The sores I had never really scabbed up or were blisters, rather were ulcers for a short moment that now look like scars behind a layer of shiny skin. Doesn't look like the 'scabbing' or 'shedding' I've seen or read about. This is 2 weeks after what I guess is the beginning of my first outbreak. I'm a bit worried this isn't normal and will remain with this appearance.
My first outbreak never scabbed up or were blisters either. They appeared as ulcers and took a few weeks to go away. I was terrified they would leave scars but a few weeks later everything looked back to normal. I recommend putting coconut oil mixed with a dash of tea tree oil on them.