With a slight hint of change in the weather or as a token of the beginning of a new disease and sometimes, just to add a little agony in our lives, cold sores creep in. And the time they choose to show up is usually unpredictable. Just imagine, tonight is the the biggest date of your life and you have chosen a nice dress. Your hair and make-up are all decided but at the eleventh hour a cold sore mark appears and the complimentary headache makes it impossible to carry any hairstyle. The reason for the arrival of cold sores at unusual times is not coincidental. Actually, the cause of a cold sore is simplex virus and this virus, for some unknown reason, responds to stress. Now you know the right reason for its wrong timing. Because it is a viral disease, a complete cold sore cure is impossible so far. But the symptoms can be treated. So, read on.
We all have heard that prevention is better than cure but in the context of cold sores this dictum comes under serious scrutiny. Does cold sore really give us any time for prevention? No substantial cures have been found to end cold sores forever. But to lessen the stressful span of cold sores, there are plenty of medications available over the chemist's counter. There are balms and then there are prescriptions given by the physicians. Whether it is your doctor's medication or your grandma's herbal therapy, nothing promises a complete cure. And then, there are a bunch of side effects that come complimentary with them.
If you really want to cure cold sores, do not let them get the fort in the first place. A healthy diet, complete with all the important nutrients can do the trick. Instead of taking a big meal, take several small meals. It would not only do good to your stomach but absorb all the nutrients from your food that can be very helpful in fighting with simplex virus. If you already infected with it, then lysine can help you to reduce the time period.
No one who is experiencing a cold sore would like to linger on the symptoms. It is the time for action. If you are sick of cold sores and desperate to use some herbal alternative instead of taking medications which may have side effects, you can go for ginger tea. Masala teas, because of there medicinal properties, also prove to be beneficial in curing cold sores.
Cold sores are caused by the Herpes Simplex Virus. Out of the people who are infected with this virus, some may show outward signs, while many do not. In fact, it gets quite embarrassing when someone displays outward signs of being infected virus through an outbreak of a cold sore on the face or lips.
Very often, cold sores occur due to stress, mental or physical. Anxiety related with a job interview, a wedding or other special and important events in life generally creates mental stress. This usually affects your hormones, immune system, and your pH balance. Illnesses like flu and cold also result in triggering a cold sore.
The herpes virus that lives in the human nerves cells can easily sense the little changes in the body temperature, immune strength, stress levels, and pH balance. And whenever the virus finds the condition favorable for it to grow, it moves to the surface along the nerve fibers. Here, another new stage of the virus comes into effect. Once on the surface, it starts reproducing. And this results in the occurrence of the blisters.
Medical science has no specific cure for cold sores till date. One has to bear it and to allow it to run its natural course. But there are some remedies and preventive measures that help in curbing the time period of an outbreak. There are some lotions and pills that are prescribed by doctors which help in shortening the life span of the cold sore. In addition, there are also some home remedies.
Most people opt for a natural remedy for these cold sores. Some people apply amino acid Lysine which has proven to shorten the period of the cold sore in many cases. It also keeps cold sores away from occurring in its initial place of origin, which may be the mouth. A cold sore is more a symptom than a disease.
Amino acid Lysine has proven very successful in preventing cold sores. It replaces some of the Arginine-critical for creating new virus, in the cells and hence reduces the cells' ability to help in the creation of the clones of the cold sore virus. Most of the dairy products and meats are a rich source of Lysine like milk, yogurt and cheese. There is also a great need to eat healthy food to build up your immunity strength. Remember, the cold sore herpes virus requires hot, moist environment to reproduce. So it is advisable to apply ice as soon as you get an itchy feeling or burning sensation rather than touching the area with fingers. It will help in reducing the size of the cold sore as well as its life span. Anything else that is cold, like can of coke, can also do the same, and is extremely useful for the purpose.
