What exactly is a cold sore and how do you get rid of it?

Answer 1

I googled and found this for you...

Cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus, which is believed to lie dormant in certain nerve cells of the body until it is activated by stress, anxiety, a cold, or excessive exposure to the sun. The sores last anywhere from 7 to 14 days.
Although some use the terms "cold sore" and "canker sore" interchangeably, they are different. Unlike cold sores, canker sores are bacterial infections inside the mouth that are characterized by small, round, white areas surrounded by a sharp halo of red. And, while cold sores are highly contagious, canker sores are not.

Unfortunately, attempting to camouflage a cold sore with makeup often aggravates the problem. Still, while you can't do much about the way a cold sore looks, you can do a few things to help decrease discomfort, speed healing, and keep it from coming back. You can even take steps to prevent passing on your cold sore to others. Here's how:

1. Cover cold sores with a protective petroleum-based product. This will speed healing and help protect it from secondary infection with bacteria.

2. Reach for aspirin, acetaminophen, or ibuprofen. Cold sores can be quite painful. Over-the- counter painkillers can help.

3. Avoid salty or acidic foods. Foods such as potato chips or citrus fruits can further irritate cold sores and add to the pain.

4. Apply an over-the-counter anesthetic. A local anesthetic ointment containing benzocaine can help numb the pain temporarily.

5. Consult your health-care provider. If you have frequent or severe cold sores, see your doctor. In some cases, an antiviral medication called acyclovir can be prescribed.

6. Protect your lips from the sun. Applying sunscreen to your lips may help prevent sun-induced recurrences of cold sores. Look for a sunscreen designed especially for the lips that has an SPF of 15 or higher. Or, choose a lipstick that contains sunscreen.

7. Keep it to yourself. Cold sores are extremely contagious. Avoid kissing and sharing cups, towels, or other such items. Wash your hands frequently, especially after touching cold sores. And take care not to touch your eyes or genitals immediately after touching cold sores.

Hope this is the info you wanted...take care and enjjoy your day.

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

Herpies Symplex 2

Cold Sore medicine

Answer 4

Like many before me have said, a cold sore is an outbreak of the herpes simplex virus (HSV1). It is estimated that over 90% of Americans carry the virus, but only about 30% of those have cold sore outbreaks.

Cold sore treatment options vary widely. There is prescription medication, over-the-counter medication, and home remedies for cold sores - many of which work remarkably well.

Here are some links to a site that helped me with my own cold sore problems. Since I used some of the methods outlined here, I haven't had a problem.

Outlines a bunch of cold sore remedies that work, both medicinal and home treatments:

http://www.coldsore911.com/cold-sore-treatment/ultimate-cold-sore-treatments-guide/

Entire glossary listing all of the best cold sore treatments compiled on to one web page:

http://www.coldsore911.com/cold-sore-treatment/you-can-heal-cold-sores-faster/

That site is updated pretty regularly. Every time I go back there seems to be something new. Hope this helps!

Answer 5

A cold sore is part of the herpes virus. There are over the counter medications you can use, or you can get a prescription for Valtrex. They are very annoying, but they will go away on thier own in about a week. Abriva will help it heal faster, but only if you use the medication before the cold sore actually forms.

Answer 6

It a viral infection that lives in nerve endings. It a member of the Herpes family (like Chicken Pox). It cannot be cured but it will go away (become dormant). Because it lives in the nerve endings it will not spread on its own. It can be spread, however, by contact. If you kiss someone while you have the cold soar, the could get it. If you share a glass with someone, they could get it. A sex partner can get it if you perform oral sex while you have it. If you rub the soar and then touch your own or someone else's genital area you may spread it so wash your hands. The good news is that it is only contagious when you have a soar, more so when it first appears and it feels itchy. They last about 7-10 days but you can shorten the duration by applying over the counter stuff like Abreva (about $16/vial), or prescription stuff like Valtrex. You will find that some things trigger these soars like colds, too much sun light, stress. Be careful but realize that its not the end of the world. Good luck.

Answer 7

I have had success with using an amino acid protein called "L-Lysine". The dosage is about 1 gram per 10 pounds of body weight. That is a lot. whew...

But you have to take it the MOMENT you feel that tingly feeling on your lip. I carry those Lysine pills with me when I go on a trip. It just seems that the stress of a trip triggers the herpes virus.
So you take the pills when you first get that feeling. Then, an hour later, take half that amount of lysine AGAIN.
Then another 3 hours later 1/2 gram per ten pounds of bodyweight.
Keep taking that much lysine every 4 hours for two days.

You will never get another cold sore again. It will heal up in no time, it won't blister. But you have to have that lysine around just in case.

I hardly get outbreaks anymore.

This worked for me

Answer 8

I have been told that a cold sore no matter how you spell it is a form of Herpes. I'm not sure of the simplex though. I generally use some medicated blistex or some abreva, nothing really makes them go away faster than when you use something on them. Once while on vacation, I had four at one time, I looked like the green lipped monster.

Answer 9

A cold sore is a form of herpes. I have gotten them before but rarely. Buy a bottle of L-Lysine which is an essential amino acid and at the first hint of getting a cold sore take some L-Lysine tablets. It will shorten the duration of the cold sore considerably.

Answer 10

cold sore is herpes simplex, but don't be alarmed! I get it from time to time, and it's usually when I'm very tired or very stressed. There are many cold sore medications available but the best one I found is Zovirax (generic name acyclovir 1%). probably worthwhile if you look up www.aafp. org, i check this website if i am uncertain on medical terms.