Facts On Cold Sores

Cold sores are quite hideous, painful and contagious sores, normally manifesting on the face - commonly on the edge of the lip or nose.

Cold sores are the end result of the replication process of the herpes simplex virus type 1 or type 2. Recent research tells us that, right now, about 77% of cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex type 1 and about 23% by the type 2 version of this simplex virus.

Cold sores caused by either type of the herpes virus are pretty much identical. They both look the same, hurt the same, are just as contagious, and last about the same amount of weeks.

There has been some theory that herpes simplex type 2 cold sores aren't as frequent but it hasn't proven out in real life.

Cold sores will reoccur in about the same location as the initial infection. For example, if your cold sore appears on your upper left lip, then this is the site of that particular virus infection.

If you also get a cold sore on the right side of the lip on occasion, this is a totally different entry point and virus "family".

The virus that causes cold sores lives in the nerve cells. It will seek out the nearest nerve fibers at the site where the virus enters the body. That herpes virus will make a home in that particular nerve fiber for the rest of your life.

When you have a cold sore, keep in mind that you are not only very contagious to others, but to yourself as well. Cold sores can appear anywhere on the body where the virus finds a crack in the protective skin layer.

The herpes simplex virus is normally dormant farther down the nerve fibers from the surface. If you get a cold sore on your upper left lip, chances are this virus is hiding in the nerve ganglia near your left ear.

Your body defenses create cold sore anti-bodies each time you have a cold sore outbreak. These anti-bodies surround and help keep the herpes virus dormant and under control.

Should there be some stress in another part of your body, these defenses may weaken and the cold sore virus will grab the opportunity to move to the surface and create new viruses.

The herpes simplex virus, unlike bacteria, cannot reproduce itself. The virus will enter a nerve cell and force the cell to clone copies of itself.

When the cell becomes full of new virus, the cell will actually burst open to release all the new clones. This destruction of millions of cells in a close area is what causes those hideous open cold sores.

An open cold sore would be painful enough. But the pain is much more intense because the herpes virus creates the cold sore right on the end of a nerve fiber. The pain can be quite similar to a sensitive tooth nerve.

The most common way of infecting others with cold sores is kissing. Doting relatives and friends usually infect children before they are seven. Remember, you are contagious from the first tingle until about two days after complete healing.

The fluid that weeps from cold sores is teaming with fresh virus looking for a new home. If you have a cut on your finger and you get even one virus in that cut, you will likely get cold sores on your finger.

Cold sore infections are quite often spread to other parts of the face or body because of contaminated fingers or objects such as towels.

Your body's healing power will naturally cure your cold sores without any special cold sore treatment. But this healing often takes three to four weeks. A long time to be socially sidelined and feeling poorly. You can cut this healing time in half, easily, with a little help.

There are many over-the-counter and prescription treatments for cold sores. The best and quickest relief comes from topical treatments - a salve or ointment that you put directly on the cold sore.

Prescription pills? For the most part, oral remedies from the drug companies have been failures. They have not been too effective and they can damage liver or kidneys.

Many people, however, have reported good results with oral doses of the amino acid lysine. Commonly used dosage is 1000 mg. twice a day during the cold sores outbreak and 500 mg. per day between cold sores.

Ice is still the most universal and readily available cold sore treatment. Put ice cubes in a zipper type plastic bag and you'll avoid a lot of mess.

Ice reduces swelling, deadens the pain, and helps discourage the cold sores virus. And applying ice at the first sign of a cold sore often prevents the cold sore from actually occurring or shortens the life-span of your cold sores.

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