Cold Sores

Cold sores are embarrassing. We all can agree on that. But what else do you know about them?

Do you know how they are spread? How to prevent them and what are some of the best ways to treat them when they occur?

First, you should know that a cold sore is actually caused by a virus infection. They can be painful, itchy and appear to look like fluid filled blisters. They form around the mouth or nose.

The first stage of an outbreak of a cold sore or cold sores is called the prodromal stage or period. During this time the area of the mouth or nose, can develop a tingle, burn or itching sensation. These symptoms will occur underneath the skin usually.

Within in a few hours or days after a cold sore appears, it may become red or the area around it might. This is due to the infection as well to the amount of scratching one may do. The cold sore itself will also begin to look like a blister and become filled with fluid. One may even begin developing several blisters that can slowly form together into one large one.

Cold sores are very common. In fact, by the age of 50 years old, eighty to ninety percent of the population has had at least one cold sore in his or her life. Even though they are common, they should be taken seriously and considered a medical condition.

Should they be treated by a physician? Possibly. The reason why is that one of the main reason people develop cold sores is because they have been infected with the herpes simplex virus. This is the same virus that causes chickenpox, shingles and genital herpes. A person definitely needs to seek medical treatment if cold sores keep reappearing.

Yet, do not become overly alarm if you develop a cold sore because there are other reasons that they occur such as:

When one is extremely stressed or tired

During hormonal changes such as pregnancy or menstruation

When one is suffering from a fever

Too much exposure to the sun

Traumas to the face or skin such as: Shaving cuts, dental work, and surgery of the face (cosmetic or otherwise).

You should however definitely seek medical treatment if you begin to notice the following:

Yellow pus coming from the cold sore

Develop a fever over 100.5F

If your eyes become irritated as well

If you seek medical treatment your physician will exam you and ask you vital questions. If he or she is unclear as to the cause of your cold sore laboratory tests may be done such as taking a sample of the fluid from the sore for testing.

If the cold sore is severe, your doctor may prescribed a medication to help curb some of the side effects such as the pain and itching. Medication can also help shorten the length of the outbreak. You may also be told to wash the area carefully to help keep down the bacteria and to help keep it from spreading.

There is no known cure for the infection that causes cold sores. But there are ways in which we can keep from preventing them as often. One way is to remember that they are highly contagious. For this reason, we should wash our hands often when we are around people who has a cold sore. We should also not eat or drink after someone who has a cold sore, have intimate contact with this person (this includes kissing and oral sex). We also should avoid touching our face when we are affected with a cold sore. This will help spread the bacteria and can cause them to form in other parts of our body. For this reason, we should wash our hands often when we have cold sores as well.

We also need to be aware of the fact the many people are developing the Herpes Simplex virus because of contact being made through oral sex. For this reason, we need to be careful about the choices we make.

No, you may not be able to stop an occurrence or a reoccurence of a cold sore outbreak. But you may be able to lessen their frequency and their severity by taking some small steps. The best step of all is washing your hands often, properly and with soap.