A cold sore usually passes through several stages. The five stages of a cold sore are:
- Prodrome: This is the initial stage, characterized by a tingling or itching sensation in the affected area. This stage can last for several hours or up to a day.
- Papule: In this stage, a small red bump or cluster of bumps appear on the skin. This stage can last for a day or two.
- Vesicle: The vesicle stage is characterized by the formation of fluid-filled blisters. These blisters may be very small or quite large and can be painful. This stage usually lasts for two to four days.
- Crust: The blisters will begin to dry and crust over during this stage. This can happen within a few days of the blisters appearing.
- Healing: The crust will begin to flake off and the sore will begin to heal. This stage usually lasts for about a week.
It’s worth noting that not everyone will experience all of these stages and some people may experience different symptoms and different duration of each stage.