Prevention and Treatment of Cold Sores
Cold sores always seem to pop up before a big date or an important interview and they can hurt too. The fact of the matter is that there is no evil plot to make you at your most uncomfortable; it’s just that dormant herpes simplex 1 virus harboring in your body decided to wake up and make its’ self known. A cold sore can appear as a cluster of sores or as a single, usually recurring at a spot in close proximity or even the exact same spot as one before. They can be found on the nose, chin, cheeks or even on your lips, the most sensitive area of them all.
Do not confuse cold sores with canker sores as they are really ulcers that pop up inside the mouth and are not contagious, unlike the cold sore which is. About 20% of the population harbors this herpes virus which causes the cold sores and many people are infected when they are kids. You can never be rid of the virus once you get it. Some people will never get a cold sore while others are more susceptible to them and will get them about 3-4 times a year. There are typically triggers which wake up this virus that lies in wait in your central nervous system. Severe chapped lips, stress, hormone fluctuations and even sunlight can trigger an outbreak.
Developing the Cold Sore
People who have had cold sores say they know when the next one is coming because the area will start to itch or burn and turn red. For some people, this beginning stage of the cold sore could last for days and for others, just a few hours. Some people wake up with a cold sore after never having experienced any of the beginning stages.
The second phase of a cold sore is the development of the blister. It will look swollen and fluid-filled. Typically, this blister will break and an ugly crust forms over it that is typically a yellowish-brown color. After a few days, if you do not pick at it, the crusty scab falls off and you will have a pink area of skin that shows signs of healing. The whole cycle from start to finish is typically a week to ten days.
Viruses are contagious and because the cold sore is caused by the herpes simplex 1 virus, you do not want to engage in any behavior which will pass the infection along to someone else. That means, if the cold sore is on your lips, you do not want to kiss anyone, have oral sex or even allow anyone to use your eating utensils or drink from your glasses. In addition, you will not want to touch the cold sore with your hands because you can spread the virus through your fingers too.
Treatment and Prevention of the Cold Sore
Viruses have no known cures to you cannot cure a cold sore but you can certainly take a few steps to curtail the length of time the cold sore lingers as well as lessen the pain of it. You can do the wait and see approach which will typically end in about ten days. Or, when you feel that first tingling or burning sensation that harbors the beginnings of one, you can use one of several cold sore ointments that you apply directly onto the sore area which may even prevent the formation of the unsightly blister. Otherwise, the ointment will speed up the healing process and numb the stinging pain that comes with a cold sore.
You can exercise a few precautionary measures to try and keep cold sores from occurring as well as passing the virus onto someone else. For instance, make sure that your lips are properly hydrated and keep them from becoming chapped. Do not linger out in the sun and if you must be outdoors, wear a lip sunblock which should be a good protective measure. When you are stressed, try and practice some relaxation techniques and get enough sleep as well as a good diet to promote a healthy immune system. In other words, work hard at avoiding the triggers that may cause the cold sores in the first place.
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