A cold sore (fever blister, oral herpes, herpes labialis) is a sore that appears most commonly around the mouth or on the lips. While there is no cure for oral herpes, treatment can reduce the duration of the cold sore and can decrease the pain and other uncomfortable symptoms. Not all medications work for everyone. Any patient with HSV infection who
develops sores near the eye, red eye, or eye pain, should see a clinician immediately for an eye exam, or if you have a fever or concerns for other severe symptoms. Causes & SymptomsCold sores are caused by the Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) and are transmitted by skin-to-skin contact with an infected person. HSV enters the body through small breaks in the skin, most commonly on or around the lips. There are two types of HSV. HSV-1 most often causes cold sores of the mouth and lips, and HSV-2 typically causes genital herpes. However, HSV-1 can be spread to the genitals through oral sex, and rarely HSV-2 can cause sores on the mouth and lips.
TreatmentGeneral treatment measures
Prescription medication
Nonprescription medications
Recurrence & PreventionThe virus remains in the body but lies dormant in a bundle of nerves called the trigeminal ganglion and stops causing infection. The virus may become active again and cause recurrent cold sores. Cold sores typically recur three to four times a year, although some people may develop more than one cold sore per month. The frequency and severity of outbreaks generally decreases over time. People often experience tingling, burning, or itching at the site prior to an outbreak. Outbreaks are often spontaneous, without a specific reason or cause, but some common triggers include:
To prevent recurrences, avoid trigger factors as much as possible, and:
The ability to infect others typically occurs when symptoms are present, including milder symptoms of tingling, burning, and itching. The virus can also reactivate without any symptoms, so a person can be contagious without having symptoms. Most of the time, the virus is inactive and cannot be transmitted. HSV prefers warm, moist environments with soft tissue (mucous membrane) such as the mouth or genital area, but can also spread to tougher skin if a cut or break in the skin is present. Autoinoculation, which occurs by touching the site of the infection and then touching a cut or mucus membrane, is possible but unlikely after the first episode. The following measures can reduce the likelihood of infecting others:
What gets rid of cold sores overnight?Unfortunately, you can't get rid of a cold sore in 24 hours, but you can shorten cold sore healing time and cut down the duration of painful cold sore symptoms. Just because there isn't a cure for cold sores, doesn't mean you have to suffer patiently until it clears up on its own.
Does ice or heat help cold sores?Cold sores thrive in a moist and warm environment. Creams and lotions provide exactly that. They moisten and release heat, thereby aggravating the sore. Ice lowers the temperature, dries and numbs that area.
What kills a cold sore fast?Creams that contain aciclovir, for example, can speed the healing of a cold sore by 1 day , on average. The antiviral medications aciclovir, valacyclovir, and famciclovir are also available as tablets.
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