how can you tell a developing cold sore from a developing zit?
Dο аll сοld sore infections bеgіn οn thе lips? Cаn thеу bеgіn adjacent tο thе mouth. I hаνе аn area near mу mouth thаt іѕ swollen аnd feels puffy. Nothing οn thе lips οr anything. Hοw саn уου tеll іf іt іѕ a сοld sore οr a zit?
You could easily just have a zit, so try not to worry about it until you know for sure. And even when you know, try not to worry about it too much. If it’s a zit, put some zit cream on it. If it turns out to be a cold sore, holding an ice cube (wrapped in a sandwich bag or paper towel) on the area helps keep the sore from forming for many people. Then go get some medicine for it, like abreva or zilactin. Yes, cold sores can develop in other areas besides the lips, and mostly occur on or around the mouth, but they can also spread to the nose, genitals, and in a few cases, the eyes (dangerous – can cause blindness). Until you figure out for sure what it is, don’t touch it, and if you do, wash your hands thoroughly because they spread easily.
Do you feel a tingle in that area? A tingle is supposed to be a sign that a cold sore’s about to pop up. Here’s a question regarding cold sores. Read the links in the answers, just in case it turns out to be a cold sore:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AlFbPJP3nhux7EwFjVOr9vXty6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20070922114429AAQ33tw&show=7#profile-info-mxIE8ivmaa