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Herpes Simplex Virus causes cold sores. It causes the eruption of the skin that later leads to the collection of fluid in blisters. Cold sores are associated with Type-1 Herpes Simplex Virus. A cold sore can appear on the face, lips, and interior of the mouth. It is basically the formation of a group of blisters filled with fluid. There are as many as 8 cold sore stages that have been identified. These are:
1. Latent Stage - This is the dormant stage. In this, the cold sore virus is hiding in the nerve ganglia near the back of the jaw on the side where the cold sore usually appears. In many cases, the cold sore herpes virus has been known to sleep for weeks or years without any incident. The body's immune system keep the virus in check. But when there is a physical stress in any other part of the body, the immune system at this area may drop. The cold sore virus can then escape from its latent location, and travel to a location on the surface to reproduce. This stage is the first of the cold sore stages.
2. Prodrome Stage- The cycle of the cold sore virus reproduction starts in this stage. The cold sore virus passes down the nerve fibers to the surface. This movement of the virus causes the itching and tempts you to touch the tingling or itching cold sore area. A dryness or burning sensation is also noticeable in this case. This stage may last from a few hours to a few days before entering into the next stage.
3. Inflammation Stage- Now, after arriving at the surface, the virus begins its reproduction cycle, entering into a more intense stage. In this stage, there is an appearance of redness and swelling at the spot of the cold sore. This happens as a result of the cold sore herpes virus invading the body cell.
4. Pre-Sore Stage- Sores in this stage are identified by the appearance of cold sore vesicles. This is a grouping of several small blisters. These blisters look like tiny hard pimples that are very painful when touched.
5. Open Sore Stage- This stage is extremely contagious, and also the most painful stage of all the cold sore stages. In it, all the small blisters break open and create one big weeping sore after merging together. This stage may cause a fever.
6. Crusting Stage- This stage is marked with the turning of cold sore into a yellowish scab or crust. The sore is still painful, although not as much as in the preceding stage.
7. Healing Stage- Once scabbed over, the cold sores start healing from inside out. In this stage, a new skin starts forming below the crust.
8. Post-Scab Stage- In this stage, the skin is totally healed and no cold sore scab is visible.
Hence, it is evident from these stages of a cold sore that the second stage to the last stage, the sore is very active and extremely contagious. The average life span of the cold sore is three to four weeks. Very often, it also depends upon the stage at which the health treatment is sought.
Cold sore virus is one of the most contagious viruses in the world. It is also one of the oldest. Today, it has acquired epidemic proportions, and causes cold sores. The cold sore virus is medically known as the Herpes Simplex virus (HSV). There are two types of cold sore virus: Type 1 and Type 2. In many cases of cold sore diseases, it is Type 1 virus which is mainly responsible. Type 2 strain is the virus that causes genital herpes. It is rarer than Type 1 virus.
The cold sore virus attacks when the immune system of the body decreases, or cells of the body lose their defensive ability. The body's immune system could go down due to physical or mental stress. It is common for viruses to be present in human bodies, but the cold sore virus is entirely different. Other viruses come and go, but the cold sore virus remains dormant in the nerve cell fibers and attacks when the body's immunity weakens as stress level increases. As soon as this happens, the cold sore virus moves to the surface of the body along the nerve fibers and starts replicating.
A cold sore results in the elevation of the skin, particularly on lips, cheeks, and chin. This spot is more commonly known as cold sore vesicles or tiny hard group of blisters. In some time, all the small blisters break open and merge to form a big blister. The cold sore is highly contagiousat this stage. After a span of time, the blister turns yellowish and a crust forms over it. The healing process of the cold sore begins from here. However, it must be noted that it does not mean the cold sore is wiped out. I lies dormant in the body throughout its life the the immune system slackens, cold sore reoccurs. Remember, once inside a body, the cold sore virus it will remain in it the entire life.
Till date, medical science has found no permanent solution for cold sores. One has to allow the virus to run its course. That said, it doesn't mean that there is no remedy at all to reduce the span of a cold sore outbreak. There are pills and lotions that can be used as a preventive measure against the cold sore virus. Apart from these, there are some natural remedies that are known to reduce the total time of healing cold sores. The increase of Lysine, a protein, has proven to be effective in shortening the duration of cold sore. It replaces another protein Arginine which is crucial for the virus to be able to replicate. The cold sore virus, therefore, retreats from the surface if the cell does not have Argenine.
