When do cold sores need urgent or in-person medical care?

Herpes can affect the eye and threaten vision. Get urgent medical care for eye pain, redness, light sensitivity, blurred vision, or blisters close to the eye. Do not put cold sore creams in your eye or use leftover eye drops. An online visit should not delay an urgent eye exam.

Seek prompt in-person care for widespread blisters, severe pain, fever with worsening symptoms, or trouble drinking enough fluids. People with a weakened immune system need extra caution. If you have eczema and develop spreading, painful blisters with fever, get urgent care. Newborns exposed to an active cold sore also need prompt advice from their clinician.

Arrange a medical review if a sore has not healed within about two weeks, keeps returning very often, or looks different from past outbreaks. Increasing redness, warmth, swelling, or pus can signal another infection. A first episode may also need an exam or testing. A licensed physician in your state can assess whether telehealth is appropriate, but some symptoms require hands-on care.