Cold sore outbreak- Is this scarring? Should I be treating this? (Photo)

Question

I had the bubonic plague, AKA the new super flu. Never in my life did I have a cold sore eruption like this. I did not take anything for it, and I did not pick or touch. I treated with Sara Vey and Aquaphor ointment around the clock. It took about two weeks for my lips to.to finally heal, and while I see no visible crossing on my lips, I am still seeing the outline of where everyone was.

Anna Chacon, MD, FAAD · Answer

Thank you for sharing your photo and details. From what I can see, it looks like your recent cold sore outbreak has healed on the surface, and the faint outlines you’re noticing are likely post-inflammatory changes rather than true scarring. It’s very common for the skin in that area to retain a temporary darker or lighter pigmentation after a cold sore, especially after a first or unusually severe outbreak. These marks usually fade gradually over weeks to months.

Since you didn’t pick or irritate the lesions, and there’s no open sores now, there’s no urgent treatment needed. You can continue to support healing with:

Gentle moisturizing (like Aquaphor or plain petroleum jelly) to keep the skin barrier intact.

Sun protection on your lips and surrounding skin, since UV exposure can slow pigment normalization.

Optional light topical brightening agents later, if the outlines persist and bother you cosmetically.

If you notice persistent discoloration beyond a few months, or if new bumps appear, it’s worth re-evaluating. Otherwise, this is part of the normal healing process after a strong cold sore outbreak.

Cold sore outbreak- Is this scarring? Should I be treating this? (Photo)

Answers (1)

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