No, don't pop, squeeze, or pick a cold sore. NHS inform says not to touch a cold sore at all except to dab on cream, and that cold sores are at their most contagious when the blisters burst. The virus can then spread to other people and to other parts of your own body, including your fingers and eyes. Leave it alone, keep your hands clean, and it will usually clear up on its own in 7 to 10 days.
Why shouldn't you pop a cold sore?
A cold sore is a cluster of small, fluid-filled blisters caused by the herpes simplex virus, usually HSV-1. NHS inform says cold sores are at their most contagious when they burst, and they stay contagious until they have completely healed.
None of the health services we checked suggest popping a cold sore. Their advice is to leave it alone. Popping it puts fluid from the sore on your fingertips and the skin around it at the stage when it spreads most easily.
- It spreads to other people. Anything your fingers touch next, like a cup, towel, phone, or another person, can pick up the virus.
- It spreads to other parts of you. MedlinePlus lists spread of the virus to other skin areas as a complication of oral herpes.
- It opens the skin. MedlinePlus lists a bacterial skin infection as a possible complication of oral herpes.
Can a popped cold sore spread to your fingers or eyes?
Yes, both are possible. NHS inform lists them as complications of cold sores.
Fingers: herpetic whitlow is a painful herpes infection of the finger, usually on the fingertip. NHS inform lists it as a complication of cold sores, and the NHS says you're more likely to get it if you've had cold sores. It causes swelling, pain, and blisters on the finger, and sometimes a high temperature. Don't squeeze it or try to drain it, and don't touch your eyes with that finger. Keep it clean and covered, and see a doctor early: the NHS says antiviral tablets may be prescribed if you're seen within 48 hours of symptoms starting.
Eyes: herpes can infect the eye, including the cornea, the clear dome over the colored part of the eye. The CDC says severe infections can cause scarring of the cornea or blindness, and MedlinePlus calls herpes eye infection a leading cause of blindness in the United States. The CDC's advice is simple: wash your hands well before touching your eyes, especially when you have a cold sore.
Does popping or picking a cold sore cause scarring?
The scarring the sources warn about most clearly is in the eye. Herpes that reaches the cornea can scar it and affect your sight, which is the main reason to keep cold sore fluid off your fingers and away from your eyes.
On the lip, a cold sore normally blisters, breaks open and weeps, crusts over, and then heals to pink skin. Picking at the blister or the scab breaks open skin that is healing, and MedlinePlus lists a bacterial skin infection as a possible complication. Leave the crust alone and let it come off on its own.
What should you do instead of popping it?
Most cold sores clear on their own. NHS inform says within 7 to 10 days, and MedlinePlus says 1 to 2 weeks. These steps ease the discomfort and help stop the virus spreading:
- Start antiviral cream early. A pharmacist can suggest an antiviral cream. NHS inform says to use it as soon as you feel the early tingle, since it does not always work once blisters appear. MedlinePlus notes these creams often shorten an outbreak by only a few hours to a day. Dab it on, don't rub it in, and wash your hands before and after.
- Try a cold sore patch. Pharmacy patches protect the skin while it heals.
- Clean it gently. MedlinePlus suggests washing the blisters gently with antiseptic soap and water, which helps stop the virus spreading to other areas. Ice wrapped in a washcloth, or a warm washcloth, can ease pain. Use your own towel and wash it after each use.
- Treat the pain. Acetaminophen (paracetamol) or ibuprofen can ease pain and swelling. Don't give aspirin to children under 16.
- Go easy on food. Cool, soft foods help. Skip acidic or salty food if it makes the sore sting.
- Ask about tablets if needed. NHS inform says a GP may prescribe antiviral tablets if cold sores are very large, painful, and keep coming back. Our AI doctor can help you figure out whether that is worth asking about.
When should you get care?
In an emergency, call 911Remove contact lenses and call your eye doctor right away if you have eye pain, redness, blurred vision, light sensitivity, or watery discharge while you have a cold sore. The CDC says severe herpes eye infections can scar the cornea.
See a doctor soon if a finger becomes swollen and painful with blisters, especially if you also have a fever. Antiviral tablets may be prescribed if you're seen within 48 hours.
Get urgent care the same day if you have eczema and it becomes blistered, crusty, or painful, suddenly gets worse or spreads, or you have a fever or feel unwell. The NHS says this can be a more serious condition called eczema herpeticum.
Contact a doctor if the sore has not started to heal within 10 days, is very large or painful, is near your eye, or you have a weakened immune system, for example from chemotherapy, diabetes, or HIV.
For a baby who may have been exposed: call a doctor straight away if they are irritable, not feeding well, have a temperature of 100.4 F (38 C) or more, or have sores on the skin, eyes, or mouth.
Call 911 if a baby is floppy, very low on energy, hard to wake, breathing fast or with difficulty, has a seizure, has a blue tongue or skin, or has a rash that does not fade when you press a glass on it.
How our AI doctor decides when to send you to care ›What if you already popped it?
Don't panic. NHS inform says cold sores are usually mild and complications are rare. Take these steps now to lower the chance of spreading it:
- Wash your hands with soap and water right away, and any other skin that touched the fluid.
- Keep your hands away from your eyes. If you wear contact lenses, wash your hands well before you handle them.
- Clean the sore gently with soap and water, then leave it alone. Don't squeeze out more fluid.
- Don't share cups, utensils, towels, or other things that touch your mouth, and don't kiss anyone or have oral sex until the sore has completely healed.
- Stay away from babies. The NHS warns that kissing a baby when you have a cold sore can pass on the virus and cause neonatal herpes, which can be very serious for a young baby.
- Watch your fingers and eyes over the next days for the signs in the section below.
Common questions
Can I pop a cold sore?
No. NHS inform says not to touch a cold sore except to dab on cream, and that cold sores are most contagious when they burst. Popping it puts the virus on your fingers, where it can spread to other people, your eyes, or other skin. Leave it alone and it usually clears up in 7 to 10 days.
Will popping a cold sore make it heal faster?
No source we found says popping speeds healing. A cold sore runs its course: it blisters, breaks open, crusts over, and heals. NHS inform says antiviral cream started at the first tingle can speed up healing, though MedlinePlus says it often shortens an outbreak by only a few hours to a day.
Is the clear fluid in a cold sore contagious?
Yes. Cold sores stay contagious until they have completely healed, and NHS inform says they are most contagious when they burst. MedlinePlus says touching an open sore is one way the virus spreads. Wash your hands with soap and water any time you touch it.
Should I pick off the cold sore scab?
No. The scab is part of normal healing, and the sore stays contagious until it has completely healed. Picking reopens the skin and can let bacteria in. Let the crust come off on its own.
I touched my cold sore and then my eye. What now?
Wash your hands and face with soap and water and keep your hands away from your eyes. Watch for eye pain, redness, blurred vision, light sensitivity, or watery discharge. If any of those start, the CDC says to remove contact lenses and call your eye doctor right away.
Do I need to stay home from work or school if my cold sore popped?
Usually not. NHS inform says there is no need to miss work or school for a cold sore. Avoid kissing, sharing cups or towels, and close contact with babies until it has completely healed.
Pymander is not a replacement for a physician and does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions about a medical condition. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call 911.