Cold sore care for children and adults at Urgent Care Center of Westmont in Westmont, IL. We check the sore, talk through treatment options and explain how to ease pain and avoid spreading it. Walk-ins welcome.
Cold sores are small, painful blisters on or around the lips. They are caused by the herpes simplex virus, usually type 1 (HSV-1). Most heal on their own in about 10 days, but treatment can help, especially when it starts at the first tingle. At Urgent Care Center of Westmont in Westmont, IL, also known as Immediate Care Center of Westmont, you can walk in to have a cold sore checked and get advice on relief.
Our team, led by board-certified physicians, can confirm whether a sore looks like a cold sore or something else, talk about treatment options, and explain how to protect the people around you while it heals.
Key facts
A broad-spectrum lip balm with SPF 30 or higher, reapplied every 2 hours outdoors, can help prevent sun-triggered cold sores (AAD).
Throw away lip balm, toothbrushes and makeup that touched a cold sore, and wash towels and pillowcases.
Tell your dentist or cosmetic provider about cold sores before work around the mouth, as the AAD advises.
If you get frequent outbreaks, a clinician can talk with you about a plan to manage them.
What a cold sore is and common symptoms
MedlinePlus reports that most people in the United States are infected with HSV-1 by age 20. After the first infection, the virus stays in the body and can flare up again. Common triggers include fever, stress, sun exposure and menstrual periods.
How a cold sore usually progresses
Tingling, itching or burning on the lip or skin around the mouth
Small, fluid-filled blisters, often within about 48 hours
Blisters that break open, leak and form a scab
Healing, usually within one to two weeks
A first outbreak can also bring a sore throat, fever or swollen, painful gums. The NHS notes that a cold sore is contagious from the first tingle until it has fully healed.
How we evaluate and treat cold sores at our Westmont, IL clinic
The provider will look at the sore, ask when it started and whether you get them often, and check for signs of infection or other skin problems. Most cold sores are recognized on sight.
According to MedlinePlus, antiviral medicines are most helpful when they are started at the first warning signs. Your provider will tell you whether they fit your situation. Home care that can help includes:
Cool compresses or ice on the sore
Over-the-counter pain relievers, used as directed
Avoiding salty or acidic foods that sting
A lip balm with SPF 15 or higher when outdoors
Drinking plenty of fluids
How to avoid spreading it
Do not touch or pick the sore, and wash your hands after applying cream
Avoid kissing and oral sex until it has fully healed
Do not share towels, razors, lip balm or utensils
Never kiss a baby while you have a cold sore
When to seek emergency or prompt care
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See a provider soon if a sore has not improved after 10 days, if sores are very large or painful, if they keep coming back, or if you have a weakened immune system. Sores near the eye need prompt care, because herpes can affect the eye.
Go to the nearest emergency room if a newborn or young baby has blisters or seems unwell, or if a person cannot drink enough to stay hydrated. Call 911 for trouble breathing, chest pain, stroke signs or severe bleeding.
Related care and nearby communities
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Other skin and virus-related services at our clinic:
Walk-ins are welcome at both of our locations: the main clinic at 29 N Cass Ave, Ste A, Westmont, IL 60559, and our second location inside Jewel-Osco at 4 E Ogden Ave, Westmont, IL 60559. Both are open Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 6 PM, and Saturday and Sunday, 9 AM to 5 PM. Call (630) 324-6825, or check in online before you arrive.
We accept most major plans, including Blue Cross Blue Shield (PPO), BCBS Advocate Good Samaritan (HMO), Cigna, Humana, UnitedHealthcare, Medicare, Meridian and CountyCare. Coverage varies, so please call to confirm your plan. Read more on our cost and insurance page.
No insurance? Self-pay patients get flat, upfront pricing, with a general visit from $125. Ask about the price of any tests before they are done. See self-pay urgent care pricing.
What happens at your visit
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Look at the soreYour clinician checks the sore and the skin around it, and looks for signs of a bacterial infection or a different problem.
Ask about your patternExpect questions about how often you get cold sores, what seems to trigger them and whether anyone at home is a baby or has a weak immune system.
Talk through treatmentOptions depend on how early you came in and how often you get outbreaks. They may include prescription antiviral medicine when appropriate.
Prevention planYou leave with practical steps to protect others and lower the chance of the next outbreak.
Walk in to our Westmont, IL clinic or check in online, ideally at the first tingle.
Cold sore or something else?
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Sores around the mouth
Sore
Where
Clues
Cold sore
On or at the edge of the lips, sometimes the nose or chin
Tingling first, then a cluster of small blisters that crust
Canker sore
Inside the mouth: cheeks, gums or tongue
Round white or yellow sore with a red rim; not contagious
Impetigo
Around the nose and mouth, often in children
Honey-colored crusts that spread; caused by bacteria. See impetigo treatment
Angular cheilitis
Corners of the mouth
Cracked, sore skin without blisters
Pimple
Anywhere on the face
A single bump with a white head, no blister cluster
Young children often catch HSV-1 from a kiss or a shared cup or spoon. Once a child has a cold sore, keep them from sharing drinks, utensils and toys that go in the mouth, and wash their hands often.
If the mouth is sore, offer cool drinks and soft, bland foods. A painful mouth can make a small child drink less, so keep an eye on how much they take in. Our pediatric urgent care team sees children of all ages.
Preventing your next cold sore
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The American Academy of Dermatology recommends these steps:
Use a broad-spectrum lip balm with SPF 30 or higher. Reapply every 2 hours outdoors and after eating, swimming or sweating.
Keep a simple log of what happened before each outbreak, such as dry lips, poor sleep or time in the sun.
Keep lips moist and protect them from cold and hot weather.
Replace lip balm, toothbrushes and lip makeup that touched a sore.
Tell your dentist before dental work or lip procedures.
Get enough sleep and manage stress where you can.
If outbreaks keep coming back despite these steps, ask a clinician whether a treatment plan for frequent outbreaks fits you. Our article on what triggers cold sores explains more.
Yes. The NHS says a cold sore can spread from the first tingle until it has completely healed. Kissing and sharing items like towels or lip balm are common ways it spreads.
How long does a cold sore last?
Most cold sores heal within one to two weeks. See a provider if a sore lasts longer than that or keeps coming back.
Should I come in right away?
Earlier is better. MedlinePlus notes that antiviral treatment is most helpful when it starts at the first signs, such as tingling or burning.
Is a cold sore the same as a canker sore?
No. Cold sores are caused by a virus and usually appear on or around the lips. Canker sores form inside the mouth and are not caused by the herpes virus. A provider can tell the difference.
Should I pop a cold sore?
No. The fluid in the blisters carries the virus, so popping or picking spreads it and can lead to infection or a scar. Let the sore crust on its own, keep your hands away from it, and wash your hands after touching your lips or applying cream.
Can I go to work or school with a cold sore?
Usually yes, as long as you take steps not to spread it. Don't share cups, utensils, towels or lip products, avoid kissing, and wash your hands often. Young children who touch the sore or drool a lot may need extra care around other kids, so check your school's or daycare's rules.
Can a cold sore spread to other parts of my body?
Yes. Touching a sore and then your eyes or other skin can move the virus. Wash your hands after touching your lips, and avoid rubbing your eyes while a sore is active. A sore near the eye needs prompt care.
Does Vaseline help cold sores?
Keeping lips moist can ease cracking and discomfort while the sore heals, and the AAD lists moist lips as part of prevention. Use a clean finger or cotton swab and don't share the jar. Read more in does Vaseline help cold sores.
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