Symptoms
Symptoms of Cold Sore Outbreaks
Cold sore outbreaks can be caused by a variety of triggers including:
- emotional and physical stress,
- colds or other upper respiratory tract infections,
- hormone changes (i.e. menstruation),
- sun or wind exposure without protection
- local trauma or injury to the skin around the lips (i.e. dry cracked lips, cosmetic surgery, chemical peels, or laser therapy).
In advance of a cold sore break out, sufferers often report fatigue, redness, tingling or burning sensation, and/or itching or pain around their lips or mouth. This is known as the prodromal stage, which is followed by the blister stage (where inflammation and the eruption of the blisters occur).
