It’s easy to forget when you’re in a rush, but how you apply your medication matters just as much as the medication itself. Many of us make the mistake of using our bare fingertips to rub in creams or gels.
Hygiene is the first step. Even if you wash your hands, you risk spreading the virus to other parts of your body or contaminating the medicine tube.
Instead, adjust your routine by using disposable tools. Cotton swabs are your best friend here. It keeps the environment sterile and ensures you aren’t accidentally making the outbreak last longer.
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I’m so guilty of this. I just dab it on with my index finger and go about my day.
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Swabs are a total game changer. I started keeping a small box of them right next to my ointment in the bathroom cabinet so I don’t have an excuse to be lazy.
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Does this actually make a noticeable difference in the healing time though? I’ve always just used my hands and then washed them really well after.
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In my experience, yeah. When I used my fingers, I’d sometimes get a second little spot popping up right next to the original one. Since switching to Q-tips, that hasn’t happened.
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Just make sure you don’t ‘double dip’ the swab back into the jar if you use those types of balms. Use one side, flip it, then throw it away.
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I actually use those little silicone spatulas you can get for makeup. I just boil them for a few minutes after the outbreak clears to keep them clean.
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Great advice. I also think people forget to wash their hands after applying, even if they used a swab. It’s so easy to accidentally touch the area later.
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I’ve been doing this for years and never really thought about it. Explains why my outbreaks always seem to ‘travel’ across my lip line.
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I switched to a spray-on relief recently specifically to avoid touching it altogether. It’s been a lot less stressful.
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Is it okay to use a tissue if I run out of Q-tips? Or is that too messy?
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@NewbieH Tissues can be a bit abrasive or leave lint behind on the scab. Better than fingers, but maybe just grab a cheap pack of swabs next time you’re out!
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The contamination of the tube is the part that scares me. If you touch the tip of the tube directly to the sore, you’re basically putting the virus back onto the applicator for next time.
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I learned this the hard way after getting a cold sore on my finger. Herpetic whitlow is no joke and it hurt way more than the one on my mouth.
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This sub is so helpful. I’m newly diagnosed and little tips like this help lower the anxiety about accidentally making things worse.
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Another thing is to make sure you’re discarding the used swabs in a closed bin immediately so pets or kids don’t accidentally get to them.
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