Cold sores are a pain in the butt — there is no way around it! Not only do they hurt, are annoying, and insist on ruining a perfectly good makeup look 😛 but they also don’t look that attractive on your lips. If you didn’t know, I’ve dealt with cold sores for years and have learned a thing or two about them — which is where Herpecin L and today’s post come in! Not only am I going to be sharing about this awesome, affordable defense against cold sores that can be found right in your local Walmart, but I’ll also share other tips I’ve learned that helps to prevent an active cold sore break out.
5 Tips for Cold Sore Sufferers | Herpecin Lip Balm
First off, before we get into the tips, I want to clarify….’cold sores’ are NOT the typical STD that you think of when you hear the word ‘herpes’. I get this question all the time! No! Just because I get cold sores multiple times a year does not mean I have herpes elsewhere or suffer with an STD. There are two kinds of herpes virus — HSV-1 and HSV-2. The HSV-2 is usually the typical STD when you think of the word “herpes”. HSV-1 is the oral herpes commonly known as ‘cold sores’.
I just wanted to clear that up before we dive into the tips and tricks. Every time I do a post like this, I always get someone in the comments asking if I have an STD. :-/ Cold sores — HSV-1 — really is not that uncommon to have, honestly! According to the National Institutes of Health, about 90% of adults have been exposed to the virus by age 50 and once you get the virus…you have it for life! Anywhere from 50%-80% of people in the world have the oral herpes virus. So, yeah, cold sores really aren’t that uncommon.
With all that said, let’s get into the tips! If you are someone who suffers from cold sores, take heart! There are things/habits/routines that you can get into doing that will help prevent or shorten the life of an active cold sore breakout!
1. Avoid Touching your Mouth When Stressed
I’m not sure if it was just a weird habit or something I started doing because I would get cold sores, but I had a really bad habit of either touching or picking at my lips when they were dry or if I was stressed. This seems like a pretty simple tip, but this is honestly something I am still working on, and reminding myself of, when I find myself picking, or touching, my lips. Aggravating your lips this way can bring on a cold sore, especially when you’re already dealing with stress. Stress, either emotional or physical, can trigger the virus in your body and it’s more likely for an active cold sore to break out. This tip has really helped prevent cold sores so much for me — I don’t get an active sore anywhere near as often as I used to a few years ago!
2. Exfoliate Your Lips Routinely
I try to gently exfoliate my lips every day, but in reality probably exfoliate them closer to every other day. Even if you are only exfoliating your lips two or three times a week — get into the habit! Getting into a routine with exfoliating your lips helps to constantly get that dead skin off your lips, keeps them feeling smoother, and in turn I pick at and touch them a lot less! You don’t have to buy any fancy lip scrub — in fact, they’re really easy to DIY on your own!
3. Wear a good lip balm
3. Wear a good lip balmI know this might be a given, but I wanted to include it because not all lip balms are created equal. Especially if you suffer from dry lips or cold sores. Some lip balms contain — and do — absolutely nothing to nourish or protect your lips from cold sores.
That’s where my new-favorite lip balm — Herpecin L — comes in!
Herpecin L is a unique, pharmacist-recommended product that not only helps to treat and protect against cold sores, but it also gives you relief from dry lips and even sun blisters! And it’s not a lip balm you only use when you have an issue — Herpecin L is safe to use every day and includes SPF. Because your lips can get sunburned and get sun damage just as much as any other part of your body!
The best part about Herpecin L is that you can find it at your local Walmart for only $4.56! Truly good quality products that make a difference in your skin do not have to cost you an arm and a leg!! Especially since, if you’re applying lip balm to your lips multiple times a day (like you should), lip balm is something you run through very quickly!
Check Availability at Your Local Walmart!
4. Avoid Licking Your Lips
4. Avoid Licking Your LipsAnother weird tip, but it works! The saliva in your mouth will only dry out your lips. I know it seems like you’re wetting them — so giving your dry lips some relief — but you’re really not! While it gives a very temporary feeling of releif, once your saliva dries on your lips, it dehydrates your lips and makes them more dry than before you licked them. So it’s a vicious cycle and in the end, your lips are worse off then ever. Dry lips are like a bugle call to the cold sore virus that basically says “come and get it!”
5. Mix Lip Balm with your Lipsticks
Okay, so all the preventative tips are all well and good to practice…but what about when you HAVE an active cold sore breakout on your lips? Are you just doomed to a few weeks of pain and no makeup? Absolutely not! Not only would I recommend using a heavy-duty cold sore medication to clear it up, but also continue to apply your Herpecin L multiple times throughout the day. It not only gives you relief from the pain, but it also helps to treat the cold sore and moisturize your lips.
