Cold Sore Cure

Cold sore symptoms are not exactly the same for every individual, but there is a common thread of symptoms among all of us.
Being able to effectively cope with your cold sores depends greatly on your awareness of your cold sore symptoms. This knowledge is critical if you want to reduce the severity, or completely eliminate, cold sores in your life.
After reading this article, you will have the facts you need to identify your cold sore symptoms and choose an appropriate treatment. Often, with proper and timely action, you can be outbreak free for life.
Quite likely you know by now that cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus, either type 1 or type 2. As long as the virus remains dormant, you will not experience any symptoms.
But if the virus becomes active, you will begin to encounter an avalanche of cold sore symptoms at the target area.
The first symptom that you will notice is often called the itching stage. At this stage your body is sensing the virus moving from cell to cell of that nerve, toward the surface. Although itching is quite common, you may also experience dryness, tingling, or burning sensation.
Fact: When you start feeling these first symptoms, a cold sore is very close, perhaps only hours. If you act quickly, you can stop it and send the virus back into hibernation. Now is the time to apply a good cold sore treatment or ice to the target area. You may, as some folks have, start taking lysine capsules.
If you do not have a cold sore treatment with you, hold ice or a cold drink to the area. The cold will discourage, or at least delay, the virus from trying to replicate. Even if you do not stop it dead, the continuing symptoms could be a lot less severe.
The next symptom to expect is the inflammation stage.
The cold sore symptoms here include little red bumps, often mistaken for pimples. These painful. Swelling begins, along with enlargement of the lymph glands under the jaw.
Additional symptoms include headaches, malaise, and a slight fever.
Fever reducers and pain relievers are often used during this time. Some remedies at your local store may contain numbing agents. They help for comfort but do little to prevent or shorten the outbreak. Ice is excellent to reduce this symptom.
The next symptom of a cold sore is the open sore. The red bumps burst and merge, usually into one or two large open sores. This is a painful and very unsightly period. The sore is weeping a fluid that is teaming with newly created virus. Headaches, fever and painful lymph glands are common here.
Fact: Although cold sores are contagious from start to finish, the open sore and scab stages are dangerously contagious. Alcohol kills viruses and will keep the wound clean. Use extreme caution not to spread it, especially to your eyes. Eye damage can result.
This open sore now leads into the crust stage which delivers more uncomfortable cold sore symptoms. It is still very painful to the touch. The yellowish crust often cracks when you eat or smile, creating additional pain. You still may be bothered with headaches and fever. Your enlarged lymph glands will begin going back toward normal now. There will continue to be itching and much discomfort as the wound heals under the scab.
Your scab may last up to a week or so. Even though new skin covers the area, you will notice a reddish look and still some discomfort. The sore is still healing below the new skin. It is a deep wound so this may take another week or more. Fever and headaches should now be gone and your lymph gland should be greatly reduced.
Sorry, but you are still contagious until the redness is completely gone. Also, be warned that during this final cold sore symptom, the sore can come right back at you.
Keep treating it with ice or the cold sore treatment of your choice. Ice provides welcome relief during any stage or symptom, although it may slow healing at this point by driving blood away from the area.
Reducing or eliminating cold sores in your life depends on early detection and active treatment of your cold sore symptoms.

What are cold sores? If you want to know, this article was written for you. Now you will know exactly what cold sores are – and what cold sores are not.
Cold sores, also called fever blisters and oral herpes, are painful, unsightly blisters that normally occur on the edge of the lips. They can also appear in other locations, such as nostrils, neck, cheek – and even on the fingertips.
Cold sores may also appear on the roof of the mouth or on the gums. This is very rare. But, because of this, cold sores are often confused with canker sores.
Here are some differences between the two that may help you determine what are canker sores and what are cold sores.
1. Canker sores always occur inside the mouth, usually on the softer tissue.
2. Cold sores are caused by a virus – canker sores are not.
3. Cold sores are contagious – canker sores are not.
Cold sores are very common. Nearly nine out of ten people worldwide carry the herpes simplex virus that causes cold sores. Only about 66% of these know what cold sores are because they get them regularly. Two strains of this virus – herpes simplex virus type 1 and type 2 – are responsible for cold sores and genital herpes sores.
Type 1 is most prevalent in facial sores. Type 2 is most apparent in below-the-waist sores. As far as we can tell, sores created by either type are identical in every respect. They appear the same, feel the same and last just as long.
Here are the main cold sore symptoms that define the five different stages of cold sores. Average duration from first itching to final healing can range from 18 to 28 days – depending on your health and the treatments you use.
1. Itching and tingling in the target area just prior to the outbreak.
2. Swelling of the area along with formation of small and painful fluid-filled blisters.
3. Large, open sore develops when these little blisters break and merge.
4. Headaches, fever and swollen lymph glands under the jaw are painfully apparent.
5. Yellowish scab forms over the sore and heals without a scar.
When first infected, these symptoms may not appear for 15 to 20 days – or not at all. Often, initial symptoms are so mild that you may not know you have been infected. These may include fever and sore throat. The herpes virus, for the most part, will lie dormant in your nerve ganglia (the nerve roots) below the skin.
Now, when conditions are right, it will travel to the surface to replicate. The virus, being exceedingly small, will enter a nerve cell. It then takes control and forces the cell to create copies of itself. Once the cell is full, the controlling virus destroys the cell to release the new virus. Millions of such exploded cells in close proximity cause the swelling and open sore.
Cold sores are contagious during the entire cold sore event. You are extremely contagious once the sore has broken open – until it is totally healed. The fluid that weeps from the sore is teeming with active herpes virus. Kiss or touch is the normal means of spreading this virus. If you have a cold sore, be particularly cautious around infants or others. Also, be conscious that if the virus gets in the eye, it can cause cornea blisters. The permanent result is damaged vision.
Cold sore remedies may include over-the-counter creams and ointments. These will provide comfort, but do not expect them to speed healing. Fever, headache and swollen glands can be treated with your usual medicine for fever and headaches.
Using ice, particularly before the scab forms, will give pain relief, reduce the heat, and help drive the herpes virus back into hibernation. Keep the wound clean with alcohol on a cotton ball or swab.
Prevention includes care in not spreading to others or other parts of your own body. Avoid kissing when active cold sores are present. Keep hands clean. Cold sores itch and hurt a lot. Only touch sores with a cotton ball or tissue. Avoid sharing items with others, such as towels, when you or they have an active cold sore.
As we have seen, cold sores are facial sores caused by the herpes simplex virus. We have also seen that they are extremely contagious to others as well as to your self. Finally, in reviewing what are cold sores, we talked about basic cold sore care.
The good news is there are newly discovered and simply amazing natural cold sore remedies coming out all the time now. Some of these can cut the healing time in half, or more. And can actually prevent them in the future. Not every cold sore remedy works for everyone. You will need to do some trial-and-error to find what works for you.
What are cold sores? For most folks, they are a source of much pain, embarrassment and irritation. But, with a little research and testing, there is simply no reason for you to suffer from cold sores again.

