What causes cold sores?
Well, first of all, what are cold sores? Cold sores are lesions on the lips or on the skin near the mouth. People can be exposed to different causes of cold sores, each and every day. They are often referred to as “fever blisters.” These lesions can be painful, and usually last for a few days. They are caused by a virus. But, unlike other viral infections, cold sores are not completely eliminated by our body’s defense system. This is the reason why they usually recur over time.
So … What Causes Cold Sores?
The herpes simplex virus is the main cause of cold sores. There are two types of herpes simplex virus, but the main culprit for these fever blisters is Type 1. This type affects the body tissues that are found above the waistline.
Most viral infections are caused by exposure to the germs themselves, but this is not one of the causes of a cold sore. It occurs, not with the recent contact with the herpes simplex virus, but with the reactivation of the HSV (Herpes Simplex Virus) particles that are already in your body. These germs are already residing inside the body before being reactivated, but are then “awaken.”
Initial contact with the virus does not result in the formation of cold sores; and therefore it cannot be detected at once.
A person with cold sores would first be inflicted with fever, headache, and difficulty swallowing. The person might also be easily irritable. A day or two after these initial symptoms occur, the person will feel pain in his mouth, and the gums will be inflamed. On the third day blisters appear near the mouth or lips. The blisters will pop, over time, but the person’s mouth will remain painful it will be hard to eat.
The core sores themselves will heal over time. The infection period is between 10 to 14 days. But when the virus remains in the body, cold sores can repeat again at a later date.
Most cases of such an infection occur before the age of seven. This is why many people don’t know the causes of cold sores. Further, the majority of people who are inflicted with fever blisters (another word for cold sores) don’t even know they have them. The symptoms are subclinical, and not obvious to the normal person. The patient might only feel one or two mild sores near his mouth.
Fever usually accompanies cold sores, and the common flu virus can also reactivate the cold sore virus. Getting your skin sunburned might also trigger cold sores.
Cold Sores – Treatment
What do you do when you have cold sores? How do you treat them?
If you are looking for a thorough and lasting solution to this problem, I recommend you have a look at this website on Cold Sores – Treatment. I haven’t personally read that eBook (yet) but, if you are serious about addressing this problem, this might be the solution for you. It comes with a full money back guarantee, so if it doesn’t work out for you, there is no risk involved. The doctor featured at the site states that he has researched and tested the subject pretty thoroughly, before finding natural and truly workable treatments.
It might be what you are looking for – please have a look at Cold Sores – Treatment and see if it helps. And leave me a comment, too. I’m very interested to know if this eBook proves to be useful and helpful to people. If it turns out that it truly can give people the freedom and self-respect that they are missing, as a result of a cold sore problem, then I would love to get the word out further.
(Article originally posted at What Causes Cold Sores at Squidoo.com).
Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration. Nothing in this article or on this website constitutes medical advice – please consult your doctor if you are ill.
hi i visit through your blog and i found it quite interesting on cold sore. And i also liked the content of your blog. Your blog is going to be very helpful for me to get rid of cold sore. Thank you
Like many people I suffered the embarrassment of large open sores.I have tried patches [ seemed to make matters worse by spreading to other parts of the mouth ] and various creams all seem to help but did not clear up the problem.
My solution SAVLON I have found it rapidly clears and cleans the wound sometimes stopping it in its tracks and not developing any scab or sores, its purpose is to heal skin and I have found it works for me. I have not tried any similar products like germolene etc. so I can not comment on these products but as each persons skin will react differently its worth trying the various options. I can only restate my experience of almost immediate healing by using SAVLON.
I started using it with a cream to heal the skin then using it instead of the creams.If you suffer badly then give it a try it might work for you.
I hope this helps you it is not an endorsement of SAVLON merely an honest desire to share a solution that works for me.
thanks
Hi – thanks for sharing this information with other blog readers. Its always great to have some feedback from someone who has experience dealing with a particular problem.
Great article, I have just written one on the same subject, but not as comprehensive as this one. Keep it up!
Kevins last blog post..How Do Cold Sore Spread?
Dear Anna,
Thanks for sharing your insights on Cold Sores. Cold sores can be very unsightly and embarrassing to those who have them.
I’m not a sufferer of this, [ I have other issues
) ] but I know enough people who do. Through my wife I learned that an unbearable amount of stress, be it through work, family pressures, or illness, trigger the dormant viruses into activity.
Stress reduction exercises, activities as simple as brisk and mindless walking (I had to add the mindless part, ’cause worrying while walking will maintain the mental stress level) help in keeping down the flare-ups.
Of course, the presence of a loving and understanding partner helps too.
Thanks again, Anna. Glad I came across your article. Seems like you put a lot of work into getting this piece together!
Good job!
Alfons
.-= Alfons´s last blog ..