‹ Community
7

How long does a cold sore last without treatment?

If you just leave a cold sore alone, how long does it take to heal? Mine tend to run around 8 to 12 days from tingle to gone. Curious what is normal and whether prevention shortens the whole cycle over time.

Community support, not medical advice. For a clinical read, use the Clinic.
Sign in to comment
1 BraveSummit14 · 5d ago

Around ten days for me untreated, faster if I catch it early.

1 SteadyLark20 · 5d ago

Do not pick it, that always drags mine out longer.

0 WarmFalcon28 · 4d ago

Fewer outbreaks overall since I started prevention, that is the real win.