Do you suffer from cold sores? Some people seem to be more susceptible than others.
There is nothing worse than looking in the mirror and seeing a new cold sore.
So what cause them, and more importantly, how can you get rid of them? Cold sores appear because of the herpes simplex virus (HSV).
They are highly contagious.
Once contracted, the virus will stay in the body for your life time.
Viruses enter your body orally (through your mouth) and then attack your nerve tissues, from where they travel through your nervous system.
The virus lays dormant in your body until favourable conditions occur to activate it.
The virus can be transmitted from one person to another by coughing, kissing, sneezing or touch.
Once activated, the blisters can first be seen through a slight iteration on your lips or face.
Lumps under your skin try to grow and push up at your pores.
The blisters, once visible will stay around for between ten days and three weeks.
Once they disappear, the blisters will again return to a dormant state.
So how do you get rid of cold sores quickly once they appear? After all no one wants them on their face for any longer than they have to! The good news is that you can actually get rid of your cold sores in a variety of ways with the help of various creams and drugs.
However, before starting any treatment, you need to be sure that your blister is indeed a cold sore to ensure you choose the right treatment.
It is common for people to get confused between cold sores with canker sores.
So how do you tell the difference? Well, cold sore blisters are red and pussy, whereas canker sores are small white bacterial infections in the mouth.
Once you are sure your blister is a cold sore, it is important to treat it as quickly as possible, early treatment will avoid triggering the virus.
Once the virus is in your body, the blisters can appear because of stress or anxiety, or from a diet that includes salty and acidic foods.
Pregnancy or menstruation can also trigger the blisters, as can exposure to cold weather and health problems such as colds or the flu.
So to the treatment of cold sores.
To avoid the spreading of cold sores around your mouth, you must take the time to clean them.
The best method of cleaning is to use hot, soapy water with a clean cloth to thoroughly wash the blister and it surrounding area.
While washing, avoid rubbing the cold sore too much as it may cause further irritation and infection.
It is important to avoid skin to skin infection, so avoid touching the cold sores.
After cleaning, cover the blister with a petroleum jelly based cream.
Petroleum based creams are very effective in healing the cold sores.
They work by sealing the herpes virus, thus minimizing the chances of infection and irritation.
If your cold sores do become infected, use a simple pain relief ointment like Neosporin.
The simple steps above should get rid of your cold sores quickly.
If however the cold sores are still visible after two to three weeks, you should seek medical advice, particularly if they become infected.
Your doctor will then prescribe stronger tablets to cure the blisters and reduce the pain and irritation.