Cold Sores Versus Pimples: Which One Do You Have & How To Get Rid Of Them Both

Picture this: You look into the mirror and find a gnarly bump on the corner of your lip. You might panic-grab for your trusty spot treatment, but wait—is it truly a lip pimple, or could it be a cold sore? A valid concern, as they can look pretty similar upon first glance yet require completely different treatments. Here, we consulted dermatologists to finally get to the bottom of the cold sore versus pimple debate, plus how to tell which one you have and how to get rid of them both. 

It's important to note that some people can be contagious even without an active outbreak, a condition known as "asymptomatic viral shedding," says board-certified dermatologist Hadley King, M.D. That's not meant to scare you from kissing or sharing gloss ever again (after all, you may already have the dormant virus yourself), but an important word of caution nonetheless. 

Unfortunately, everyone faces pimples, and they can happen anywhere on your body you have hair follicles (aka, everywhere except the palms of your hands and bottoms of your feet). Which, as it turns out, includes the lip area. While pimples can also crop up due to stress, sun, and trauma, they aren't caused by a viral infection, like cold sores.

Cold sores can also come with flu-like symptoms (some to note are headaches, achiness, fever, and swollen lymph nodes, especially along the neck) as well as what's known as a prodrome—a tingling or burning sensation on the skin before any actual lesions appear. People who experience cold sores may recognize this pain and treat the virus before any lesions even arise (more on that later). On the other hand, "pimples do not have this sensation, as they do not involve the nerves under the skin," says Patel. While zits themselves can become rather sore (ever had a cystic pimple that's painful to the touch?), it's the burning sensation before that's a tell-all sign. 

In terms of topicals, zinc oxide and essential oils have shown effective: One study showed that patients who applied a zinc-oxide-based cream experienced less severe symptoms3, even shaving one and half days off their healing time. It makes sense, as zinc oxide has a rather soothing effect on the skin. Another study found that applying lemon balm essential oil to lesions can help reduce the size of blisters2 and allow patients to heal faster. Without any sort of treatment, topical or oral, the flare-up should heal on its own in about one to two weeks, says King. 

Now, onto the topicals. For lip pimples in particular, retinoids, salicylic acid, and benzoyl peroxide can be super helpful: Gabriel recommends using benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid in the morning and retinol at night to reduce inflammation fast. Also be sure you're not using any comedogenic makeup products, as those could be causing that buildup around the lip area.  

Pimples and cold sores may have their similarities—they can be painful, there's no "cure" for either, and both can greatly affect your self-esteem. But in terms of treatment, they require totally different plans of action; that's why it's important to distinguish which flare you really have. Of course, if you're still not sold, it's always best to consult your dermatologist—especially if you notice it spreading or not going away. All in all, pimples and cold sores don't have to be so scary; with the right treatments, you'll boast clear skin in no time.