What Are the Signs & Symptoms of a Cold Sore Ending?

Cold sores result from various strains of the highly-contagious Herpes Simplex Virus 1 (HSV1). Some 90 percent of Americans are exposed to it at some point in life, according to Dentist.net. HSV1 is related to the virus that causes genital herpes (HSV2), but is not the same. Only 40 percent ever develop cold sore symptoms, which include painful lesions on the lips and mouth that can frequently ooze discharge, but the condition heals itself in about 14 days.

Loss of Pain

• The pain of cold sores can actually start several days before their appearance. The Mayo Clinic refers to this as the prodrome, a general Latin-derived term from the word "precursor," that describes the early symptoms of an oncoming condition. Sores normally last up to two weeks, if there is no deficiency in the immune system, and the sore does not get aggravated. Once the pain starts to fade, the sore is likely starting to heal and should dissipate within seven days.

Yellow Crusting

• Cold sores appear as round blisters that can seep discharge. As the sore begins to dry out and heal, the discharge will form a yellow crust around the rim of the blister as the fluid interacts with the air and begins to dry out. The yellow crust is an indication the sore should soon be falling off, with healed skin underneath. Through this process, the sore can frequently start itching severely.

Pink Skin Underneath

• The final symptom of a healing cold sore is the presence of pink skin once the blister falls off. The pink patch is newly-formed skin that grew underneath the sore and severed the sore's damaged skin from the body. Some residual swelling can occur around this time as well. The appearance of pink skin is indicative the sore has ended and should heal without a scar under normal conditions.