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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Having been afflicted for many years with said "cold sore", I have found that L-Lysine works like magic. In addition to the tingling of lip, feeling feverish (but not) my virus manifests with blinding headaches comparable to a migraine. I pop 2 L-Lysine , an amino acid, and feel the results quickly. I recommend lying down quietly if possible and suspend vigorous activity for a day or so, These tricks help dissipate the effects of the herpes simplex for me.
Melaleuca alternifolia - Teatree oil applied several times a day heals cold sores in a few days. It is antiviral, antifungal, antibacterial and soothing. It Must be used sparingly, just for the condition and discontinued when the lesion is healed.
Years ago I made up a potion using herbs. I took myrrh powder, calendula flowerheads, comfrey, slippery elm and goldenseal, mixed them together and warmed them in cooking oil, on the stove. I strained it and refrigerated it.
My husband felt the first tingling of a coldsore and decided to put some on. He didn't breakout.
Another good remedy for cold sores is consuming any tea or other food with licorice in it. The licorice has components that inhibit the virus from growing and, if taken at the very beginning stage, can actually stop the blisters from growing at all
I used to always have a cold sore and a Dr. suggested I get the shingles shot. Haven't had a cold sore since the shot.
Thanks for posting such an informative article i have found that this is very beneficial for us to aware this virus great to see that there is home remedies can cure this virus.I appreciate your effort keep sharing.
I have found that if I start to feel the tingle or feelings of a cold sore coming on, if I will take 2 lysine tablets in the morning and at night, and then 1 for the next few days in the morning and night, they either don't break out, or it lessens the severity of it.
1000 to 1248 mg of L-Lysine works for me every time I feel a cold sore coming on. I take a 1000 mg per day as soon as I feel a cold sore coming on. I keep a bottle in my purse, because the key to L-Lysine working is to take it as soon as you feel the first tingle around your lips.
This article is disappointing, at best. First of all, it should be made clear that the single fastest growing strain of the herpes virus is genital HSV1, as a result of oral sex. Someone with an oral infection gives oral sex to someone else and passes the infection from oral to genital. Second, HSV2 can easily be present as an oral infection - it's not always genital. The only way to know for sure which type you have (either orally or genitally), is to have a lesion swabbed. Lastly, to say that you shouldn't shake hands with someone who has an oral HSV infection sounds like a horrible scare tactic. The likelihood of contracting HSV by shaking hands with someone is nil, unless they have herpes Whitlow. The same goes for contracting it off of a towel. Nothing like further stigmatizing a huge portion of the population who have some form of HSV. It should also be noted that there are many people who are asymptomatic or who don't associate a symptom with HSV and therefor don't know or believe they have HSV.
