How To Hide A Cold Sore

For those of us who get these awful and highly embarrassing aberrations, we know all too well what that waking up to that tingly feeling on our lip entails. And it always happens at the worst possible time. Before a meeting or even worse a job interview. Maybe it's a first date or that kissing contest you had been looking forward to attending. But in reality there is no great time for a cold sore, as it can be every bit as painful as it is hideous, and when you get that dreadful feeling, you know that the next 7-10 days are going to suck.

So what can you do? There are medications available, but they’re usually expensive and rarely work. You can get a prescription from your doctor if you are serious about dealing with them, but few of us think ahead to do so. So as you hunker down and wait it out for the ghastly blister thing to heal, here are a few ways to try to hide your temporary disfigurement. We’ll start with the reasonable and take it downhill as we go:

Suck in your lip – Makes conversation difficult and you look rather strange, but you have to do what you have to do.

Wear a band aid on your lip – I’ve tried this one and although everyone knows what you’re hiding, you still feel better about it. Have an extra one handy if you’re a messy eater like me.

Walk with your head down, everywhere – Don’t look up, just nod and waive in passing. Weirdo.

Walk around with a soda – Raising it to your lips every time you pass someone. Tiresome but it works.

Wear a dust mask – Allergies and all. A surgeons mask will work, but there may be a few more questions involved.

Wear a bag over your head – Be sure to cut the eye holes out

Wear Duct Tape over your mouth – This will do a fantastic job of hiding your blemish, hurts a little when removing.

Wear a bandanna – Like a cowboy. Not sure what your dress code is at work, and I wouldn't suggest heading to the bank for that line of credit today.

Wear a rubber mask – Obama or Mitt? Or go old school....It's an election year!

Color the affected area with a sharpie marker – Oh this? It’s just a mole!

Spread peanut butter over the sore – Not sure of the healing effect this will have on your blister, but it will conceal the area. And you will smell peanut butter all day long, it’s a win win! Allergic? Maybe the swelling will help.

Burn your lips with a crack pipe – You don’t actually need to smoke the crack, but heat up the glass pipe and hold it to your lips in an effort to burn your lips, this should help take people’s eyes off of that cold sore.

Some of these suggestions will work better than others, it depends on the situation. As someone who has dealt with these things since I was a child, I find what works best is to just grin and bare it until it passes. And no double dipping!

When I get a cold sore, I put Carmex on it, because Carmex is supposed to alleviate cold sores. I don't know if it does help, but it will make them more shiny and noticeable.

-Mitch Hedberg