What are cold sores? A common question as the cold sore epidemic grows. There is a lot of confusion and mis-information about cold sores around the internet. Let us take a look at the facts.

Cold sores, also called fever blisters and oral herpes, are painful, unsightly blisters that normally occur on the edge of the lips. They can also appear in other locations, such as nostrils, neck, cheek – and even on the fingertips.

Cold sores may also appear on the roof of the mouth or on the gums. This is very rare. But, because of this, cold sores are often confused with canker sores.

Here are some differences between the two that may help you determine what are canker sores and what are cold sores.

1. Canker sores always occur inside the mouth, usually on the softer tissue.

2. Cold sores are caused by a virus – canker sores are not.

3. Cold sores are contagious – canker sores are not.

Cold sores are very common. Nearly nine out of ten people worldwide carry the herpes simplex virus that causes cold sores. Only about 66% of these know what cold sores are because they get them regularly. Two strains of this virus – herpes simplex virus type 1 and type 2 – are responsible for cold sores and genital herpes sores.

Type 1 is most prevalent in facial sores. Type 2 is most apparent in below-the-waist sores. As far as we can tell, sores created by either type are identical in every respect. They appear the same, feel the same and last just as long.

Here are the main cold sore symptoms that define the five different stages of cold sores. Average duration from first itching to final healing can range from 18 to 28 days – depending on your health and the treatments you use.

1. Itching and tingling in the target area just prior to the outbreak.

2. Swelling of the area along with formation of small and painful fluid-filled pimple-like blisters.

3. Large, open sore develops when these little blisters break and merge.

4. Headaches, fever and swollen lymph glands under the jaw are painfully apparent.

5. Yellowish scab forms over the sore and heals without a scar.

When first infected, these symptoms may not appear for 15 to 20 days – or not at all. Often, initial symptoms are so mild that you may not know you have been infected. These may include fever and sore throat. The herpes virus, for the most part, will lie dormant in your nerve ganglia (the nerve roots) below the skin.

Now, when conditions are right, it will travel to the surface to replicate. The virus, being exceedingly small, will enter a nerve cell. It then takes control and forces the cell to create copies of itself. Once the cell is full, the controlling virus destroys the cell to release the new virus. Millions of such exploded cells in close proximity cause the swelling and open sore.

Cold sores are contagious during the entire cold sore event. You are extremely contagious once the sore has broken open – until it is totally healed. The fluid that weeps from the sore is teeming with active herpes virus. Kiss or touch is the normal means of spreading this virus.

If you have a cold sore, be particularly cautious around infants or others. Also, be conscious that if the virus gets in the eye, it can cause cornea blisters. The permanent result is damaged vision.

Cold sore remedies may include over-the-counter creams and ointments. These will provide comfort, but do not expect them to speed healing. Fever, headache and swollen glands can be treated with your usual medicine for fever and headaches.

Using ice, particularly before the scab forms, will give pain relief, reduce the heat, and help drive the herpes virus back into hibernation. Keep the wound clean with alcohol on a cotton ball or swab.

Prevention includes care in not spreading to others or other parts of your own body. Avoid kissing when active cold sores are present. Keep hands clean. Cold sores itch and hurt a lot. Only touch sores with a cotton ball or tissue. Avoid sharing items with others, such as towels, when you or they have an active cold sore.

As we have seen, cold sores are facial sores caused by the herpes simplex virus. We have also seen that they are extremely contagious to others as well as to your self. Finally, in reviewing what are cold sores, we talked about basic cold sore care.

The good news is there are newly discovered and simply amazing natural cold sore remedies coming out all the time now. Some of these can cut the healing time in half, or more. And can actually prevent them in the future. Not every cold sore remedy works for everyone. You will need to do some trial-and-error to find what works for you.

What are cold sores? For most folks, they are a source of much pain, embarrassment and irritation. But, with a little research and testing, there is simply no reason for you to suffer from cold sores again.