Everyone who has had cold sores knows the need to treat them quickly to avoid the pain and discomfort they cause.
Cold sores are caused by a virus known as the herpes simplex virus (HSV) which hides deep in the nerve roots. Cold sores are small, painful, fluid-filled blisters or sores that appear on the lips, mouth, or nose and usually last a few days. The body's immune system normally has great difficulty in dealing with the virus which is why the sores often reoccur.
One should treat cold sores quickly as they are very contagious. The virus can be passed from one person to another by kissing or close contact with the sores or contact with what appears to be normal skin that is shedding the virus. Saliva if infected is another way the virus can be transmitted to others. If you have a cold sore, contact with infants, anyone who has eczema or people with a suppressed immune system, i.e. people with cancer, AIDS or an organ transplant, should be avoided.
After a few days when the blisters have dried and crusted over, the risk of passing the infection to others is greatly reduced. However, someone with the virus, even if a cold sore is not visible, can pass on the virus to another person via saliva.
To treat cold sores early one should be aware of the symptoms. Some people get an early warning of an impending viral attack. Typically this involves a burning or tingling sensation, called the prodrome, from a few hours or a few days prior to the appearance of the blisters. The area of the lips, mouth or nose may become reddened and develop small fluid filled blisters. Sometimes small blisters may come together to form a larger blister.
When cold sores reoccur, the blisters dry up more quickly but leave scabs that typically last from a day to several days. When people have weak immune systems, medical care should be sought to treat the cold sores early to avoid complications.
Steps can be taken to try and guard against cold sores and prevent them from spreading to other parts of ones body or being passed on to others. The following suggestions should be applied.
- Avoid kissing and skin contact with people while blisters are present; the virus can spread easily as long as there are moist secretions from your blisters.
- Keep your hands clean; wash your hands often, especially after touching an infected area.
- Avoid sharing items; cups, plates cutlery etc. should not be shared with others.
- Be careful about touching other parts of your body; eyes and genital area are particularly susceptible.
- Avoid triggers; avoid or prevent conditions that stress your body, such as colds and flu, lack of sleep and anxiety. - Use a sunblock; apply a sunblock to your lips and face before exposure to the sun.
Remember to act quickly to treat cold sores and minimise the discomfort they cause. There are many treatments available across the counter or from your family doctor, to treat cold sores, producing various results, but now there are extremely effective and fast acting natural treatments available that allow you to treat cold sores quickly and eliminate them forever. If you suffer from unsightly cold sores then you may want to investigate these natural treatments which so many people are now raving about.
Author Resource:
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