Cold sores: Can my lip balm reinfect me?

After cold sores go away, should I throw away any lip balms or lipsticks I've used recently? A friend told me the virus that causes cold sores can remain in these lip products and reinfect me if I use them again.

- Eleanor / Louisiana

Answer

No, it isn't necessary to throw away lip balms and lipsticks if you have cold sores.

Cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus. Most people are exposed to the herpes simplex virus in childhood. Once you've had an episode of cold sores, the virus lies dormant in the nerve cells in your skin and may emerge again as an active infection at or near the original site. Illness, fever, menstruation, stress and sun exposure may trigger recurrence.

Using lip balms or lipsticks doesn't trigger or worsen cold sores. Because you already have the virus, you can't reinfect yourself with your own lipstick or lip balm. However, if you have cold sores, you should avoid sharing personal lip products with others to prevent spreading the virus to someone else.

RELATED

• Cold sore