A cold sore is a small painful blister that appears on the lips
, the mouth or the nose. It is caused by the herpes simplex virus. Once you have this virus, it does not leave your body and the sores will recur.
There will be tingling and pain in the area prior to the formation of small blisters. Itching may also occur. In some cases you may experience a fever, swollen lymph glands in the neck area and headaches.
After the appearance of the blisters, the sores will break open. It will leak some fluid and crust over. The sore will generally disappear after a few days, but can take up to two weeks.
This infection is contagious. It is spread by close contact with sores. The most contagious stage is when there are blisters present. The risk of transfer is lessened once the blisters have dried and crusted. This normally takes a few days to occur.
Cold sores will normally start healing on their own within a few days. However, if there is pain or you are embarrassed by them, there are treatments available. There are ointments and skin creams that are available over the counter. There are also pills that you can take for the infection. There are some suggested home remedies that you can try. The application of garlic oil on the sore has proven effective. Applying pure Aloe Vera gel is also suggested.
You can prevent getting the virus by not making contact with people who are infected. Do not use utensils etc. That have been used by those who are infected. Use sunscreen and lip balm as too much sunlight can be a cause. If you suffer from this infection regularly, you should talk to your health-care professional about it. You may be able to get prescribed medication to avoid recurrence.