My biggest advice — as a makeup addict — is NOT to use your regular lipstick bullets or lipgloss wands while you have a cold sore. This could pass the virus into your makeup , contaminate it, and then you would be continuing to spread the virus to yourself or anyone else who used that product! 😮 But that doesn’t mean you can’t wear any color on your lips while you have a cold sore. I totally get it — you have this unsightly, enlarged, crusty blister on your lip and all you want to do is cover it up! And you still can! In the photo above I was dealing with an active cold sore blister on my bottom lip…but you can hardly tell, right?!
First start off by applying a generous layer of Herpecin L to your lips. This will not only act as a barrier to your lips, but it’ll work to heal up your cold sore while wearing makeup for the day. Then take whatever lip color you want to wear — lipstick, liquid lipstick, lip gloss — and apply it to the back of your clean hand. Using a lip brush (that you can wash directly afterwards) or your finger, apply it to your lips. Wash any access off your hands and that’s it — this keeps you from contaminating or spreading the virus back to yourself or anyone else! And you can still rock a big, bold lip color if you’re feeling like it! 🙂
What Are Your Tips for Dealing with Cold Sores?
What Are Your Tips for Dealing with Cold Sores?As I said in the beginning, I’ve been dealing with cold sores for YEARS! Since before I was a teenager — so I’ve learned a thing or two about prevention and ways to make the process of having a cold sore easier. But I am always eager to learn new tips and tricks! Please let me know what your go-to tips are in the comments below! Either to prevent a cold sore breakout or to help deal with the active blister!
Do you use Herpecin L Lip Balm in your daily routine?
This post is sponsored by Herpecin L and PRIMP Network. The product was sent to me to use for this post. The way I presented the product was left entirely up to my choosing. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Some of the links above are tracking links, meaning I do not earn a commission off the links if you click, it just let’s the advertiser know how much traffic comes from my blog. It does not cost you anything, but it does help support this website. Any questions about my disclosure, read HERE. 
Thank you for your support!
Michelle Castagne says
I have’t had a cold sore. I’ve head they can be quite painful. Herpecin-L sounds like a great product for cold sores. Great tips for those who have them.
Katie Marie says
Oh girl, so lucky! Yes, they’re painful and can take SO long to fully recover from! Ugh!
Nichole says
I have never had a cold sore before.
Katie Marie says
Wow, that’s so awesome!
Julie Barrett says
I’ve never had coldsores thankfully! I’m sorry you have them so bad! I’ve heard they are painful! I’m not sure if this will work for you but I use Blistex Lip Medx every night before bed which is a medicated lip balm for extreme cracked lips, cold sores, etc. It’s the only thing that keeps my lips from getting chapped! It’s so good. I’ve been using it for years! Not sure how well it would work for coldsores but thought I’d mention it for you! ?
Katie Marie says
Oh my gosh, I am so jealous reading all these comments and how SO many of y’all haven’t had a cold sore. So lucky! Seriously, they’re such a pain! Thanks for the recommendations, I don’t think I’ve tried that product yet!
25 Sweetpeas says
Great tips for everyone! I really need to try using something more because when I focus on things I end up with chapped lips more often than not!
Humm like now, maybe I should go grab a lip balm!
Katie Marie says
LOL! I know, I always try to have lip balms hanging ALL around the house so I remember 😛
Brandy ingram says
I have never had cold sores before but like all the tips on what to do if I have eve get them.
Katie Marie says
Hope you never need it, lol, its no fun! :-*
Sabrina alexis says
Thank you for the tip, I have not had a cold sore before, but I do have a cousin who gets them and I will be recommending them Herpecin L. Thank you!
Katie Marie says
I hope the tips help your cousin <3
Holly Rose says
I have been lucky enough to only have one cold sore. I have friends that get them a lot and I will recommend this product!
Katie Marie says
Oh girl, yes, hope you don’t get it again either!
Shana saria says
I never ge cold sores, but this is a great post! It’s very informative and I’m going to pass this info on to those that do get cold stores.
Katie Marie says
I’m glad you found it useful and hopefully it will help those who do get it <3
Tamara Dungan says
I’ve never had a cold sore, but my husband and daughter get them and they’re awful. They’ve both always used Abreva, but it’s soooo expensive for a little tiny tube. I’m going to pick up some of this for them to try next time. Thanks for sharing your experience and tips!
