinical manifestations and diagnosis of herpes simplex virus type 1 infection. http://www.uptodate.com/index. Accessed March 9, 2012.
  5. Kliegman RM, et al. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 19th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2011. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/208746819-6/0/1608/0.html. Accessed March 9, 2012.
  6. Goldman L, et al. Cecil Medicine. 24th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2011. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/191371208-2/0/1492/0.html#. Accessed March 9, 2012.
  7. Klein RS. Epidemiology of herpes simplex virus type 1 infection. http://www.uptodate.com/index. Accessed March 16, 2012.
  8. Wolff K, et al. Fitzpatrick's Color Atlas and Synopsis of Clinical Dermatology. 6th ed. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2009. http://www.accessmedicine.com/resourceTOC.aspx?resourceID=45. Accessed March 16, 2012.
  9. Klein RS. Treatment of herpes simplex virus type 1 infection in immunocompetent patients. http://www.uptodate.com/index. Accessed March 16, 2012.
  10. Cold sores. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. http://www.naturaldatabase.com. Accessed March 19, 2012.
  11. Rakel RE. Textbook of Family Medicine. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2011. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/191205553-4/0/1481/0.html#. Accessed March 19, 2012.
DS00358 May 23, 2012

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