Are You Suffering from Cold Sores?

Many people suffer from cold sores. Cold sores are a type of oral herpes. They are fever blisters that appear usually from Herpes Simplex Virus. Usually it is HSV-1 Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 that causes cold sores. Once you get the virus it stays inside your body, but some people will get outward appearing flare ups from time to time. There are many things to understand about herpes cold sores.

Appearance

You will know that you are infected by a cold sore by its appearance on your body. It will be a few fluid filled blisters. It may have a red looking appearance. You may notice pain in the area right before the cold sores appear. Once the cold sores break apart they will seep. Then your cold sores will dry out and crust over.

Where

Usually a cold sore is most common to be seen on the mouth area of your body. You can also get cold sores on your fingers, nostrils, chin, and your mouth. If you have a cold sore actually in your mouth, it will probably be on your gums or in the roof area of your mouth. Typically, though you will notice a cold sore on your lip. Many people have cold sores right in the corner of both of their lips or on the top/bottom lips.

Treatment

Many people just wait the cold sore out. Most cold sores go away on their own without treatment. It usually goes away in about two weeks of the first appearance of it. The trick is not to touch the cold sores too much. Let it break naturally. If your cold sores do not heal up right away, go see your doctor. Your doctor may give you an antiviral medication or antibiotic to help treatment of your herpes cold sores.

Prevention

Cold sores are contagious. So keep away from skin contact from someone who already has herpes cold sores. If you are the person who already has it, try to keep from physically touching other people while you are having a flare up of cold sores. Also understand why your flare ups happen because there might be a pattern to it. Some cold sore flare ups happen because of stress, illness, menstruation, and sunlight. If you are concerned about cold sores, please see your doctor for more information. Cold sores are manageable and treatable.

Source

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/cold-sore/DS00358