Well.ca / blog

The unfortunate truth is that many people suffer from cold sores – it’s estimated that 1 in 5 Canadians is affected by cold sores every year! They’re painful, embarrassing and can last up to 10 agonizing days. But what exactly are cold sores, what causes them, and how can they be prevented and treated? Read on…

What are cold sores?

A cold sore – sometimes called a fever blister – starts off as a tingling, burning, or itching sensation on your lip which soon turns into a small red bump on the outside of your mouth. Often within a day or two blisters will appear, which then break, ooze and form a yellow crust. Cold sores can also form on the nostrils, chin and fingers, although this is rare.

What causes cold sores?

The Herpes Simplex1 virus is the culprit responsible for cold sores. Most people become infected with the virus when they’re still children and once you get it, it stays with you for life. The virus is passed on through close skin contact, kissing, and sharing items such as eating utensils, towels and lip balm. It’s important to know that cold sores are very contagious and can be passed on even when there’s no cold sore in sight. Cold sores are most contagious when the blisters burst and release fluid. Be sure to wash your hands a lot when you do have an outbreak to avoid infecting others or spreading the virus to other parts of your body.

How can I prevent cold sores?

While there’s no cure, knowing what factors induce cold sores can help you prevent them. If you do suffer from cold sores, you should know what can trigger them:

• Stress
• Fatigue
• Weakened immune system
• Sunburns and excess exposure to sunlight
• Menstruation
• Dry, chapped lips
• A common cold or flu
• Foods high in arginine such as chocolate, nuts and caffeine

How can I treat cold sores?

Thankfully there are treatments that can speed the healing of cold sores and lessen the symptoms. You should start applying your treatment as soon as you feel the tingle, if possible. Here are a few options for treatment:

• Lip Clear Lysine+
• Erpace Cold Sores Lip Balm – a homeopathic lip balm
• Abreva Cold Sore Treatment
• Lipactin Gel
• Jamieson Zinc Lozenges - can be taken as a supplement and applied topically
• Holista Bee Propolis 500 mg
• Jamieson Echinacea to boost your immune system
• Apply moistened tea bags (black tea) to the area for a few minutes every hour – tea contains tannin, which is a natural astringent and is believed to have antiviral properties

The most important thing to remember about cold sores is that they will go away, even without treatment, and you’re not alone!

(Picture from here)

Tags: cold sores, featured, fever blisters, remedies