Everyone experiences cold sores at some point in their life but if you're like most people, the experience is less than pleasant. Fortunately, there are many things you can do to shorten the duration and/or the severity of the outbreak. There are also steps you can take to ensure the sores don't pop back up. Keep reading to learn what those steps are.
One way how to conceal cold sores is to avoid touching them. This includes picking at them or trying to peel off the pimple. The reason this is important is that picking at the pimple can make it spread, and leave the area raw and exposed to further infection. Instead, use your fingers to clear away any excess skin oils. If you must pick at the pimple, make sure you wash your hands well to avoid spreading the bacteria around. Prescription topical ointments are an effective method to accelerate the healing process by minimizing the amount of time you'll have to hide the pimple.
If you must wear make-up, be sure to cleanse it properly after applying. A good cleanser for make-up will remove any excess oils and dry out the area to promote healing. In addition, if you've been using the make-up for an extended period of time, be sure to supplement it with a moisturizer.
If you find yourself picking at or attempting to pop a sore, try not to touch your lips. Cold sores are extremely sensitive to your skin and by touching them, you may spread the bacteria around. Also, if you do want to pop the pimple, apply oil-based cosmetics to the area before actually popping the pimple. Make sure that your lips are completely clean before you attempt to open your mouth. Your lips will naturally produce a discharge containing skin oils, and any oils that you introduce into your mouth could spread around to the cold sore, causing a new outbreak.
How to conceal a cold sore isn't much different from how to conceal almost any other pimple. The same goes for applying make-up, moisturizing, etc. The key to successful concealment is to keep your make-up on for as long as possible, and to cleanse off any excess moisturizer before bedtime. After a day or so of activity (NO pudding, cookies, etc), apply your concealer to any area of your face where you're noticing a new outbreak.
If you're a woman who suffers from these unsightly blisters, you know how difficult it can be to feel confident in public. And while a certain amount of self-confidence goes along with being a woman, you'll need all the help you can get when trying to conceal cold sores. While there's no need to hide your condition forever, there are plenty of ways to shorten the recovery time and increase your confidence. Once you learn how to conceal cold sores, you'll never have to worry about whether or not you look your best.