Katie Marie says
Yes, Abreva is SO pricey and if you get them often you go through it quickly! Hope the tips and Herpecin L helps them <3
Kathryne says
From the medical side, my tip is to up your immune system by eating more vegetables and fruits. Get enough sleep, stress less. And if you are doing aesthetic procedures like fillers or laser near the mouth region, disclose to your doctor so you can be prescribed with prophylactic. Otherwise, you can use any topical like this one or another brand for mild case of cold sores post-aesthetic treatment (isolated sequel but it can happen),
Katie Marie says
Yes, I typically get a cold sore break out either after I’ve been sick or if I’m stressed. Ugh!
Kristi V BeginNails says
My mom gets them when she is stressed. Going to pass these golden nuggets of knowledge. (I can’t believe people ask you that question?!)
Katie Marie says
LOL! Yes, me either 😛 But I hope the tips help your mom!
MarciaF says
My mom would get cold sores. I wish this was a possibility when she was alive.
Katie Marie says
Aww, I’m so sorry <3
Jennie Harris says
I always use blistex pretty consistently when I need it. Stress triggers them so try to de stress a little bit – you can also get a prescription medication that will dramatically shorten the length of the outbreak.
Katie Marie says
Yes, stress is the biggest trigger for me! I just got one after Thanksgiving…and I was totally stressing out over it because I was hosting it for my husband’s side of the family, LOL!
Cheryl k says
Luckily I don’t get cold sores but I do get really dry lips and a rash on my skin when it’s not properly moisturized. I definitely agree with keeping your lips moisturized during this time. Thanks for the post.
Katie Marie says
Yes, it makes such a difference when I am constantly moisturizing my lips
Jen Walker says
Microbiology nerd checking in- there are actually at least 5 types of herpes virus, one including chicken pox which I know many in their late twenties and older already have!
As far as cold sores, I’ve actually not had them but it is good to know there are good treatments available for when people have to deal with them!
Katie Marie says
Oh really? Thanks for sharing — I totally did NOT know that! Too cool — it’s amazing what kind of viruses are out there, lol
Cosmetopia Digest says
I haven’t had a cold sore – it sounds super-annoying! Your lippie in that pic looks absolutely lovely; I need that shade!
Katie Marie says
Yes, so ANNOYING, lol
Ehmkay Nails says
I haven’t gotten a cold sore (knock on wood) but important info!
Katie Marie says
Yes, knock on that wood 🙂
Courtney B says
This looks like a great product. I haven’t had a cold sore before, but it’s useful knowledge for sure!
Katie Marie says
Thanks, glad you still found it helpful!
Laura Strickland says
I dont get cold sores but I still use Herpacin Lip Balm every day. Why you ask?
Its got a very nice sweet vanilla flavor/scent. Not medicated smelling at all.
It feels amazing on my lips. Creamy and soft. Not sticky or waxy.
Its not shiny.
It has SPF 30.
I dont even buy any other chapsticks. Ever.
Tasha says
My lips get SUPER dry. Especially during the fall/winter months. I’ll have to give this a try.
Katie Marie says
Hope it helps you!
Brooke says
Hi, Katie! This post is such a gift. I suffer from cold sores and the occasional ugly flare-up of shingles or a closely related virus that leaves my lips ouchy and quite yucky. I can’t wait to pick up a tube of Herpecin. I usually feel so alone and confused and frustrated when I have flare-ups, but thanks to you, I don’t think that will be the case anymore. Thank you for sharing! 🙂
Katie Marie says
No you are not alone! cold sores ARE so annoying and painful — I hope the tips help to lessen their frequency! <3
My Nail Polish Obsession says
I actually think the key is just to keep your lips moisturized (which also protects them from daily stressed) and then you won’t have to worry about breakouts.
Katie Marie says
keeping them well moisturized definitely helps! But stress will still cause them for me — I tried over Thanksgiving to keep my lips SUPER WELL moisturized because I KNEW I was stressed (lol) but I still ended up with a cold sore. Darn!
Angelina Hernandez says
I will definitely be giving this a try I use this other kind that I can’t seem to remember the name for the life of me at the moment but it’s so expensive ? Cold sores are no fun I tend to get them when the weather changes, thee worse makes me just want to stay in the house until it goes away. Than you girl for the info and awsome review I so far have loved each and every one of your reviews that I have came across.
Katie Marie says
I totally feel you — there were many times that I didn’t want to go to hang out with friends because of a cold sore break out. Not fun! Hope the tips are helpful! <3
Corlissa says
I suffer from Cold sores too! Ugh so embarrassing because like you I get asked “isn’t that an STD?” I use Herpecin too. I feel it adds more moisture to my lips than regular lip balms.