When Do HIV Mouth Sores Appear?

Let’s not sugarcoat it — mouth sores can be one of the first signs something's off. If you’re asking “when do HIV mouth sores appear?”, you’re not alone. They can show up early, sometimes within the first few weeks after someone gets infected. But not always. That’s the tricky part.

Sometimes they come during the acute HIV phase (first 2 to 4 weeks), and sometimes they pop up later on if the immune system starts dropping. They don’t look the same on everyone, but they’re usually painful, red, sometimes white-ish — and they hang around longer than regular cold sores.

What Do HIV Mouth Sores Look Like?

We’ve seen folks search for HIV mouth sores pictures, which makes sense. You want to compare. They can look like:

🚨 Red, raw ulcers
🚨 White patches (especially if it’s thrush)
🚨 Cracks at the corners of the lips
🚨 Bleeding or swollen gums

But here's the thing — those could also be lupus mouth sores, or even mouth sores from chemo, depending on the situation. That’s why self-diagnosing based on pics isn't always helpful. Best to get checked if you’re unsure.

When Do They Usually Show Up?

Like we said — HIV mouth sores can come up 2–4 weeks after infection, during the acute phase. But also, they can show up later, especially when CD4 counts start dropping and the immune system weakens.

So if you’re noticing new mouth sores, especially if they’re not healing or feel different, don’t ignore it. It might not be HIV, but it could be a sign of something that needs attention, like lupus, covid, or even stress-related ulcers.

HIV Mouth Sores vs COVID-19 Mouth Sores

🔹 Now with all the chaos from recent years, covid mouth sores became a thing too. But they hit a little different.
🔹 Covid mouth sores are usually ulcers or small blisters
🔹 Often come with fever or dry mouth
🔹 Might show up along with loss of taste/smell
🔹 Usually go away in a few days

With HIV mouth sores, they usually last longer, may bleed, and sometimes they’re caused by fungal or viral infections your immune system isn’t fighting well.

What About Lupus or Chemo?

🔹 Yup, these cause sores too.
🔹 Lupus mouth sores are usually painless, white, and hang out on the roof of the mouth or cheeks.
🔹 Mouth sores from chemo are brutal — they’re often painful, red, and make eating hard.

So yeah, not all mouth sores mean HIV. But if you’ve got persistent, painful, or weird-looking ulcers, especially with other symptoms, don’t brush it off.

Mouth Sores in Dogs? That’s Another Story

Random but hey, we saw it pop up — dog mouth sores pictures isn’t the same lane, but if your pup’s got sores, it’s best to hit the vet. Dogs get mouth ulcers too but from different causes like dental infections or injuries.

How to Treat Mouth Sores (No Matter the Cause)

Whatever the cause, mouth wash for sores can help a bit. Look for one with:

✔️ Salt or baking soda
✔️ Hydrogen peroxide (some mild ones)
✔️ Aloe or soothing herbs
✔️ Avoid alcohol-based ones, they sting bad

If it doesn’t go away in a week or two, get it looked at. Especially if you’ve got a bunch of them or other symptoms showing up.

Final Word

So back to the main question —when do HIV mouth sores appear?

Usually early (2 to 4 weeks) or later on if the immune system is low. They’re often painful, stubborn, and can show up in different forms.

But they’re not the only kind out there. Could be lupus, covid, chemo, or even just plain stress. Whatever the reason, don’t ignore mouth sores that hang around. Get checked.

And if you need help or guidance, Sanford Pharmacy’s always around. Whether it’s meds, advice, or just peace of mind — we got you.