If you suffer from cold sores, you are not alone. About two thirds of people under the age of 50 years are infected with herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), the virus responsible for cold sores[1]. In Europe, it corresponds to a little bit more than 200 million women (69%) and 187 million men (61%). Herpes infection is mostly asymptomatic but can cause mild symptoms or painful blisters. Cold sores cannot only be irritating but also embarrassing with social, and emotional impact. In extreme cases, it may lead to social isolation. But don’t forget – you’re not alone.

Cold sores, also called herpes or fever blisters, are groups of small, fluid-filled blisters. The blisters are most often gathered in patches on the lip and around the mouth. Before an outbreak, you often feel a tingling sensation or stinging pain. Then the blisters appear, and they usually burst, ooze, crust over and disappear after several days to two weeks. If you don’t treat your cold sore, it usually lasts 7-10 days, but can remain for up to two weeks. Although there is no cure for cold sores, you can control the pain, the severity of the outbreak and you can help speed up the healing process.

Cold sores or fever blisters are a result of an inflammatory reaction following an infection by the herpes simplex virus 1 or its reactivation. Cold sores cannot be avoided all the time, but treating it before it develops into a larger sore is a good way to limit frustration, discomfort and the feeling of isolation.

Blisters are the worst. They can pop up at any time and make every step you take a miserable experience. And while they may be little, they have the power to seriously disrupt your work, fitness, holiday or special event. Read on for our low-down on how to avoid blisters.

The most common type of foot blister for most people is the friction blister. They are those pesky pockets of fluid that form on your foot in the upper layers of skin after too much stress and friction with your shoes. They are formed as the top layer of skin tears away from the tissues below, plasma-like fluid leaks from the cells and begins to fill the gap, cushioning the tissue from further damage.

Blisters often heal on their own without treatment. New skin will form underneath the affected area and the fluid is simply reabsorbed. The fluid-filled blister keeps the underlying skin clean, which prevents infection and promotes healing. Applying a cold or ice pack may temporarily help reduce swelling and discomfort. However, blisters can often be very painful so treating with a specialist blister plaster like COMPEED®, can help because the cushioning relieves the pressure which reduces the pain.

Corns are hardened bumps or rough patches of skin on your feet, that are sensitive to touch or cause pain. Corns are one of the most common foot ailments [1]. They are the result of increased production of keratin as your body’s protective response to prolonged or repeated friction or pressure. That’s why corns usually appear on typical pressure spots and why certain people are more prone to developing them than others.

Nothing can clear up a cold sore overnight but there are a few things you can do to shorten the duration of a cold sore outbreak and to speed up the healing process.

Cold sores are small blisters that usually appear on or around the lips and mouth. In most cases, the blisters will break, creating a scab that eventually falls off. Cold sores are the most contagious when they rupture. However, they are actually contagious from the time you first feel any symptoms around your mouth, like tingling or itching, until they are completely healed.