Many people have asked the question: “Can you pop a cold sore?” The answer is yes, however, should you pop a cold sore?
Talk to different people, and you’ll get different answers. I am of the opinion that one should typically avoid popping a cold sore.
In this article, I will provide you with 4 Major Reasons why you should not pop a cold sore.
After reading the info, if you still want to learn how to pop a cold sore, I will provide you with step-by-step instructions on this process.
After all, some people pop cold sores and have shortened the duration they have those unsightly things on their face for. So to each their own!
Different approaches work for different people.
I am a firm believer in that.
But before we dive deeper, let me first provide you with a brief overview on cold sores.
Cold Sores
Cold sores, also known as fever blisters, are groups of small blisters that form on or near the lips. Cold sores are a result of something called herpes simplex virus (HSV).
There are two types of HSV, and both can cause cold sores. HSV-1 typically is responsible for cold sores, and HSV-2 is most often the cause of genital herpes.
However, both types of HSV can cause cold sores or genital herpes.
After primary infection, the virus resides in the associated dorsal root ganglion where it lies dormant until an external stimuli (such as stress or immunosuppression) initiate reactivation of the virus from dormancy.
The virus lives on forever, and that’s why people continue to get cold sores over and over again.
Can You Pop A Cold Sore
Now that you know more about cold sores, let’s discuss why some people ask the question, “can you pop a cold sore.”
A cold sore goes through five phases:
- Tingling and itching occurs for approximately 24 hours.
- Fluid-filled blisters appear.
- The blisters burst, ooze, and form painful sores.
- Sores dry out and scab over, which causes itching.
- The cold sore scab falls off, thus healing the cold sore.
During Phase 2, when the blisters appear, or even in the prodome phase, is when people toy with the idea of popping their cold sore.
Some people actually pop their cold sore blister. The benefit of popping a cold sore at this blister phase is that you can dry it out and thus your lip doesn’t look as disgusting.
However, there can be significant consequences when you pop a cold sore.
Here are the 4 things that could happen when you pop a cold sore:
- Pain – Popping a cold sore HURTS! Oh just the thought of it makes me cringe.
- Spreading – Once you pop a cold sore, the virus can spread to other areas, as the ooze that comes out will be contagious.
- Unnatural Healing – Popping a cold sore doesn’t always speed up the healing process, and it may prolong the process.
- Scars – If you pop a cold sore, there’s a chance you could have a permanent scar.
Bottom line: Popping a cold sore is traumatic to your lip or any other area on your body you get a cold sore. I would never do it. However, some people do it all the time.
How To Pop A Cold Sore
Now that I’ve warned you about the possible consequences of popping a cold sore, if you still want to go through with it, I totally understand.
Here is the process:
- Use an antibacterial soap to thoroughly wash your hands.
- Unwrap a package of sterile gauze and place it on a counter or table, holding it carefully by the edges.
- Use a lighter to heat up the point of a needle until it glows red, then set the needle on the gauze.
- Clean your cold sore and gently pat dry.
- Stick the needle into the middle of your cold sore.
- Apply gauze to soak up the ooze.
- Apply 70% isopropyl rubbing alcohol or a combination of rubbing alcohol and salt.
Cleanup:
- Place needle onto a folded paper towel.
- Roll it up and tape it shut.
- Place it in the trash.
- Take out the trash.
- Wash your hands with antibacterial soap and warm water.
- Dry your hands with paper towels.
Note: As with all cold sore remedies, the earlier you use this method, the better results you’ll likely have. And by “better,” I mean shortening the time you have a cold sore by a day to a few days or longer.
*If you are not careful when the cold sore liquid is oozing, it could spread to another area, and thus you might get cold sore outbreaks there. This method is also painful. So if you have a low threshold for pain, I wouldn’t try it if I were you.
Should You Pop A Cold Sore? – Conclusion
Can you pop a cold sore? Oh ya baby…you can absolutely do it. Should you pop a cold sore?
That is entirely up to you.
It comes down to personal preference.
In my opinion, there are much better ways to treat cold sores.
However, I’ve read about people using this method and getting great results. People are different. You’ll have to decide for yourself whether or not you want to pop your cold sore.
The key to cold sores is to prevent them from forming in the first place.
Thus, I encourage you to check out my Ultimate Guide to Preventing Cold Sores.
It’s free and has absolutely everything you need to know.
When people ask me “can you pop a cold sore?” I always tell them about the risk/benefit analysis. There are two sides to every coin.
Manda says
What is the easiest way to heal cold sores, i never get the tingle feeling feel the bimp on my lip. I notice it when it has already formed a little like blister on my lip . Its very painful and normally a bunch a little ones nd one big one on my top lip . Please and help or advise is greatly helpful and appreciated thank you
Matt says
Hi Manda,
Different people have different things that benefit them. I’m going to post a link to an article that has the most popular things people use:
Cold Sore Remedies THAT WORK>>
Blake says
I’ve always got cold sores from a young age. Almost 30 now, I recently had a cold sore in the corner of my mouth. I left it alone and it’s taking it’s course, now a scab. However, I had another pop up, first feeling it come in yesterday. I started to apply abreva later that day after I could make it to the store. Applying it more today, it got to the point it was very painful, so much so that even the gentle touch of applying it was watering my eyes. This is rare but I had to pop it to achieve some relief. I agree with this article in general but I think if the sore is causing you pain(not discomfort) then you should pop it.
Matt says
Great feedback, Blake. Thank you for sharing your experience and wisdom here.
Jo says
Hi Matt. I wanted to know if blister on index finger that’s not ruptured, is it still contagious and can spread virus if I touch my eyes using the same finger? How do I avoid virus infection if I already touch it. Pls advise. Thanks
Matt says
I would wear gloves if I had a cold sore blister on my finger. Never had one there, but that’s the safest way to go about it.
Kris says
This is a great article and very helpful in making the choice to pop or not. Just a bit of info for your readers…cold sores often pop up because of an imbalance in your body of the two amino acids lysine and arginine. For whatever reason, when arginine is higher, it can trigger an outbreak. The faster you increase your lysine intake the quicker your cold sore will heal.
Matt says
Thanks for the feedback! Glad you the article helped you, and the first article I wrote on this website was about that topic. It explains that concept in detail. Here is a link to it for anyone to learn more:
How To Use Lysine For Cold Sores>>