Information on Cold Sores

Cold sores or fever blisters are a sign of a more serious condition that, according to Skin Sight, affects 80 percent of Americans over the age of 30. Cold sores and fever blisters are chronic conditions that may reoccur periodically throughout a person's lifetime. Learn the cause, treatments and preventative information currently available on cold sores.

Definition

• Cold sores or fever blisters are fluid-filled skin lesions that typically form on the lip or around the lip area. These blisters burst open easily, leaving an open sore that scabs over and eventually falls off after seven to 10 days.

Causes

• Cold sores are a symptom of the herpes virus. Typically these are symptoms of herpes simplex 1, though herpes simplex 2 can also cause fever blisters.

Treatments

• There is no cure for cold sores or the herpes virus that causes them. Topical medications, lidocaine and benzyl alcohol help to relieve the pain, while antiviral medications such as acyclovir, valacyclovir and famciclovir can shorten the recovery time of cold sores.

Prevention/Solution

• When a cold sore is highly contagious it can be spread to other parts of your body as well as to other people. To prevent spreading the virus, when you have a cold sore avoid kissing others, touching the affected area, having unprotected sex, and sharing items such as towels that come in close contact with the skin.

Considerations

• Cold sores are typically preceded by pain, itching or tingling at the eruption site two days before the blister appears. If you notice these symptoms or when you see a cold sore/fever blister has formed, avoid close contact with people because you are contagious and can pass on the herpes virus fairly quickly. It is important to visit a doctor as soon as a cold sore forms so you can be properly diagnosed.