Cold Sores

Cold sores can be very annoying especially since they can appear at any time. They are small lesions that appear around the mouth. They are highly contagious and can be passed from one person to another by close direct contact. They are caused by the Herpes Simplex Virus type 1 (HSV-1) and sometimes by the Herpes Virus type 2 (HSV-2).

Once infected, they can remain dormant for a long time. Various triggers can activate HSV-1, causing an outbreak of cold sores. The triggers can vary from person to person. Cold sores can occur at different intervals for example once or twice a year, or never.

Cold sore triggers can include:

• Psychological stress,
• Fatigue and tiredness,
• An injury to the affected area,
• Menstruation , and
• Strong sunlight.

In the rare cases where they are caused by HSV-2, it is because of having oral sex with someone with genital herpes.

Cold Sores Symptoms

In many cold sores cases, there is no symptom for the primary infection. Most people never know they have cold sores until they have an outbreak. There are a few symptoms to look out for though and they include:

• Headaches,
• Sore throat and swollen glands,
• Producing more saliva than normal,
• Swollen and irritated gums, with small painful sores in and around the mouth,
• Fever,
• Dehydration, and
• Nausea.

If you have frequent recurrent infections, they usually start with a tingling, itching or burning sensation around the mouth. They will normally occur around the same spot. They may weep, and eventually grow a crust within 48 hours of the initial tingling sensation.

Treatment of Cold Sores

Antiviral and non-antiviral cold sore creams may speed up the healing or recurrent infection. These creams are available over the counter. They should be used on the first signs of when the virus is spreading and replicating itself. Using after this initial period is unlikely to have much effect.

When applying the creams, you should dab on them, rather than rubbing. Before and after applying the cream, you should wash your hands with soap and water. Avoid touching cold sores or sharing the creams in order to prevent their further spread.

Miracles for Men always recommend that you consult your physician before you start any over the counter treatments.

Prevention of Cold Sores

It is not possible to prevent outbreaks of cold sores. However, to minimize their spread you can try the following:

• Do not share items that come into contact with the affected areas,
• Avoid kissing or oral sex until the cold sores are completely healed,
• Avoid touching your cold sores unless applying creams,
• If you have, cold sores avoid coming into contact with people susceptible to cold sores. These include babies, pregnant women and people with low immunity,

If you have recurring cold sores and know what triggers them, avoid such triggers. The problem is that one can never know if they are infected until you get the cold sores.

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