Cold sores always seem to show up at the worst time. Maybe it’s right before an upcoming event or when you’re already feeling run down. Whether they pop up around your lips, nose and cheeks, or inside your mouth, they can be painful and hard to get rid of.
Help is just a few clicks away. Whether it’s your first cold sore or you’ve had them before, an e-visit is a quick, convenient way to get answers and treatment, often in as little as two hours.
Make a primary care appointment if your child is under 18 years old and has a cold sore.
If you have a cold sore, it can be a good idea to start an e-visit right away. Some treatments are most effective when started within three days of the first symptoms. But if it’s been longer, that’s okay too. We’ll offer guidance and treatments to help speed up healing and manage discomfort.
Cold sores typically start with tingling or itching on the lip, then progress to small fluid filled blisters that burst, ooze and scab over. If this is your first cold sore, you may also have other symptoms, including a fever, sore throat, headache, swollen lymph nodes and sore gums.
Cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). They typically spread through direct contact or through sharing things like beverages, utensils or lip balm. Cold sores are contagious from when they first appear until they go away. They are especially contagious if the cold sore bursts.
Once you have the virus, it stays in your body, but it usually isn’t active. For many people it rarely causes issues, but some people may have recurring cold sores. When cold sores do reappear, they tend to show up in the same place, so you’ll usually know what’s happening right away and be able to start treatment sooner.
HSV-1 and cold sores tend to be triggered when you’re overly tired, feeling stressed, experiencing hormonal shifts or if you spend too much time in the sun.
Prescription antivirals (such as acyclovir and valacyclovir) usually provide the quickest recovery from a cold sore. These medicines can make your symptoms less severe, shorten how long they last, and lower your risk of spreading it to others. However, these medicines work best when taken within three days of your first symptoms – which is why it’s best to start an e-visit right away.
Your customized treatment plan may include topical or oral antiviral medicines. We’ll also provide guidance on other products that can help, tips to manage discomfort and advice on how to prevent transmission to others. If a prescription is needed, it’ll be sent directly to the pharmacy of your choice.
E-visits are often the easiest and most affordable way to get trusted care for cold sores. And if you’ve been treated for a cold sore before, an e-visit can be a great way to get a new prescription.
To start an e-visit, sign into your online account or create a new account. We’ll guide you through questions about symptoms, medications, allergies and insurance. We’ll also explain how to easily upload photos to support your diagnosis. From start to finish, submitting an e-visit usually takes about 10 minutes.
Once you submit your e-visit, one of our experienced nurse practitioners reviews your answers, determines a diagnosis and creates a treatment plan. As soon as they’re done, you’ll get an email letting you know it’s ready. We typically deliver treatment plans in as little as two hours.
We review e-visits 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays and 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends and holidays. If you submit an e-visit outside these hours, your treatment plan will arrive the following morning.
E-visits are usually covered by insurance. Depending on your plan, the cost may be as low as $0 with insurance. Without insurance, the cost can be up to $89, but never more. Whether you use insurance or not, there are never any hidden fees or extra costs.
We’re able to treat most cold sore symptoms with an e-visit. But if we can’t treat you, we’ll connect you with another care option, and you won’t be charged for the e-visit.