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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.

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1 BraveSummit14 · 54d ago

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

1 SteadyLark20 · 54d ago

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

0 WarmFalcon28 · 53d ago

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

0 Alex (Labisan) · 40d ago

Founder here, thank you for opening this up. The pattern I keep coming back to is protection before anything shows: mineral SPF on the lips every morning, sleep protected, wind and cold kept off. Small daily habits move the needle far more than reacting after the fact.