What are the symptoms of a cold sore?

One of the first signs of having the cold sore virus is that you may experience slight flu-like symptoms. You won't actually get a cold sore from your first exposure to the virus and in fact only a third of the people who get the virus ever develop cold sores at all! If you are one of the third, a day before getting the sore, your mouth or lips will probably tingle, itch, or feel quite warm in places. You will then develop a small cluster of blisters which will eventually become a painful sore. Over the next 7 to 10 days, the sore will crust over and slowly go away completely.

How can you get cold sores?

Cold sores are caused by an infectious virus and can be caught from kissing or sharing make up, a drink or a utensil like a spoon or a fork with someone who has a cold sore. You can also catch the virus from a person’s saliva who doesn't have a visible cold sore at the time. Unfortunately, the bad news is once you get the virus, you will always have it. It will lie dormant in your body until it's triggered and causes a cold sore.

How can I prevent cold sores?

In order to help you stay cold sore free, you need to keep your immune system as healthy as possible for one. That means eat healthily and try to cut down on snacks, cut down or cut out cigarettes and alcohol, get plenty of rest, exercise, and just keep good general health. For some people, exposure to sunlight can cause outbreaks from the UV rays so use a lip moisturiser with a sunblock in it whenever you are out and about.

Can the cold sore infection spread to other parts of my body?

Yes, cold sores are highly contagious and can spread to other areas. This is particularly worrying if it spreads to the eye as it can cause inflammation to various parts of the eye. If this happens you should consult your doctor.

Avoid touching, squeezing, or pinching blisters because the virus can easily spread to other parts of the lips or face and infect other parts of the body. Do not touch the active cold sore, and keep your hands clean with soap, warm water and clean towels.

How can I minimise the spread of the cold sore infection?

You can help minimise the spread of the cold sore virus by not touching the cold sores unless you are applying a cream and always washing your hands before and after applying the cream and after touching the affected area (www.nhs.uk)

What are cold sores ?

Cold sores are a very common infection caused by the herpes simplex virus and treatment should be started as soon as the first symptoms appear. A cold sore has nothing to do with a common cold or with getting a fever. Cold sores are caused by the Herpes virus 1 (HSV1). The outward symptoms are manifested as fluid-filled blisters around the oral cavity, especially on the lips.

The cold sore starts as a tingling or itchy feeling in the infected area and slowly swells into a blister. Cold sores can last up to 10 days if not treated, and eventually heal on their own. The virus still resides in the nerve cells, and a new cold sore can develop weeks, months or even years later.

Are cold sores contagious?

Cold sores are highly contagious but it does require reasonably close contact to spread the virus. If you are a sufferer you must ensure that you don’t touch your sores and spread it to other locations on your body or to other people. Make sure that you wash your hands thoroughly and avoid kissing anyone as that is one of the more common ways of spreading it.

How do you prevent cold sores?

The herpes simplex virus is spread by direct skin-to-skin or saliva based contact so avoid the following actions with anyone that has the virus and has an active cold sore: kissing, sharing utensils, napkins, drinks, toothbrushes, towels, or razors that have come in contact with a cold sore. Also avoid touching another persons cold sore directly.

Will the virus go once the cold sore has disappeared?

If you have the Herpes Simplex Virus you will always have it. However for some people it can lay dormant within the central nervous system and never reactivate to cause cold sores.

Once the Herpes virus enters the body it stays for life, most of the time hiding dormant in the cranial nerves near the spine. The virus can be triggered by outside stress, such as exposure to sunlight, fatigue, a fever or emotional distress.

How long will it take for my cold sore to clear?

Most cold sores disappear within a week to 10 days and generally heal without scarring. (www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk)