Cold Sores Symptoms And Treatments
Ranked #10,000 in Healthy Living, #164,533 overall
Cold Sores
Cold sores aren't the most serious condition, but they can be very annoying. Cold sores are very embarrassing for the infected and may make the infected person feel as though they are an outsider. Hopefully the information below will help people better understand cold sores, their symptoms, and how they are treated.
Cold Sores appear as clusters of tiny blisters that appear on and around the lip and mouth. The skin surrounding the blisters is most often sore, swollen, and red. On occasion, the blisters may break open and leak a clear fluid. The blisters scab up within a few days. Cold sores usually heal within a few days to a couple weeks.
What causes cold sores?
Cold sores are caused by a virus . The virus usually enters the body through a cut in the skin around or inside the mouth. It is transferred when a non infected person touches an infected person's sore or fluid and it enters their body. Some examples include sharing razors, kissing an infected person, or touching that person's saliva. A cold sore infected parent often spreads the infection to his/her children in the ways listed above. Cold sores can also be spread to other areas of the body.
Image: photostock / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Cold Sores appear as clusters of tiny blisters that appear on and around the lip and mouth. The skin surrounding the blisters is most often sore, swollen, and red. On occasion, the blisters may break open and leak a clear fluid. The blisters scab up within a few days. Cold sores usually heal within a few days to a couple weeks.
What causes cold sores?
Cold sores are caused by a virus . The virus usually enters the body through a cut in the skin around or inside the mouth. It is transferred when a non infected person touches an infected person's sore or fluid and it enters their body. Some examples include sharing razors, kissing an infected person, or touching that person's saliva. A cold sore infected parent often spreads the infection to his/her children in the ways listed above. Cold sores can also be spread to other areas of the body.
Image: photostock / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Cold Sore Symptoms
The first symptoms of cold sores include a fever, pain around your mouth and on your lips, a sore throat, or swollen glands in your neck or other parts of the body. Small children may drool before they get cold sores.
Some people have the virus but may not show any symptoms as all.
Some people have the virus but may not show any symptoms as all.
Cold Sores Treatments And Prevention
How are cold sores treated?
Cold sores will most often begin to heal on their own within a few days. However, if they cause you pain or embarrassment, they can be treated. Treatments may include topical treatment or sometimes medication. Treatments only get rid of the cold sores a couple days faster. Treatments can, however, help ease painful blisters or other uncomfortable symptoms.
Cold Sores will not go away forever. After you are infected, the virus stays with you for the rest of your life. If you often get cold sores, treatment can reduce the number you get and how severe they are.
Some things you can do to reduce your number of outbreaks and prevent spreading the virus
- Talk to your doctor if you get cold sores often. You may be able to take prescription medication to prevent cold sore outbreaks.
- Avoid the things that trigger your cold sores, such as stress and colds or the flu.
- Avoid sharing silverware, towels, razors, toothbrushes, or other objects that a person with a cold sore may have used.
- Always use lip balm and sunscreen on your face. Too much sunlight can cause cold sores to flare.
- Make sure to wash your hands often, and try not to touch your sore.
Cold sores will most often begin to heal on their own within a few days. However, if they cause you pain or embarrassment, they can be treated. Treatments may include topical treatment or sometimes medication. Treatments only get rid of the cold sores a couple days faster. Treatments can, however, help ease painful blisters or other uncomfortable symptoms.
Cold Sores will not go away forever. After you are infected, the virus stays with you for the rest of your life. If you often get cold sores, treatment can reduce the number you get and how severe they are.
Some things you can do to reduce your number of outbreaks and prevent spreading the virus
- Talk to your doctor if you get cold sores often. You may be able to take prescription medication to prevent cold sore outbreaks.
- Avoid the things that trigger your cold sores, such as stress and colds or the flu.
- Avoid sharing silverware, towels, razors, toothbrushes, or other objects that a person with a cold sore may have used.
- Always use lip balm and sunscreen on your face. Too much sunlight can cause cold sores to flare.
- Make sure to wash your hands often, and try not to touch your sore.
Cold Sores Discussion
Cold Sore Treatment
Like this lens?
Don't forget to rate it!
This module only appears with actual data when viewed on a live lens. The favorite and lensroll options will appear on a live lens if the viewer is a member of Squidoo and logged in.
Check Out These Other Great Lenses!
by ccorrig
I am a 24 year old engineer and internet marketer. I enjoy writing about how to do/make random stuff from scratch or from home.
I also have a special...
more »
- 91 featured lenses
- Winner of 28 trophies!
- Top lens » Ab Doer Twist Scam
Feeling creative?
Create a Lens!
Explore related pages
- Cold Sore Treatment Cold Sore Treatment
- Genital Herpes - What is Genital Herpes and How To Avoid Spreading It Genital Herpes - What is Genital Herpes and How To Avoid Spreading It
- Cold Sore Treatments Cold Sore Treatments
- 7 Things You MUST Do To Beat Geographic Tongue 7 Things You MUST Do To Beat Geographic Tongue
- Carmex Carmex
- Quickest Way to Get Rid of a Cold Sore Quickest Way to Get Rid of a Cold Sore