HSV or Herpes Simplex Virus causes cold sores. This disease is mostly found in adults. Since it is highly contagious, it can spread even when kissed by someone who has cold sores. In children, there might be no symptoms at all the first time they get infected. They may have a fever or mouth sores that clear up in 2-3 weeks.
The virus (HSV) that causes cold sores is of two types. They are called type 1 and type 2. Both the strains of the virus cause cold sores. Type 1 is responsible for the disease in most of the cases while Type 2 is rarer, and is the strain that causes Genital Herpes.
The most common cause of cold sores is HSV-1. Many people get infected by Herpes Simplex Virus -1 in the age group of 3-5. People can become infected with HSV-1 through various ways. This may include coming in contact with an already infected person, ingestion of contaminated fluids that have been coughed or sneezed into, or coming in contact with objects which a cold sore-infected person has touched. Cold sores virus being extremely contagious, many people get infected with Type 1 very early in life. However, they may get their first cold sore only after puberty. Once infected, the HSV-1 virus will remain inside the person's body throughout his life.
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The Type-2 virus or Herpes Simplex Virus-2 is less common than HSV-1. It mainly causes Genital Herpes. This virus generally affects the lower part of the body, or below a person's waist. In rare cases, however, it can also cause cold sores.
A number of factors can activate cold sores in a person infected with Herpes Simplex Virus-1. Fever, a bad cold, stress, skin damage and other factors that cause the weakening of the immune system can lead to cold sores. Even sunburned or chapped lips or can increase the possibility of a cold sore outbreak. Women who are menstruating or pregnant also run a greater risk of triggering cold sores.
Most of the people come to experience the Cold Sore very few times in life. Some, on the other hand, experience cold sores more regularly. There is no permanent cure or treatment for cold sores. Also, this problem is hard to control as there are so many causes that can lead to cold sores. One must remember that the cold sore virus is not only activated by physical factors, but emotional stress or being upset for prolonged periods of time can also lead to the outbreak of cold sores.
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A cold sore is said to occur when there is a collection of fluid that causes the elevation of the skin. It separates the skin into an upper layer and a lower layer. The outbreak of blisters on the skin causes an ulcer. It is typically associated with the HSV-1 virus appearing on the lips, face and inside the mouth as small ulcerations or blisters. Cold sores are caused by HSV (Herpes Simplex Virus).
Cold sores look like fluid-filled blisters and appear on swollen areas of skin or on mucous membrane. These areas can be painful and tender. The blisters can be healed without leaving a scar, but many times they have a tendency to re-ocurr.
HSV-1can be spread by personal contact like kissing. Many people come in contact with the virus at the age of three to five, but discover it only after puberty. The virus, when active, throngs the epidermis cells, the outer layer of the skin, and causes the blisters to occur. This virus travels from roots of nerves to epidermis along nerve fibers and becomes active once it reaches the surface. It happens when the body's immune system is weak due to physical or mental stress.
Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) is of two types. These are HSV-1 and HSV-2. The HSV-1 is very common and causes cold sores. HSV-2 is rarer, and is the cause of Genital Herpes. Both the types can infect the mucous membrane, or any part of the skin. About 80% of the world's adult population has natural immunity against HSV-1. On the other hand, approximately 25% of the adult population has immunity against the HSV-2 in their blood.
Symptoms The symptoms of the infection occur in different ways. A few people have only mild symptoms, while many don't have any. After contracting the virus, the first outbreak occurs within 1-3 weeks. And it grows rapidly within a few weeks. Everytime the HSV gets reactivated, the blisters will re-occur. The very first symptom is an unpleasant prickling feeling on the skin. Later, it turns into a fluid-filled blister. The virus affects the throat and mouth in children. This may be accompanied by general aches, fever, and pain.
How to Prevent Cold Sores
* Avoid contact with cold sores. They may appear virtually on all parts of body, including genitals and fingers.
* You need to clean your hands after touching lips.
* Do not touch the sores as there is a possibility of its spread to other body parts. It may also cause the bacterial infection on open sores.
* Exercise regularly, eat a healthy and nutritious diet, and sleep well. These help in strengthening the body's immune system.
* Exposure to sunlight can cause the reactivation of blisters. So, it is advisable to use a sunblock to prevent reactivation.
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