A Question about a cold sore???

Question

I have never had a cold sore befroe I have one now!!!
I am wondering what causes them and how to get rid of them fast?

Answer 1

Abreva. It's kinda expensive, but it's worth it.

Answer 2

Cold sores are caused by spread of the herpes virus. It is very common and you could have gotten during kissing or contact with the genital areas if you had given oral sex. You could also have gotten it from sharing something that someone with an outbreak used such as a towel, drinking glass, etc. It is important to remeber to wash your hands before and after using the toilet asyou could inadvertantly spread it from your lip to your own genitals during an outbreak. There are over the counter creams you can use like Carmex, our Blistex, I don't reccommend these as they can increase the spread f the outbreak affected area because they keep the "sore moist". Look into getting a cream with acyclovir in it or a pill from your doctor, both are availble with a perscription. This is the generic name, you can buy nam ebrand but it works the same, they will dry out the sore and stop the itching. Keep the area dry if possible and use a separate wash cloth to dry off your lip area when showering, remeber don't spread the pus from the sore. Lastly don't pick, or scratch the area. If you feel an itchy or burning lip in the future that is a sign you will have a cold sore coming, if you have the pills you can take some and it will stop or decrease the outbreak. Future outbreaks can happen if you are sun burned, stressed, or when you drink alchol or you are sick, and your immune system is compromised, Good luck.

Answer 3

it is herpes. You may have had it for a long time and just didnt know it. Your dr can give you a Rx and he/she may also be able to type it with bloodwork if you would like. If it is HSV1 you can give it to someone by kissing, sharing lipstick,...etc...and this type cannot be spread to the genital area. If it is typed as HSV2 (genital which you get from performing oral on an infected person) then you can give it to someone the same way as with HSV1 or you can give it to them by performing oral. So be careful with it. You can try some L-lysine tablets, abreva works for the pain and may resolve it faster, but you need to be on something like Valtrex. And you may not have another breakout for a while. They pick and choose when they want to appear, most commonly onset by stress.

Answer 4

Cold Sores


Herpes simplex is caused by a virus called HSV. HSV are of two types- HSV1 and HSV2. HSV 1 normally causes oral herpes or cold sores. The virus is normally contacted during childhood when a child is kissed by an infected person. Though HSV2 can also occur in the oral area, it rarely causes oral herpes. But the virus that causes cold sores can easily cause genital herpes.

Symptoms Of Cold Sores


Cold sores is also called fever blisters. The symptoms commonly appear on the lips. The other places that can get affected are - areas around the lips, on or inside the nose, cheek or chin. Usually most occurrences take place on and around the lips. Small fluid filled blisters appear on the affected skin singly or in a bunch. Over time, they ooze and crust over and resolve. If the sores are severe, this can be quite painful and troublesome. If the symptoms are mild, they can be confused with chapped lips, pimples, etc. Happily the recurrent episodes are milder than the first in most of the patients.

A phase called prodrome is present before the blisters appear. A day or two days before the appearance the affected skin may tingle, itch or pain. After that, the blisters will appear. The signs appear after about three weeks of contacting the virus. The blisters resolve within about ten days of appearance. After the symptoms resolve, the virus goes to the sleeping stage inside the body. It reappears as active cold sores, whenever the virus is triggered.


Causes Of Cold Sores


Cold sores form because of contact with anybody having oral herpes and virus transmission. Virus gets transmitted through mucous membrane or a cut in the skin. Once the herpes virus enters the body, it multiplies rapidly. This causes the first episode of oral herpes. After that, the virus finds a safe place in the body and stays there. After it is triggered, it goes back to the oral area and causes active cold sores again. The phase when the virus is inactive is called the sleep period or latency. Herpes is caused by two viruses- HSV1 and HSV2. Cold sores normally form because of HSV1. Even if you contact HSV2 in your mouth area, cold sores rarely form. Cold sores has episodes. The first episode will appear within three weeks of contacting the virus. The later episodes occur whenever the virus gets triggered. It is considered that sun exposure, stress, illnesses can trigger the virus from its sleeping stage.

Treatment Of Cold Sores

Anti-viral medication is prescribed to reduce the severity of the outbreak and the duration of the outbreak. If pain is present, any OTC painkiller may be taken. Warm or cold compresses can be used to ease the pain of the sores.

Prevention Of Cold Sores


* If a person is having active sores, sharing his/her items such as towels, utensils, can spread the virus. Avoid sharing till the active sores don't clear.

* Avoid touching active sores to prevent transmission of virus.

* If you suffer from cold sores, you should keep hands clean and try not to infect yourself in the genital area or the eyes area.

* Avoid triggers to prevent further outbreaks of cold sores.

Answer 5

It is part of the herpes family but it is very common. Your family doctor can give medication to help get rid of them and to prevent them. There are also many over the counter lip ointments that can help with pain and possibly speed the healing

Answer 6

USE CARMEX OR SOME OTHER OTC PRODUCT YOU GET AT THE DRUG STORE. COLD SORES ARE A TYPE OF HERPES, SO DON'T GO DOWN ON ANYONE WITH IT, AND DON'T KISS ANYONE WHO IS ABOUT TO GO DOWN ON YOU!!!!!!! COLD SORES ARE HERPES, AND CAN BE SPREAD TO THE GENITALS!!!!!

Answer 7

It's one of the herpes family of viruses. one of the most common. Not much you can do for it except keep it dry.

Answer 8

its a virus and the fastest way to get rid of one is to keep it dry

Answer 9

Salt. Hurts like hades, but makes it go away quickly.

Answer 10

if it's on your lip?you can get from drinking after or kissing someone.doctor's call them herpes,use chap stick.