If you are curious about cold sores, this article should answer a lot of your questions. We have learned so much about cold sores in recent years. Read this article and arm yourself with the facts about these unsightly blisters.nnCOLD SORES - WHAT ARE THEY?nnCold sores always seem to appear at the worst time. A cold sore is painful and embarrassing, and it definitely hurts your social life.nnWhether you call them cold sores, fever blisters or oral herpes, they are all the same infection. Cold sores can appear anywhere the virus can get through your skin. The lip area is usually the first infection site.nnHerpes simplex virus, either type 1 or type 2, produces all cold sores. It is a very damaging virus, as you will see.nnWhen this virus first infects you, it will choose a nerve set nearest its entry point. It will reside in that nerve for life. All cold sores caused by this virus family will be in the same location every time - on the end of that nerve.nnWHAT CAUSES COLD SORES?nnThe herpes virus is normally dormant in the root cells of its chosen nerve. If the conditions become right, this viral family will move to the surface, through the nerve, and enter thousands of cells.nnThe herpes virus is not able to create new virus by itself. It needs your nerve cells to do the work. When a herpes virus particle enters a cell, it forces the cell to create new virus - as a true parasite.nnSwelling of the area occurs as the cells fill up with the virus particles they are creating. When the cell is full to capacity, the controlling virus destroys it dumping out millions of new viruses.nnWhen the herpes virus annihilates many cells, you end up with an open wound called a cold sore. Painful they are because you now have exposed nerve endings.nnHOW CONTAGIOUS ARE COLD SORES?nnThe herpes simplex virus is an extremely tiny living particle. It enters the body through soft tissue - like lips - or through cracks in the skin. You are very contagious from the first itching until the final healing redness is gone.nnKissing is the usual way to pass on this virus. Contaminated fingers are also a common culprit. Please use every means to protect yourself and others. Use alcohol soaked tissues to cleanse the sore. Wash your hands afterwards.nnIt is possible to get cold sores anywhere on your body where the virus can get through to the soft tissue. Finger sores, arm sores and cheek sores do occur - mostly by carelessness with contaminated fingers and a crack in the skin.nnWatch out for your eyes. People do get cold sores in the eyes and it can cause permanent damage.nnAbout 90% of the people on earth carry this durable and contagious herpes virus. Approximately two-thirds of these folks will get at least one cold sore every 12 months.nnWHAT CAN I DO TO GET RID OF COLD SORES?nnThe most common trigger activating the herpes simplex virus is stress. When you have stress, your body prepares to deal with it. This causes a change in hormones and a drop in your pH toward the acid side. Herpes loves an acid body.nnYour body needs no help from you to heal oral herpes cold sores. But it is a slow process, often taking up to four weeks. You can cut this healing time in half with a good cold sore treatment.nnNatural home cold sore treatment methods are still your best choice. They give much greater success than the prescription drugs and store-bought remedies and will save you money.nnSome of the best cold sore treatment tactics include lysine, garlic oil and zinc. Although lysine and zinc work best internally (supplements), all three can be used topically as well.nnIt is critical for you to keep sterilizing the cold sore area with alcohol or peroxide - using cotton balls or tissues.nnOral herpes cold sores definitely put your social and private life on hold. Hopefully, with the information above, you are now better able to cope with those cold sore attacks.nnYou need to try different cold sore treatment methods to discover the best one for you. Then you too can be cold sore free for the rest of your life.
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