Cold Sores virus - act
early
Cold sores are those awful eruptions that are
caused by the herpes virus!
They always appear at just
the least opportune moment, most often during times
of stress or illness. Cold sores are also called
fever blisters, and they first make their impending
appearance known by tingling and a hard area under the
skin, which is soon followed by an eruption of small
blisters or fluid filled
vesicles.
There is no fast way to get rid of a cold sore, and no way to
cover it up until it heals. You are just stuck with it.
However, it is possible hasten the process by applying various
topical applications for treatment of cold sores, or by taking
a prescription anti-viral medication.
Cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus, and they
usually appear on the lips, but can erupt on the nostrils or
fingers as well. Once exposure to the virus has occurred, it
may take up to twenty days for symptoms to appear. After the
vesicles appear, they will soon pop and the fluid will form a
yellow crust, which will slough off as the lesion heals.
This process usually takes from seven to ten days, during which
you can’t really cover it up. Once the cold sore has healed,
the virus lies dormant in the nerve cells under the skin, and
then reoccur with exposure to the sun, illness, stress, or
 menstruation. For people that get cold sores
frequently, oral anti-viral medications are the best
defence against repeated outbreaks.
Drugs such as
acyclovir and Zovirax are very effective in lessening the
severity of the cold sore and speeding up healing time. This
medication is taken as soon as cold sore symptoms appear, and
is continued through at the least five days. By this time the
cold sore is almost gone, and topical ointments can also be
used to dry it up quicker.
If you are someone who gets cold sores frequently, there are a
few steps you can take so that you don’t get them as
frequently. Keep your hands clean and keep them off your face.
If you feel a cold sore coming on, don’t touch it, especially
if the blisters have opened. This can spread the virus to other
areas or to others by touch, or by sharing eating utensils or
kissing.
The virus is most contagious while the cold sore is weeping and
can remain so even after the area has healed. Be sure to wear
sunscreen when outdoors, limit exposure to the sun, and get
plenty of rest to prevent an new outbreak. The herpes virus
that causes cold sores can also cause genital herpes, so oral
sex is out of the question with an active lesion. If you need
more information on cold sores and the herpes virus, visit the
Mayo Clinic at www.mayoclinic.com.
Editor
My Health Articles.co.uk
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  Author: Peter
Charalambos
Granted Expert Author
Status
Author Credit:
Peter Charalambos is a contributing writer for health
information sites, sports
health sites and
a general news and
information site. He has
written about all aspects of vitamins, minerals and health
supplements and constantly strives to uncover biased
research which tries to undermine natural products in favour
of drugs.
The content on this site is provided for
information purposes and is in no way intended to replace
the knowledge or diagnosis of your doctor. Our intention
is to focus on overall health issues or strategies. For
specific guidance regarding personal health questions, we
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