How do cold sores affect dark skin?

Cold sores look like small blisters filled with clear liquid if you have dark skin. This liquid leaks out over time, making the sores crust over. This crust falls off on its own after a while.

People with light skin might see more redness around cold sores than people with darker skin, but otherwise, cold sores look about the same on all skin tones.

People with dark skin may be more likely to have post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation after their cold sores most heal , though most cold sores go away without leaving any mark.

Read on to find out more about cold sores on dark skin, such as what they are, how they look, and what treatments are available for them.

What are cold sores?

Cold sores are small blisters that tend to be fluid and usually appear on the sides of the mouth. Most of the time, they happen because of the herpes simplex virus type 1. (HSV-1). Less often, they can be caused by genital herpes, which is caused by the herpes simplex virus type 2.

Most people get HSV-1 by kissing or kissing someone who already has it. When someone gets the virus, it stays in their body for the rest of their lives. About 67% of people under 50 have HSV-1, but most of the time, the virus doesn’t show any signs.

If the virus gets into the nerve cells near the lips, it can cause cold sores in some people. These sores could come back if the virus becomes active again, which can happen for a number of reasons from time to time.

What do cold sores look like on dark skin?

Cold sores look the same on all kinds of skin. But they might not be as red on dark skin as they are on light skin.
When cold sores are in the blister stage, they look white or clear because they are full of fluid. When cold sores break, fluid leaks out, and as they heal, they crust or scab over.

Cold sores don’t always show up in the mouth. They are caused by a virus that can spread to other parts of the body if the person who has them doesn’t wash their hands after scratching or touching the sore.

People with eczema and other long-term skin problems may notice that cold sores hurt more of the skin. If this happens, they should go to the hospital right away. If a cold sore starts to form near the eye, a person must go to the doctor immediately.

Cold sore symptoms and stages

The symptoms of HSV-1 and the cold sores it causes can be different depending on whether a person has a new HSV-1 infection or an old infection that has come back.

New viral infection

Most new HSV-1 infections happen when people are children. These infections may not cause any symptoms, but if they do, a person may have many painful sores on their tongue, gums, lips, or throat. Some of these sores may feel like they are on fire.

These are some other possible signs:

• swollen lymph nodes (glands)
• pain when swallowing
• bad breath
• a sore throat
• a headache
• nausea
• a fever
• general aches

These symptoms could last from 1–2 weeks. After the first infection, the body usually starts to make antibodies that control the virus.

Reactivation of an old infection

When HSV-1 comes back, the symptoms are usually not as bad as they were the first time. Most of the time, the sores are on one side of the mouth. As they appear, burst, and heal, they go through several stages:

• Warning signs: At this stage, the area where the cold sore is about to appear may burn, itch, sting, or feel numb. Most of the time, this happens 1–2 days before the sore shows up.
• The cold sore then shows up on the lips or in the area around the mouth. Sores can sometimes show up in other places. At this point, you shouldn’t touch cold sores and do not pick or pop them or pop them.
• Crusting: The sores break open and leak the fluid inside them after 48 hours. As they heal, this makes a crust.
• Healing: For most people, a cold sore heals completely in 5–15 days. If it takes longer than this, or if the person has a condition that affects their immune system, they may need treatment.

Treatment

At the moment, there is no way to get rid of the virus that causes cold sores, but treatment can ease the pain and make them heal faster.

Sometimes, getting treatment early can also prevent cold sores from coming back after the first signs.
Some options for treatment are:

• Topical antiviral creams or patches with acyclovir or penciclovir.
• Topical painkillers like lidocaine.
• Antiviral drugs like acyclovir, famciclovir, and valacyclovir.

People should try to take antiviral medicines as soon as the first signs of a virus show up for the best results. People can also do things that make cold sores less irritating until they heal, such as:

• putting a cold pack on the area for 5–10 minutes a few times a day.
• avoiding acidic, salty, and spicy foods for a short time.
• Using a lip balm with SPF 30 or more and a little petroleum jelly to protect chapped or dry skin

After touching a cold sore, people should remember to wash their hands with soap and water. Also, they should use clean towels and washcloths to apply ice and wash them after each use.

Hyperpigmentation and scarring

Even though cold sores do not usually leave any lasting marks, they can sometimes cause hyperpigmentation or scarring, especially if the sores are scratched, picked at, or popped.

Darker skin is more likely to get hyperpigmentation because it has more melanocytes, the cells that make melanin. When the top layer of skin is hurt, it can cause the skin to make more melanin to heal the wound. The skin gets darker because of this.

Hyperpigmentation may go away over time, but it can be worse and last longer in people with dark skin. If you have hyperpigmentation, you should talk to a dermatologist before trying any treatments to get rid of the dark spots.

Some common treatments for hyperpigmentation can make the skin even more itchy and may cause more cold sores to appear. Some, like tretinoin, can make the skin more sensitive to UV light, which can also cause cold sores.

Prevention

It’s not always possible to stop cold sores from coming back, but there are some things that can make the virus that causes them come back.

Some of These triggers are:

• exposure to UV light
• stress
• tiredness
• a viral illness, such as a cold
• a cut or injury near the mouth
• certain cosmetic procedures, such as laser treatments
• hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle

Using an SPF-containing lip balm every day can protect the skin from UV light. People should also try to avoid getting other viral infections and lessen their stress if they can.

What else can cause cold sore symptoms?

There are a few other skin problems that can look like cold sores.

Among these conditions are:

• acne around the mouth
• warts
• canker sores
• milia, which are small white cysts that can occur around the lips
• contact dermatitis, which is an itchy rash that occurs due to an allergen or irritant
• skin cancer

Talking to a doctor is important to confirm an HSV-1 diagnosis and rule out other possibilities. A person should also see a doctor if their cold sores are bad, hurt a lot, or have spread to other parts of their body.

Summary

Cold sores on dark skin look like small, fluid-filled blisters. They may ooze or form a crust on top of the skin that stays there until it falls off.

Cold sores may look less red on dark skin than they do on light skin.

Most cold sores heal on their own and don’t leave scars or cause other problems. Cold sores can heal faster with creams or patches you can buy over-the-counter. For sores that keep coming back or are very bad, a doctor can also prescribe medicine.