Cold Sore vs Canker Sore Understanding the Difference Everyday Health MenuNewslettersSearch Cold Sores Cold Sore vs Canker Sore Understanding the Difference By Valencia HigueraMedically Reviewed by Kacy Church, MDReviewed: August 11, 2022Medically ReviewedCanker sores show up inside the mouth, whereas cold sores appear on the outside of the lip or around the mouth.iStock; ShutterstockDistinguishing a cold sore from a canker sore isn’t always easy. Both types of sores affect the mouth area, and they sometimes mimic each other in appearance. But a cold sore isn’t the same as a canker sore. These sores differ with regard to causes, locations, symptoms, and transmission. Can’t tell them apart? Here are a few tips to help you make the distinction. How the Symptoms and Appearance Differ Between Cold Sores and Canker Sores Canker sores, also known as aphthous ulcers, are mouth ulcers that look like a shallow disc and are often oval or round. These lesions can be whitish, grayish, or yellowish, and they are usually less than 1 millimeter in diameter. (1) A canker sore can develop as a single sore, or you may have clusters of tiny sores. These sores can be painful, making it difficult to eat, talk, and brush your teeth. But the pain usually improves after a couple of days. (2)More on How Cold Sores Look Is It a Cold Sore a Canker Sore or Something Else A cold sore, also known as a fever blister, causes clusters of tiny fluid-filled blisters. You may notice itching or tingling one to two days before the blisters appear. These sores can cause skin redness and pain, and they eventually rupture and ooze before a scab forms. (3) During a first cold sore outbreak, additional symptoms may include a fever, swollen glands, sore throat, headache, and muscle aches. (3) Location Matters When Figuring Out if It s a Cold Sore or a Canker Sore The location of these lesions is another way to determine a cold sore from a canker sore. Canker sores develop on the mucous membranes inside the mouth. Therefore, you’re more likely to find these sores on the skin inside the cheeks and lips, on your soft palate, and on your tongue. (1) Cold sores, on the other hand, don’t usually appear inside the mouth, although this is possible when you are first exposed to the virus. (3) Instead, cold sores often develop on or around the lips. They can also form on other parts of the body, such as the cheeks and around the nose. The virus sometimes infects people’s eyes. (3) Most Recent in Skin and Beauty The Four Best At-Home STD Tests of 2022 People Are Flocking to a Hotline With Their Miscarriage and Abortion Questions 8 Myths About Medication Abortion and Abortion Pills Why Are U S Maternal Death Risks So High for Latinx Women The Cause of a Cold Sore Isn t the Same as the Cause of a Canker SoreCold sores are most commonly caused by the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). This is a common virus — more than 50 percent of Americans ages 14 to 49 carry it. Many people get the virus as a child after being kissed by someone who is infected. (4) Some infected people never develop a cold sore because the virus can lie dormant in the body for years. Certain factors can reawaken the virus and spark a cold sore: (4)Exposure to strong sunlightStressTirednessA fever or infectionsHormonal changesHSV-1 and HSV type 2 (HSV-2) are viruses that can cause cold sores, as well as genital herpes. You can get HSV-2 cold sores if you engage in oral sex with someone who has genital herpes, but this isn’t the only way to spread these types of cold sores. A person with HSV-2 cold sores can infect another person with HSV-2 cold sores through kissing, too. (3) Likewise, HSV-2 can also be transmitted from a mother’s genital tract to her newborn infant, says Allison Arthur, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Orlando, Florida. More on Genital Herpes How to Treat Genital HerpesCanker sores, on the other hand, aren’t caused by the herpes virus. The exact cause of canker sores is unknown. But it’s believed that certain factors can increase your risk. Some people get a canker sore after eating citrus fruits or acidic foods, whereas others develop sores because of a nutritional deficiency (in, for example, vitamin B12, folic acid, or iron). (2) Other factors that can trigger a canker sore include smoking, stress, and an injury inside the mouth. (2) How Cold Sores Are Spread Is Different From Canker Sore Transmission Another difference is how these lesions spread. Cold sores are contagious. They don’t spread from person to person only through kissing but also through sharing eating utensils, drinks, and personal items. (3) It’s important that you don’t kiss or share food or drinks with someone who has an active cold sore. You should also wash your hands after touching a cold sore. This prevents spreading a cold sore to others, as well as spreading the virus to other parts of your body. (5) Cold sores are most contagious when blisters rupture. But you can still pass the virus to others until the sore is completely healed. (6) A canker sore, on the other hand, isn’t contagious and doesn’t spread from person to person. (1) Editor s Picks in Skin and Beauty What Bit Me Spot These 11 Bug Bites 7 Eczema Myths Debunked What Causes Canker Sores and How to Prevent Them How to Identify the Best Rosacea Treatment for You A Final Word on How Cold Sores Are Different From Canker SoresEven though these sores differ, they do share some similarities. It usually takes between one and three weeks for cold sores and canker sores to heal, and they often go away on their own without treatment. (1,3) Some people also deal with recurrent cold sores and canker sores. For a recurrent cold sore, ask your doctor about suppression therapy with a daily antiviral to reduce the frequency of outbreaks. You should also see a doctor for repeated canker sores. This can be a sign of an autoimmune disease or a vitamin deficiency. NEWSLETTERS Sign up for our Sexual Health Newsletter SubscribeBy subscribing you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Editorial Sources and Fact-Checking Canker Sores. Cleveland Clinic. June 9, 2022.Canker Sore: Symptoms and Causes. Mayo Clinic. April 3, 2018.Cold Sore: Symptoms and Causes. Mayo Clinic. June 17, 2020.Cold Sores: Who Gets and Causes. American Academy of Dermatology.Cold Sores (HSV-1). Nemours KidsHealth. February 2019.Cold Sore. NHS Inform. April 2, 2021.Additional SourcesCold Sores: Overview. American Academy of Dermatology.Show Less The Latest in Cold Sores Cold Sores Causes and PreventionBy Valencia HigueraAugust 18, 2022 10 Frequently Asked Questions About Cold SoresGot questions about cold sores? 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