Nasal Cold Sore: What is it and how can you treat it?

Although there’s no cure, you can manage the symptoms.

Cold sores on the nose are caused by the simplex virus (HSV).

There are two types:

After the first infection, you might not notice any symptoms. The virus stays in the facial nerves, often around the lips or nose, where redness and blisters can later appear. It’s common to get cold sores on your nose as well as your mouth.

When the virus is dormant, you won’t have symptoms — but certain triggers can reactivate it and bring it back to the skin’s surface. These include:

Outbreak frequency varies from person to person — some people rarely get flare-ups, while others experience them several times a year.

Although cold sores on the nose are less common than those on the lips, the symptoms are very similar. The virus multiplies at the ends of certain facial nerves and damages the skin, causing typical symptoms. But what do cold sores on the nose actually look like?

Cold sore on the nose stages:

While nasal cold sores can’t be cured, flare-ups often stay away for months or even years. If they do return, you can ease the pain and support healing by protecting the blisters and keeping the area comfortable.

Cold sores on your nose can be frustrating and hard to ignore. Cold sore patches help protect the area and promote healing. If the inside of your nose is affected or you're unsure what to use, check with your doctor for the best treatment. In the meantime, avoid regular creams or makeup, as they can irritate the skin and slow healing.

Talk to a doctor if:

Compeed® cold sore patches have been tested on patients with cold sores — however, there is no evidence that they are harmful for treating cold sores. It's best to let your doctor decide whether the patches are appropriate for you.

Cold sore on the nose are usually harmless. They may feel uncomfortable and irritating, but in most cases, they’ll clear up without causing any serious problems.

In rare cases, the virus can travel along the nerves and reach the brain, causing encephalitis (brain inflammation). People with conditions like atopic dermatitis are slightly more at risk, as the virus can spread more easily through the body.

However, it’s important to know that these complications are very uncommon, especially in otherwise healthy individuals. If you’re concerned about your symptoms or feel unsure about what to do next, it’s best to speak to a healthcare professional.

Nasal cold sores are most contagious in the early stages. The fluid inside cold sore blisters carries a high amount of the virus, so it can spread even through brief contact.

Just like with cold sores on your lips, it’s important to wash your hands regularly and avoid touching the affected area to stop the virus from spreading to others — or to other parts of your own face.

Once the blisters start to crust over, the risk of spreading the virus goes down. However, it’s still possible to pass it on until the outbreak has completely healed.

Using a cold sore patch can help speed up recovery and lower the risk of spreading the virus, since it creates a protective barrier over the sore.

Around 70% of all adults in the UK carry the cold sores at some point in their lives. If you’ve never had cold sores, be especially careful. Here you’ll find all the information you need about how cold sores on the nose are transmitted and how you can protect yourself.

Kissing spreads the cold sore virus, especially during an outbreak. If your partner has a cold sore, wait until it’s healed. Even with a patch, avoid kissing, as it doesn’t fully block the virus. Patience helps prevent future outbreaks.

You should also avoid sharing certain items with people who have cold sores. These include forks when eating together, glasses, cups, and towels.

If you're dealing with cold sores on the nose, make sure to wash your hands thoroughly after using any patches or creams. To avoid direct contact with the blisters, try applying cream with a cotton swab instead. It's also a good idea to avoid shaking hands with others until the blisters have fully healed.

Wash your hands thoroughly after applying patches or creams. Using cotton swabs can help avoid direct contact with the blisters. Also, limit hand contact with others until the blisters have fully healed.

Outbreaks tend to be more severe and frequent for people with weakened immune systems since the virus spreads more easily.

To help reduce the risk of flare-ups, consider incorporating these steps into your routine:

Also, try to identify triggers for a cold sores outbreak to help prevent future outbreaks.

Avoid using home remedies to treat cold sores on or in the nose. Some sources recommend using remedies such as honey, toothpaste, tea tree oil, aloe vera, or lemon balm for the cold sore. However, their effectiveness has not yet been proven.

For cold sore treatment, some home remedies for cold sores can help relieve symptoms without irritating the skin. However, avoid using toothpaste, as it often contains menthol, which can make things worse. This goes for all areas, including the nose.

When it comes to mucous membranes (like inside your nose), common home remedies can cause irritation and make things more uncomfortable. Since nasal skin is especially sensitive, it’s best to stick to treatments like patches or creams recommended by your doctor.

Cold sores on the nose can spread to other parts of your face. Once the virus enters your body, it remains there for life, lying dormant in the nerves until something triggers it. When reactivated, it travels along the nerves and causes new outbreaks, often around the lips or nose.

The fluid in the blisters is highly contagious, which means the virus can also spread to other areas. If you wear contact lenses, it’s especially important to wash your hands thoroughly before touching your eyes. This helps lower the risk of transferring the virus from your nose or lips to your eyes.

To help reduce the chance of spreading or reactivating the virus, antiviral treatments may be recommended. These come as creams or tablets and are most effective when used early. A healthcare professional can help you decide what’s right for you.

While cold sores on the nose are usually harmless, they are uncomfortable, painful, and spread quickly. So, if you develop a cold sore, make sure you protect yourself and others by washing your hands regularly and avoiding kissing and sharing certain objects. You can also always consult your doctor for advice.