---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I get a cold sore, I put Carmex on…"
description: "\"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 mor..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9e/mitch-hedberg-695_alleviate_when-i-get-a-cold-sore-i-put-carmex-on-i_1766545.jpg"
---

#  When I get a cold sore, I put Carmex on it, because Carmex…

![“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. It's like cold-sore-highlighter. Maybe they could come up with an arrow that heals cold sores.” quote by Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9e/mitch-hedberg-695_alleviate_when-i-get-a-cold-sore-i-put-carmex-on-i_1766545.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9e/mitch-hedberg-695_alleviate_when-i-get-a-cold-sore-i-put-carmex-on-i_1766545.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9e/mitch-hedberg-695_alleviate_when-i-get-a-cold-sore-i-put-carmex-on-i_1766545.jpg)

> “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. It's like cold-sore-highlighter. Maybe they could come up with an arrow that heals cold sores.”

[Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Uses humor to highlight the absurdity of treating a painful sore like a fashion accessory.

**In simple terms:** Treating a cold sore as a shiny accessory.

Key Takeaway

Question the logic of cosmetic fixes.

Themes

humor absurdity health beauty standards

Mood

witty satirical

Type

health consumer

When to use this quote

- medical treatment
- personal grooming
- advertising
- product design

Key Concepts

pain management consumer products self‑image

Questions to Reflect On

- Why do we sometimes prioritize appearance over comfort?
- What better solutions exist for cold sores?

A Different Perspective

May trivialize genuine health concerns.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Alleviate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alleviate/) [Arrows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arrows/) [Carmex Supposed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/carmex-supposed-1739907/) [Cold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cold/) [Cold Sore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cold-sore-1739908/) [Cold Sores](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cold-sores-1739910/) [Come up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/come-up/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Heal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heal/) [Helping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/helping/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Makeup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/makeup/) [Sore Carmex](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sore-carmex-1739906/) [Sore Highlighter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sore-highlighter-1739909/)

## Related quotes

> [Lita on the other hand, she's rated NC-17, which means No Cold sores in 17 days.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cena/lita-on-the-other-hand-she-s-rated-nc-17-which-means-no-cold-sores-in/)

[John Cena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cena/)

> [Stan: What makes you think you're gonna survive? Roger: My species is immune to all human ailments. Stan: So explain that cold sore. Roger:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/american-dad/stan-what-makes-you-think-you-re-gonna-survive-roger-my-species-is/)

[American Dad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/american-dad/)

> [Los Angeles is the home of the three little white lies: "The Ferrari is paid for," "The mortgage is assumable," and "It's just a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-berle/los-angeles-is-the-home-of-the-three-little-white-lies-the-ferrari-is/)

[Milton Berle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-berle/)

> [He wanted to hear her concerns and alleviate them, he wanted to hold her and kiss her and convince her that he would find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/he-wanted-to-hear-her-concerns-and-alleviate-them-he-wanted-to-hold/)

[Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/)

> [I advise nobody to drown sorrow in cocoa. It is bad for the figure and it does not alleviate the sorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winifred-holtby/i-advise-nobody-to-drown-sorrow-in-cocoa-it-is-bad-for-the-figure-and/)

[Winifred Holtby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winifred-holtby/)

> [We can choose to alleviate suffering. We can choose to work together for peace. We can make these changes - and we must.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/we-can-choose-to-alleviate-suffering-we-can-choose-to-work-together/)

[Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/)

> [I think raising wages, investing in infrastructure, making sure that people have access to good educations that equip them for the jobs of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-think-raising-wages-investing-in-infrastructure-making-sure-that/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [ The next most dangerous thing \[after nuclear proliferation\] is probably... global warming, and then, right behind that are overpopulation -- we need to get… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-turner/the-next-most-dangerous-thing-after-nuclear-proliferation-is-probably/)

[Ted Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-turner/)

> [In all things preserve integrity; and the consciousness of your own uprightness will alleviate the toil of business, soften the hardness of ill-success and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babe-paley/in-all-things-preserve-integrity-and-the-consciousness-of-your-own/)

[Babe Paley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babe-paley/)

> [We are at the point in time and terror where nothing short of a strong uniform policy of domestic disarmament will alleviate the danger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-v-murphy/we-are-at-the-point-in-time-and-terror-where-nothing-short-of-a/)

[Patrick V. Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-v-murphy/)

> [I believe that the war on drugs is a tragically misplaced use of resources - an immoral venture that produces far more suffering than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-harsanyi/i-believe-that-the-war-on-drugs-is-a-tragically-misplaced-use-of/)

