It’s happened to lots of folks: You begin to see a spot develop on your lip or elsewhere around the mouth – the first signs of a cold sore. Catching coldsores is definitely not a fun thing – it causes you to have to take extra precautions sharing items…and even sharing intimacy with someone. So with this in mind, you will want to do all you can to prevent cold sores – and treat them properly when you can’t.
Coldsores are the product of a virus which causes an oral form of herpes to occur. This illness will generally manifest itself as a blister or series of blisters surrounding the mouth, and inflammation occurs within the gums and cheeks. Ulcers can develop which can hurt, and people even develop sore throats sometimes as a result of this viral infection. In some cases, fever breaks out, and swollen lymph nodes and trouble swallowing can occur. The life cycle of this infection tends to be a couple of weeks.
There is no specific thing that may trigger outbreaks once you have the virus. As with anything, stress could play a major role. Being sick already might also play heavily into developing sores – particularly if you’re already suffering from a cold (seems logical, given the name). Unfortunately, there are no ready cures for cold sores, and you may always be dealing with potential outbreaks.
Even though there is no actual cure, there are ways to treat the infection and to help prevent outbreaks. One thing that you can do if you sense a cold sore breakout coming on is to apply a topical cream or take medication that can alleviate the problem and stave off an outbreak. You can also do your part to avoid contracting the herpes virus by being vigilant enough to be careful who you’re sharing items with. Don’t drink from someone else’s drinks; don’t share items like lipstick or such; don’t kiss someone or otherwise be intimate unless you know whether the person has these sores or not. In addition, a healthier lifestyle and sleep patterns can prevent outbreaks
Catching coldsores can be a huge burden – but if they are treated or prevented, life can be a lot smoother.
