What Are Cold Sores And How Can We Identify Them?
If you ask what are cold sores to someone who suffers from them they will tell you they are painful, embarrassing, annoying, sores that form on your lips, or on the outer edge of your nostrils. Most of them will also tell you that they know the sores they get are caused by the Herpes Simplex 1 virus, and there is no cure. They will probably tell you they are doomed to suffer random outbreaks of these painful lesions for the rest of their lives.
The people telling you all of this are mostly right, but they could use a little updating on their information, and a little positive information about how to get some relief. Herpes Simplex 1 is the main cause of cold sores, but how do you get the Herpes Simplex 1 virus to start with.
You will have to journey back into your past a ways to a time when you contracted “primary herpes stomatitis”. This sounds pretty serious, like something you would not forget having had. The truth is that this disease does not have the typical Herpes Simplex 1 symptoms.
When you had the “primary herpes stomatitis” you were more than likely less than seven years of age. You had a sore throat, possibly blisters in your mouth or on your throat, there was the possibility that you ran a fever, had difficulty swallowing due to the pain, and got better in just a couple of days. Basically you were a child with a sore throat. Some people who have this disease have a very mild outbreak to start with, and they never know they have had it at all. This is how the Herpes virus got into your system.
Once you had the virus then it goes to sleep or lies dormant in your system until your body is put under stress, and then the eruption of those awful sores begins. Anyone who has had one before never forgets the signs that an outbreak is on the way.
First there will be a place on your lips or outer nostril that tingles, or feels numb. Then within about twenty four hours a blister will start to form where the tingle began. The blister will continue to swell, and grow for a couple of days. The pain is intense, and you can hardly eat or drink because you do not want anything to touch the sore on your mouth. These things will leave you in tears from the pain.
After the sore quits forming it will be a big blistery spot that is going to get bumped and ruptured. Do not purposely rupture it, because once it ruptures you have an open sore that can lead to secondary infections, and that can be far worse than the fever blister you just had. The sore will form a scab once it has ruptured, and it will become crusty, and feel like it is pulling at your lips.
Try to apply medications that will keep the sore moist, there are some excellent over the counter creams that even have pain relievers in them. Lemon balm, and even pure petroleum jelly will work to keep the area moist, and lessen the pulling sensation, and prevent cracking and bleeding.
Once you have had an outbreak you will continue to have outbreaks for the rest of your life. The people that told you that were correct, but they were wrong about being doomed, because when you know what causes you to have an outbreak sometimes you can minimize their occurrences.
Your first and best defense is to stay as healthy as you can, this virus attacks when your body is weakened by stress or illness. So stay hydrated, get plenty of rest, and maintain a healthy diet.
The second thing is for you to identify your outbreak causes. Some of these will be obvious like when you get too much sun, you are inviting a reactivation of the Herpes Simplex virus. Try to avoid over exposure to the sun. Try to get the proper amount of sleep, because being tired can bring on the sores as well. Women often have these outbreaks during their menstrual cycle, and there is nothing you can do to stop that from happening. You will have to learn what works for you to minimize the length, and severity of the outbreak.
They are highly contagious, so do not kiss anyone with an active outbreak, and remember to throw away your tooth brush, and any lip balm tubes you used during your last outbreak.
