Get Prescription Medication and Cold Sores Treatment Online.

Cold sores typically last seven to 10 days without treatment, going through several stages from initial tingling to blistering, bursting, crusting, and finally healing. The timeline can vary depending on whether it's your first outbreak or a recurrent one. First outbreaks tend to be more severe and may last up to two weeks or longer. With antiviral treatment started early, cold sores can heal in as little as three to five days. The contagious period lasts from when you first feel tingling until the sore is completely healed and the scab has fallen off.

Yes, cold sores are always caused by the herpes simplex virus, usually type 1 (HSV-1), though occasionally type 2 (HSV-2) can cause them as well. Once you're infected with the virus, it stays in your body permanently in a dormant state and can reactivate periodically, causing cold sore outbreaks. Not everyone infected with HSV-1 develops visible cold sores. Some people carry the virus without ever having symptoms. Having cold sores means you have oral herpes, which is extremely common and affects a large portion of the adult population.

Yes, cold sores are highly contagious, especially when blisters are present. The virus spreads through direct contact with the sore, saliva, or the fluid from the blister, as well as through kissing or sharing items like utensils, lip balm, or towels. You can spread the virus even before the blister appears if you're experiencing tingling or burning, and you remain contagious until the sore is completely healed.

You can also spread the virus to other parts of your own body, particularly your eyes or genitals, by touching the sore and then another area, so hand washing is essential during an outbreak.

Online cold sore treatments typically involve a virtual consultation with a licensed healthcare provider. During the consultation, you can discuss your symptoms, provide your medical history, describe when you first noticed symptoms, and share photos of the affected area to help your provider confirm the diagnosis.

You'll then receive a personalized treatment plan based on your needs, with antiviral medication recommendations and any necessary prescriptions. Your healthcare provider may also discuss trigger avoidance and preventive strategies to help reduce the frequency of future outbreaks.

It's important to be open and honest during your consultation to help your healthcare provider determine the best treatment approach. Be sure to provide your doctor with detailed information, such as:

• Your symptoms and when you first noticed them
• Whether this is your first outbreak or if you've had cold sores before
• How frequently you get outbreaks and any triggers you've identified
• Underlying health conditions, current medications, or any allergies

The more information you can provide, the better your doctor can assess your situation, prescribe the most effective treatment, and help you develop a plan to manage future outbreaks.

LifeMD offers online cold sore treatments and can provide you with the prescriptions you need. You can have these sent to your local pharmacy, where your medication will be prepared for pick-up.

When it comes to treating cold sores, antiviral medications work best when started at the first sign of an outbreak, ideally during the tingling stage before blisters appear. If started early, you may notice that the cold sore is less severe, heals faster, and causes less pain.

Most people see improvement within 24 to 48 hours of starting treatment, with complete healing typically occurring within three to five days instead of the usual seven to 10 days without medication. For suppressive therapy taken daily to prevent outbreaks, it may take a few weeks to notice a reduction in outbreak frequency.