Cold sore or chapped lips, how do you tell the difference?
Sometimes I cannot tell if it is a cold sore starting or just chapped lips. A cold sore usually tingles first then blisters in one spot, chapped lips are more all over and dry. How do you tell the difference early?
If in doubt I protect it either way, dry lips can trigger a flare anyway.
The tingle in one specific spot is my tell for a cold sore.
Chapped lips for me are dry all over, a cold sore is localised.
Alex from Labisan here. You are not alone with this, it is far more common than people admit. The most reproducible lever for most of us is UV, so a daily mineral SPF lip balm plus steady sleep is where I would start. Log what you notice and the pattern usually shows itself.