Cold Sores - How to Prevent and Treat

Cold sores are minute, tender, fluid-filled blisters or sores that emerge on the lips, mouth, or nose that are caused by a virus. The sores can be sore and generally last a few days. The virus that induces cold sores is identified as the herpes simplex virus (HSV).

Herpes simplex infections are infectious. The virus is increase from being to being by kissing or other close contact with sores or even from contact with in fact normal skin that is shedding the virus. Infected saliva is also a means of spreading the virus.

Preventing cold sores grow to be easier once the common triggers have been identified. Extreme sun exposure, colds and flu, stress, pregnancy, lack of sleep and poor diet can all construct a cold sore sufferer more prone to outbreaks.

Treatment of Cold Sores

• Topical symptomatic treatments for instance topical lidocaine or benzyl alcohol (Zilactin) may help reduce symptoms.
• Using antiviral creams similar to aciclovir as soon as the sore begins.
• Give gentle pain relievers (not aspirins).
• Use of water based zinc gel on the sores to help them dry more rapidly.
• For simple, recurrent cold sores, valacyclovir is given as 2 grams orally every 12 hours for one day, and famciclovir is specified as 1,500 milligrams orally for one dose.

Cold Sore Prevention

• Eat a healthy diet to reduce the incidence of cold sores.
• Clean your hands vigilantly before touching another person when you have a cold sore.
• If probable try to avoid or prevent conditions that stress your body, for instance getting a cold or the flu, not getting enough sleep or staying in the sun for long periods of time without applying sunblock.
• Apply sunblock to your lips and face prior to prolonged exposure to the sun -during both the winter and the summer - to help avert cold sores.
• If the mother has herpes in the breast, desist from breast-feeding.