Anyone familiar with getting cold sores knows how to recognize the first tingling sensation (known as prodrome) which develops into painful, unsightly cold sore blisters.
A cold sore outbreak, or fever blister outbreak, usually appears on the lips but the sores can also occur on the face, nostrils or chin and sometimes even on the gums and palate inside the mouth.
What Causes a Cold Sore Outbreak?
Cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus type I (herpes simplex II causes genital herpes). The virus is contagious and a person can pick up the virus from direct contact with an infected person.
When the virus first invades the body, a primary infection develops which may cause a fever and sore throat but which may not necessarily cause a cold sore. The virus lies dormant in the system indefinitely in the nerves near to the skin.
Fever, stress, being generally run down or immuno-compromised, exposure to the sun, lack of sleep and even menstruation can cause the virus to become active and this is when cold sores develop.
Prevention of Cold Sores
If a person is prone to developing cold sores, take steps to prevent one developing by wearing sunscreen on the lips, taking immune boosters and vitamin B when stressed. Keep lips moisturized with a good lip balm.
If blisters have developed, avoid spreading the infection on to others by:
- avoiding kissing and direct skin contact with others, as the virus is spread through contact with the blister's moist secretions,
- not sharing eating and drinking utensils, lip balm, toothbrushes or anything that goes into or close to the mouth,
- not touching other people until hands are properly washed,
- not touching other parts of the body.
Once cold sore blisters have developed, they are difficult to treat and usually not much can be done except to let the virus run its course. However, if a sufferer catches it early at the prodromal stage before the blister actually develops, cold sores can sometimes be prevented.
Cold Sore and Treatment
Lysine Capsules are a great remedy for cold sores. Lysine is one of the eight essential amino acids needed for human development. It helps reduce the frequency and severity of outbreaks of cold sores and provides relief for the symptoms. However, most doctors recommend taking lysine only when herpes outbreaks are imminent, rather than on a regular basis.
When tingling on the lips is felt, signaling a cold fever outbreak, the best treatment is to apply a topical antiviral cold sore medication to the affected area immediately. By applying anti-viral cold sore creams to the infected area, the duration of the outbreak can be reduced or even prevented.
It is also a good idea to take an immune booster, particularly in winter when the body is more likely to be exposed to a range of germs and infections.
There are a various homeopathic remedies which can be taken to treat cold sores, such as the biochemic tissue cell salt Nat Mur, which is said to be a good treatment in the early stages of the outbreak before the blister develops.
Source:
- "What is Lysine" - www.wisegeek.com
- Article "Lip Service" Juliet Pitman, Dischem Magazine, page 52, July 2009
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Fleur Hupston - Fleur Hupston is a professional freelance writer based in Botswana, Southern Africa. From this unique perspective, she writes travel ...
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