[David Harsanyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-harsanyi/)

> [I don't think happiness is necessarily the reason we're here. I think we're here to learn and evolve, and the pursuit of knowledge is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sting/i-don-t-think-happiness-is-necessarily-the-reason-we-re-here-i-think/)

[Sting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sting/)

> [I early conceived a liking for, and sought every opportunity to relieve the sufferings of others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-lee-crumpler/i-early-conceived-a-liking-for-and-sought-every-opportunity-to/)

[Rebecca Lee Crumpler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-lee-crumpler/)

> [How the American right managed to convince itself that the programs to alleviate poverty are responsible for the consequences of poverty will someday be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/how-the-american-right-managed-to-convince-itself-that-the-programs/)

[Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/)

> [Half the misery of human life might be extinguished if men would alleviate the general curse they lie under by mutual offices of compassion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/half-the-misery-of-human-life-might-be-extinguished-if-men-would/)

[Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/)

## More by Mitch Hedberg

> [I don't wear a watch because I want my arms to weigh the same. So if somebody asks me what time it is, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-don-t-wear-a-watch-because-i-want-my-arms-to-weigh-the-same-so-if/)

[Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/)

> [There was a product on late night TV that you could attach to your garden hose - "You can water your hard-to-reach plants with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/there-was-a-product-on-late-night-tv-that-you-could-attach-to-your/)

[Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/)

> [Imagine if you were a drummer, and you accidentally picked up two magic wands instead of sticks. There you are, keeping the beat, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/imagine-if-you-were-a-drummer-and-you-accidentally-picked-up-two/)

[Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/)

> [I like wearing necklaces, because it lets me know when I'm upside down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-like-wearing-necklaces-because-it-lets-me-know-when-i-m-upside-down/)

[Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/)

> [I'm sick of Soup Of The Day, man. It's time we make a decision. I need to know what Soup From Now On is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-m-sick-of-soup-of-the-day-man-it-s-time-we-make-a-decision-i-need/)

[Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/)

> [I have a friend who is a juggler. If I'm at his house, I don't like to take food from him, if it's in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-have-a-friend-who-is-a-juggler-if-i-m-at-his-house-i-don-t-like-to/)

[Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/)

> [I don't get the regular AIDS test anymore. I get the roundabout AIDS test. I ask my friend Brian, "Do you know anybody who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-don-t-get-the-regular-aids-test-anymore-i-get-the-roundabout-aids/)

[Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/)

> [I don't know how to fix a car. If the car breaks down, and the gas tank does not say "E", I'm screwed. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-don-t-know-how-to-fix-a-car-if-the-car-breaks-down-and-the-gas-tank/)

[Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/)

> [I drank some boiling water because I wanted to whistle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-drank-some-boiling-water-because-i-wanted-to-whistle/)

[Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/)

> [What's a sesame seed grow into? I don't know we never give them a chance, what the fuck is a sesame?! It's a street...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/what-s-a-sesame-seed-grow-into-i-don-t-know-we-never-give-them-a/)

[Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/)

> [I'm an ice sculptor. Last night I made a cube.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-m-an-ice-sculptor-last-night-i-made-a-cube/)

[Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/)

> [I went to a restaurant with my friend, and he said, "Pass the salt." I said, "Screw you! Sit closer to the salt."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-went-to-a-restaurant-with-my-friend-and-he-said-pass-the-salt-i/)

[Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/)

> [I had a bag of Fritos, they were Texas grilled Fritos. These Fritos had grill marks on them. They remind me of summer, when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-had-a-bag-of-fritos-they-were-texas-grilled-fritos-these-fritos-had/)

[Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/)

> [I bought a house, it's a two bedroom house, but I think it's up to me to decide how many bedrooms there are. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-bought-a-house-it-s-a-two-bedroom-house-but-i-think-it-s-up-to-me/)

[Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/)

> [Mr. Pibb is a poor imitation of Dr. Pepper. Dude didn't even get his degree.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/mr-pibb-is-a-poor-imitation-of-dr-pepper-dude-didn-t-even-get-his/)

[Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/)

[Explore all 405 Mitch Hedberg quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/)

## More Alleviate quotes

> [Half the misery of human life might be extinguished if men would alleviate the general curse they lie under by mutual offices of compassion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/half-the-misery-of-human-life-might-be-extinguished-if-men-would/)

[Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/)

