How to Identify a Herpes Cold Sore vs. Pimple — Expert Advice
- 4 years ago
If you see a white bump on or near your lip, you might wonder: Is this a zit, or a cold sore?
According to Allure Magazine, pimples and herpes simplex virus cold sores can look startlingly similar, especially when one first appears.
To determine what it is, consider if it burned or tingled before it even appeared. That's a signal of a cold sore, before it travels up the nerve root to the skin.
Cold sores also appear in tiny clusters, whereas pimples never do.
Also, pimples can only appear where oil glands are present. Since there are no oil glands on the lips, it's impossible to have a pimple there.
Cold sores are contagious, acne is not. Still, 60 million Americans have acne, and 50 to 80% carry the herpes simplex virus.
So if you have cold sores, or acne, or both, just know that you are not alone!
According to Allure Magazine, pimples and herpes simplex virus cold sores can look startlingly similar, especially when one first appears.
To determine what it is, consider if it burned or tingled before it even appeared. That's a signal of a cold sore, before it travels up the nerve root to the skin.
Cold sores also appear in tiny clusters, whereas pimples never do.
Also, pimples can only appear where oil glands are present. Since there are no oil glands on the lips, it's impossible to have a pimple there.
Cold sores are contagious, acne is not. Still, 60 million Americans have acne, and 50 to 80% carry the herpes simplex virus.
So if you have cold sores, or acne, or both, just know that you are not alone!