Lip Care

Hydrate Your Lips with Balm

Throughout the day, your lips lose moisture due to evaporation. Over time, this can lead to dryness and chapping. Lip balm reduces the risk of these problems by replenishing lost moisture and creating a seal over the lips that reduces the amount of hydration that evaporates.

When you shop for lip balm at Walgreens, you can choose from a wide range of forms, from sticks to tubes to spheres. Many lip balms are flavored, making them a delicious treat to you. You can also find tinted balms that leave behind a touch of attractive color while conditioning and moisturizing your lips.

Address Lip Care Concerns

When your lips become very dry or chapped, conventional lip balm may not be enough to address the problem. For severe dryness, cracking and inflammation, you can reach for lip care treatments formulated for your specific concern. These products contain ingredients that go beyond the lightweight hydration offered by balms.

Some provide more intensive moisturization benefits to quench the thirst of parched lips. Others contain ingredients that reduce inflammation to ease swelling, stinging and pain. If you're not sure which lip treatment is best for your needs, talk to your doctor about your concerns before exploring the selection found here at Walgreens.

What is a Cold Sore?

Cold sores are painful blister-like sores that generally develop on or around the lips due to a virus called herpes simplex (HSV).

Cold Sore Symptoms

Cold sores are often filled with fluid. They are also often red in appearance. They can cause pain and discomfort including burning and itching.

What Causes Cold Sores?

Cold sores are mostly caused by the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), but in some cases, they can be caused by another type of herpes simplex virus called herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2). HSV-1 is a very common virus that tends to cause sores on or around the mouth. HSV-2 usually causes genital herpes, and can result in sores around the genital area.

Once you have contracted the virus, outbreaks of cold sores may reoccur over time. Common triggers of outbreaks can include fever, stress, sun exposure, menstruation, a weak immune system and illnesses.

How Long do Cold Sores Last?

Cold sores typically clear up on their own within 7 to 10 days. Antiviral medications may help speed healing and shorten the duration of symptoms, and pain medications may help ease discomfort. Most people need treatment the first time they have cold sores, but you may not need treatment if you've had cold sores before or if your symptoms aren't severe.

Are Cold Sores Herpes?

Cold sores are typically caused by the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). A closely related herpes simplex virus, HSV-2, is the usual cause of genital herpes. However, in some cases, HSV-1 can cause blisters in the genital region, and HSV-2 can cause symptoms around the mouth area.

Are Cold Sores Contagious?

Yes, cold sores are contagious. The HSV-1 virus can spread to others through close contact, such as kissing, sharing utensils, or sharing other personal items with a person who has the virus.

Canker Sore vs Cold Sore

A canker sore is not the same thing as a cold sore.

• While a cold sore is caused by a virus, it isn't known what causes a canker sore.
• A cold sore is a blister that usually forms on or around the outside of the mouth. A canker sore is a type of ulcer that forms inside of the mouth and on the tongue.
• While it's not completely clear what the exact cause of a canker sore is, some experts believe that certain individuals can be more susceptible due to mouth irritation or injury, vitamin deficiencies, hormonal changes during menstruation, stress and helicobacter bacteria that is also responsible for peptic ulcers. They may also be triggered by an allergic reaction to bacteria in your mouth, certain food sensitivities and toothpaste or mouth washes that contain sodium lauryl sulfate.

How to Prevent Cold Sores

Avoiding close personal contact with a person who is infected with HSV can help keep you from getting cold sores. If you've already had cold sores, antiviral medicines many help prevent outbreaks if you are prone to them. Eating a balanced diet, getting enough sleep and exercise, keeping stress in check and protecting your skin from the sun may also reduce the risk of outbreaks.

How to Get Rid of Cold Sores

While there is no cure for HSV, it is possible to address cold sore outbreaks with medication. Cold sores usually clear up on their own within 7 to 10 days.

How to Treat Cold Sores

Cold sore remedies that contain the over-the-counter medication docosanol 10% are approved by the FDA to treat the symptoms of cold sores and to help outbreaks heal more quickly. It's important to know that this medication won't cure or keep HSV from spreading to others during close personal contact. Other products are also available to soothe the pain associated with cold sores.

Your doctor can help you decide which type of over-the-counter cold sore products are the best fit for your needs.

Discover Natural and Organic Lip Care Options

If you're striving to lead a greener life or are sensitive to certain synthetic ingredients, natural and organic lip care products may be ideal for you. In natural lip care formulas, commonly used chemicals are replaced with ingredients derived from nature like minerals, herbal essential oils and plant oils and butters.

Organic lip treatments take natural care one step further. These products have been assessed by an independent certifying body like the U.S. Department of Agriculture and are found to be in line with strict standards for eco-friendliness.

Each organic-certifying organization and agency establishes its own requirements, but typically, products must be made primarily out of natural ingredients grown without the use of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers to qualify. At Walgreens, we offer natural and organic alternatives for a wide range of lip care products.