Cold Sore vs. Acne

One morning, you wake up and find your lips are tingling, swollen and sensitive to the touch. Within a day, a pimple forms on or at the edge of the lips. Is this a cold sore or acne? Most likely, it’s a cold sore.

Different from Acne

The tell-tale signs are the tingling and the area where the cold sore is forming. Cold sores occur on the lips because herpes simplex, the virus that causes cold sores, lives within the nerves of the lips. It stays there dormant until the immune system lowers its defenses. This may happen due to illness, premenstruation, sun exposure, stress or injury. Then the virus awakens, travels to the surface, and starts multiplying. Tingling is the first sign that the virus is on the move. It fills up clear blisters on or next to the lips with replicas of itself. Another difference between acne and a cold sore is that this clear fluid-filled cold sore blister will usually have others alongside it. All of them will scab over in a few days. It is important not to try to remove the scab, or to burst the blisters, before they heal.

Herpes simplex is a very contagious virus during an outbreak. The fluid or the scab can transfer the virus to another person, or to your eyes or genital area. Cold sores on your fingers, nostrils, and chin are not unheard of. Within your mouth, if herpes simplex occurs, it is not the same as a canker sore. Canker sors form in soft areas, like the inside of the cheeks. Cold sores within the mouth form on the hard surfaces, such as the gums or roof of the palate. Herpes simplex can also travel to the esophagus and form lesions within. When you have a cold sore, it is important to
• wash your hands after touching your lips
• not share lipsticks or other lip cosmetics
• not share utensils, cups, napkins, or towels
• not kiss anyone, while you have a cold sore

Furthermore, while having a cold sore, you should avoid contact with a person who has a weak immune system such as an HIV/AIDs sufferer, any infants, or anyone with actopic dermatitis.

Antivirals will help reduce the length of the cold sore outbreak, but there is no cure for herpes simplex as of this writing. Antibacterials will have no effect on curing cold sores, and could make other infections (such as candida) even worse. Antibacterials are good for acne pimples.

Similar with Acne

Taking care of yourself will help both acne and cold sores. A good sunscreen should be used, even during winter months. You should NOT try to pop either a cold sore or an acne pimple. Remove makeup before sleeping and be careful with what else you put on your face. Overall body health translates to good immunity AND clear skin. So keep up with a regular exercise routine, and eat healthy high-glycemic foods.

How to Stop Squeezing Acne

It’s a big day for you, and you’re busy getting ready. Finally you spot yourself in the mirror. Wait, where did that big zit come from? The timing couldn’t be worse!

Or maybe you have a recurring problem with acne. It just seems quicker to squeeze the acne rather than wait for it to go away.

In either case, you will often be told to stop squeezing the acne. Harmful effects include more irritation, and that the acne bacteria will spread and ultimately will cause more acne, not less. Squeezing acne is also unhygenic, unsightly and pretty painful until the primary plug of sebum and dead skin comes out.

Learning about other ways to deal with the renegade zit is how to stop squeezing acne. Here are six things to do instead of squeezing or popping the pimple…

1. Apply an ice pack for 10 minute periods of time with a 5 minute break in between. Make a mini-ice pack by freezing water in a small container beforehand. Keeping an ice pack in the freezer will keep you prepared in case of acne 911.
2. Wash well with your favorite gentle soap.
3. Then apply benzoyl peroxide, at least 5 to 10 percent, to the offending pimple. Wash after it dries.
4. Then apply honey to the pimple. Leave on for as long as possible, then wash again.
5. Or you can put triple antibiotic cream from the drugstore on the acne lesion. Any antibiotic cream can be used in a pinch.
6. Use concealer. Sometimes this has an effect on the pimple too, later on. Perhaps it cuts off the airflow to the bacteria that are involved, or it encourages exfoliation of the live skin cells that are forming a living “pot lid” on the top of the comedone.

These simple steps should get you on your way. When you come home, you can apply the steps of your normal acne care routine. This should include cleaning off of all makeup and debris with a gentle cleanser, applying benzoyl peroxide for 10 minutes, then applying a good, non oily moisturizer.

Outside of your daily routine, things you might do on a weekly basis include steaming your face under a towel, and applying a facial mask with any of a number of good natural products. A doctor can also prescribe medicine, which you should not forget to incorporate in your routine. Some medications and treatments need to be applied for a long time before they show an effect. They may also cause acne to worsen before it gets better.

A good diet will help reduce breakouts like this. A study recently was published in scientific circles that should that the old myth about diet not affecting acne is just that, a myth. Slowly the evidence is growing that a low glycemic diet will lead to more acne while a high glycemic (low in sugar) diet will lead to less acne.

So eating well, exercising and taking care of your skin are ultimately the best ways to stop squeezing acne pustules, whiteheads and blackheads.