Cold Sore Causes and Treatment
Cold sores can be a real pain in the鈥 lip. Learn what causes cold sores and get a few cold sore treatments to help you get rid of them as quickly as possible!
What are Cold Sores?
First of all, if you have a cold sore, you are not alone. Cold sores are VERY common.
In 2015, the World Health Organization estimating that two-thirds of people under age 50鈥攁pproximately 3.7 billion of us鈥攁re infected with something called 鈥渉erpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV鈥1).鈥
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In other words: If you鈥檝e got a cold sore, you have HSV-1, but the rest of us probably have HSV-1, too!
Don鈥檛 worry. It鈥檚 not what you think when you hear the word, 鈥渉erpes.鈥 The 鈥HSV-1鈥 is the virus that causes cold sores, sometimes called fever blisters. (The closely related herpes simplex鈥2 [HSV鈥2] is the main cause of genital herpes, not HSV-1.)
Symptoms of Cold Sores
Do you know the symptoms of a cold sore? An outbreak usually begins with a tingle, pinch, or itch on the lip, the edge of the mouth, or around the nose.
The site soon erupts with small, somewhat painful blisters that are about as unattractive as a blemish. Typically, the sores weep a bit, then dry up before disappearing within a couple of weeks. (In very rare instances, HSV-1 can infect the eye, which requires immediate medical attention.)
Photo Credit: Harvard Health Publications/Harvard University
By the way, don鈥檛 confuse a cold sore with canker sores or angular cheilitis, a painful crack at the corner of the mouth. Both of those are non-contagious. Find out about canker sore treatment.
Cold sores are not only common, but also highly contagious.
What Causes Cold Sores?
People usually contract HSV鈥1 through small cuts in their skin as a result of contact with the cold sore fluid of an infected person鈥攕uch as by kissing or sharing personal items (e.g., towels, razors, makeup, eating utensils, toothbrush), even shaking hands. However, it can also be acquired when the carrier has no symptoms.
Some people suffer recurrent infections: After the initial manifestation, the virus lies latent in nerves and may re-emerge in times of stress or in response to, for example, dental surgery, hormonal changes, medications, and even allergies.
How to Avoid Getting or Spreading Cold Sores
- Avoid direct skin contact (including sexual) with people who have visible blisters.
- Don鈥檛 shake hands, either.
- Don鈥檛 share eating utensils, toothbrushes, towels, makeup (ever).
- Wash your hands often, especially before touching a baby, a frail elder, or a sick person.
- Wash your hands carefully (always) before handling food, dinnerware, or serving utensils.
- To prevent spreading the virus to another part of your body, wash thoroughly if your hands have come in contact with your cold sore.
Photo Credit: Stockbyte/Thinkstock
Getting Rid of Cold Sores: Home Remedies
There is no cure for cold sores, at least not one that medical research has discovered.
However, a host of medicine for cold sores and natural remedies for cold sores may alleviate symptoms and also shorten the duration of an outbreak or lessen recurrences of the virus.
Here are a few:
- Monolaurin, long an ingredient in foods and body-care products, is a natural constituent of coconut oil and so deemed safe. As a supplement, it can be helpful for preventing frequent outbreaks; work with your physician to develop the proper dosing strategy and monitor your progress while you take it.
- Stress reduction/management such as regular exercise, getting out into natural settings, and meditation may help keep cold sores at bay.
- An ice pack applied directly to the lesions may lessen pain. Learn more about when to use ice packs for pain.
- Zinc oxide ointment applied topically at the first sensations of an impending outbreak may shorten its duration and lessen the symptoms.
- Salve or lip balm containing at least 1 percent lemon balm may provide symptomatic relief.
- Sunscreen applied liberally to the face and around and on lips before going outside may help. (Sunlight seems to activate HSV-1 in some people.)
- Research shows that topical application aloe vera gel may alleviate symptoms and shorten the duration of genital herpes lesions. Learn more about the uses of aloe vera.
Cold sores can be frustrating, but hopefully these natural cold sore remedies will help you to get rid of them. Do you have any trusty cold sore remedies? Let us know below!
Margaret Boyles
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If you have recurring cold sores, then switch out your toothbrush as soon as it comes out and then again as the cold sore heals completely. This way you break the viral spiral of getting the virus reintroduced again. It really made a big difference and I very rarely get cold sores now.
My dentist told me to use ice. I hold a cube on the sore as long as I can stand it, take it off for a few minutes and then do it again. I do this several times a day, and the cold sore doesn鈥檛 get any bigger, and goes away more quickly. It helps to catch it early, too.
Years ago I was advised from some well-meaning elders to put cigarette ashes on the cold sore. I found the ashes actually do stop the sore from getting bigger and help the sore to scab over. Depending on your skin color, this treatment may or may not be obvious to others.
I agree with Megan Coleman - L-Lysine is VERY effective at reducing the severity of a cold sore. In addition, if you add a B complex vitamin to your daily regimen, it will help boost your immune system. The combination of the two supplements is a powerful weapon in the war on cold sores.
The way Dairy Products protect against Cold Sores is because Milk contains Vitamin B2 Riboflavin; I knew a young man taking many medicines; he was getting cold sores; he began drinking milk; the cold sores were gone in a week; Riboflavin B2 can be bought as a supplement; Milk has other Vitamins; Minerals too;;;
Abreva best over the counter med for cold sores. It stops the virus in its tracts and your sore stops hurting and you heal in 2 days or less (if you start early).
Herpes Simplex 1 can easily and effectively be handled with L-Lysine. It is available in the vitamin section of most stores. The moment you feel that tingly sensation start taking a 1,000 mg pill 4 times a day until the break-out starts to dry and scab. If you catch it soon enough it may not get a chance to break out. If it does, the outbreak will be minimal and fade in a few days. If it doesn't break out you should take the pills for at least 4 days. Herpes usually has a 10-day life. Since I have used L-Lysine I haven't experienced a full-on break out! It has been about 20 years. L-Lysine is an amino acid that is natural to your body. It helps strengthen your white blood cells which in turn fight viruses.
This blog post and most all of the replies are about treating cold sores. Why let them get started?
We have kept L-Lysine tablets on hand for the past 40 years, and taking 4 tabs upon the first inkling of a cold sore, and a couple each day for about 4 days, has always prevented cold sores. Prevention seems better than treatment ;)
As soon as you start feeling it come on eat broccoli, it helps me every time, also apply a good Manuka honey to it. Will see great improvement within days.
Too much sun brings out my cold sore, as well as stress! I have found that taking a supplement of L-Lysine on a routine basis diminishes outbreaks and IF I feel one starting I up the dosage from one 1000mg to 2 or 3 a day....Just had one last week and it kept it from going "full-blown" and was gone it 4 days! It works for me!