> [How the American right managed to convince itself that the programs to alleviate poverty are responsible for the consequences of poverty will someday be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/how-the-american-right-managed-to-convince-itself-that-the-programs/)

[Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/)

> [I early conceived a liking for, and sought every opportunity to relieve the sufferings of others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-lee-crumpler/i-early-conceived-a-liking-for-and-sought-every-opportunity-to/)

[Rebecca Lee Crumpler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-lee-crumpler/)

> [I don't think happiness is necessarily the reason we're here. I think we're here to learn and evolve, and the pursuit of knowledge is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sting/i-don-t-think-happiness-is-necessarily-the-reason-we-re-here-i-think/)

[Sting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sting/)

> [I believe that the war on drugs is a tragically misplaced use of resources - an immoral venture that produces far more suffering than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-harsanyi/i-believe-that-the-war-on-drugs-is-a-tragically-misplaced-use-of/)

[David Harsanyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-harsanyi/)

> [We are at the point in time and terror where nothing short of a strong uniform policy of domestic disarmament will alleviate the danger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-v-murphy/we-are-at-the-point-in-time-and-terror-where-nothing-short-of-a/)

[Patrick V. Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-v-murphy/)

> [In all things preserve integrity; and the consciousness of your own uprightness will alleviate the toil of business, soften the hardness of ill-success and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babe-paley/in-all-things-preserve-integrity-and-the-consciousness-of-your-own/)

[Babe Paley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babe-paley/)

> [ The next most dangerous thing \[after nuclear proliferation\] is probably... global warming, and then, right behind that are overpopulation -- we need to get… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-turner/the-next-most-dangerous-thing-after-nuclear-proliferation-is-probably/)

[Ted Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-turner/)

> [I think raising wages, investing in infrastructure, making sure that people have access to good educations that equip them for the jobs of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-think-raising-wages-investing-in-infrastructure-making-sure-that/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [We can choose to alleviate suffering. We can choose to work together for peace. We can make these changes - and we must.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/we-can-choose-to-alleviate-suffering-we-can-choose-to-work-together/)

[Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/)

> [I advise nobody to drown sorrow in cocoa. It is bad for the figure and it does not alleviate the sorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winifred-holtby/i-advise-nobody-to-drown-sorrow-in-cocoa-it-is-bad-for-the-figure-and/)

[Winifred Holtby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winifred-holtby/)

> [He wanted to hear her concerns and alleviate them, he wanted to hold her and kiss her and convince her that he would find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/he-wanted-to-hear-her-concerns-and-alleviate-them-he-wanted-to-hold/)

[Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/)

> [As a Christian, part of my obligation is to alleviate suffering. Explicit recognition of that in the Methodist tradition is one reason I'm comfortable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/as-a-christian-part-of-my-obligation-is-to-alleviate-suffering/)

[Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/)

> [If any student comes to me and says he wants to be useful to mankind and go into research to alleviate human suffering, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-szent-gyorgyi/if-any-student-comes-to-me-and-says-he-wants-to-be-useful-to-mankind/)

[Albert Szent-Gyorgyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-szent-gyorgyi/)

> [All the advantages that man has gained from his ever-deepening understanding of the natural world that surrounds him, his technological, chemical and medical progress,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konrad-lorenz/all-the-advantages-that-man-has-gained-from-his-ever-deepening/)

[Konrad Lorenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konrad-lorenz/)

[Browse all 143 Alleviate quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alleviate/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "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. It's like cold-sore-highlighter. Maybe they could come up with an arrow that heals cold sores.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Mitch Hedberg"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/when-i-get-a-cold-sore-i-put-carmex-on-it-because-carmex-is-supposed/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Alleviate"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/when-i-get-a-cold-sore-i-put-carmex-on-it-because-carmex-is-supposed/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9e/mitch-hedberg-695_alleviate_when-i-get-a-cold-sore-i-put-carmex-on-i_1766545.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9e/mitch-hedberg-695_alleviate_when-i-get-a-cold-sore-i-put-carmex-on-i_1766545.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9e/mitch-hedberg-695_alleviate_when-i-get-a-cold-sore-i-put-carmex-on-i_1766545.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“When I get a cold sore, I put Carmex on it, because Carmex is supposed to alleviate cold sores. I don't know…” — Mitch Hedberg",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Mitch Hedberg",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "When I get a cold sore,...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/when-i-get-a-cold-sore-i-put-carmex-on-it-because-carmex-is-supposed/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/when-i-get-a-cold-sore-i-put-carmex-on-it-because-carmex-is-supposed/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
