Treating and preventing cold sores. Oral infections and recurrent viruses can trigger these. Cold sores on the lips, nose, or inside the mouth can appear, as can a sore throat. They can also appear on the arms, hands, and face in some people.
People with oral herpes or cold sores caused by Candida albicans often experience painful blisters on the lip or cheek. Lip or mouth blisters are small, painful sores that usually don’t last long. There are a variety of options for managing outbreaks, eliminating lip lesions that have already appeared, increasing resistance to scabies, and even bettering your oral health.
It can be challenging to find relief from a cold sore outbreak. To learn about Treating & Preventing Cold Soress, including at-home options, read this article.
Treating & Preventing Cold Sores
The Basics
As evidenced by cold sores (also known as fever blisters), life can be unfair at times. Certain individuals are able to recognize them while others are not. Have no fear if you receive them. A variety of treatments and preventative measures exist.
Your Cold Isn’t to Blame
Contrary to the name, that is not the underlying cause. The most common causative agent is herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). It’s spread through direct contact with a sick person’s blood, sweat, or other bodily fluids. As the virus multiplies, it causes skin damage. It results in sores that bleed for about a week afterward. Since HSV-1 persists within nerve cells between outbreaks, the virus can never be completely eradicated.
Why Doesn’t Everyone Get Them?
Approximately 66–73% of the human population carries the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). Typically, this is communicated via well-intentioned kisses from loved ones. This begs the question, why do only certain unlucky people contract cold sores? The key could be in your family tree. Genetic factors may contribute to how HSV-1 manifests itself in the majority of cold sore sufferers. This might be the root cause of epidemics.
What Triggers Cold Sores
You carry HSV-1 in your nerves. It stays dormant for the most part, but certain situations can activate it, resulting in cold sores. Things like sun exposure, fever, stress, and menstruation are all examples. A few people experience cold sore outbreaks no more than twice yearly. Many people have to go through this every month.
Canker Sores Aren’t the Same
The lip is a common target for cold sores. Mouth ulcers, also known as canker sores, manifest on the inside of your cheeks and tongue. The herpes simplex virus isn’t involved, so they can’t spread. Exactly what sets them off is a mystery. Usually, the red, itchy skin that precedes a cold sore is a warning sign. Before blisters can heal, they must first form, burst, and harden into crusts.
When Are You Contagious?
Infected individuals are able to spread the virus as soon as they experience symptoms, such as itching or redness. When blisters appear and especially when they first burst, you are highly contagious. You can no longer spread the disease in this manner once your skin has healed and returned to normal appearance. You can spread the virus through your saliva at any time, even if you don’t have a cold sore.
How Does the Virus Spread?
By means of the blood and other bodily fluids. It is typical for it to be found on the infected person’s lip, even if there is no outward sign of a sore. Generally speaking, people use kisses. Sharing utensils in the kitchen or glasses at a party can also spread the virus because it can live in saliva. It is possible to infect your partner’s genitalia through oral sex.
Can You Stop the Spread?
Yes. Be careful if you have a sore. Avoid making out and keep your own stuff to yourself. Just don’t have any sex in your mouth. That will significantly lessen the spread of HSV-1, though you might not be able to stop it entirely.
How to Ease Your Pain
The initial outbreak can last up to two weeks, but subsequent ones may not last more than a week. Although cold sores can’t be cured, the discomfort associated with them can be reduced with over-the-counter creams and gels. Compresses, either hot or cold, are another option.
Antiviral Creams Can Help
In many cases, they speed up the recovery time after a cold sore has appeared. However, they are most effective if worn at the first sign of an outbreak. Cream containing docosanol can be purchased without a prescription. The antiviral creams acyclovir (Zovirax) and penciclovir (Denavir) require a doctor’s prescription to purchase.
Prescription Meds Are Available
When taken at the first signs of a cold sore, including tingling, redness, and itching, they can speed up the healing process. In order to prevent a full outbreak, you will take acyclovir five times daily for five days, or you can take valacyclovir (Valtrex) at the first sign of a cold sore and again 12 hours later. It is possible to treat an infection with just one dose of famciclovir (Famvir). Acyclovir buccal (Sitavig) can as well, though it is placed against the gums and dissolves to deliver the medicine.
How Do You Know It’s a Cold Sore?
What about cold sores elsewhere on the body? They aren’t as common, but they can pop up anywhere on your face, like your cheek, chin, or nose. When a cold sore returns, it usually returns to the same spot.
Can It Spread to Your Body?
True, but it hardly ever happens. Touching a cold sore and then touching a wound or mucous membrane (the moist, protective lining found in the mouth, nose, and genital orifices) can spread the virus. Doing so can cause a skin infection caused by the herpes simplex virus. Cleaning your hands and staying away from the cold sore will help you avoid this.
Where Else Might It Strike?
Ocular herpes is a viral infection that manifests primarily in the cornea and can be very uncomfortable. Since it is the most common infectious cause of corneal blindness in the United States, prompt treatment is essential. Herpetic whitlow causes excruciating pain in the fingers. Common in children, it is spread when they have a cold sore and try to soothe the pain by sucking on a finger or thumb.
How Do You Prevent Outbreaks?
While complete resistance is unlikely, there are measures that can be taken to lessen their impact. Figure out what sets off your negative emotions, and stay away from it. Avoid direct sunlight and protect your lips with lip balm that contains UV filters. Find an approach that helps you cope with stress. Rest well and exercise regularly to keep your immune system strong.
When Should You See a Doctor?
Schedule an appointment if
- Your defenses are low because of a compromised immune system.
- No improvement in cold sores after two weeks.
- Your symptoms are extremely severe.
- You have an eye irritation.
- You suffer from severe or recurrent cases of cold sores.