Facts About Cold Sores And The Cold Sore Virus
Facts About Cold Sores And The Cold Sore Virus |
| Articles |
      
If you are curious about cold sores, this article should answer a lot of your questions. We have learned so much about cold sores in recent years. Read this article and arm yourself with the facts about these unsightly blisters. COLD SORES - WHAT ARE THEY? Cold sores come at the most inconvenient times. Painful and ugly, cold sores really hurt your social life. Whether you call them cold sores, fever blisters or oral herpes, they are all the same infection. Cold sores can appear anywhere the virus can get through your skin. The lip area is usually the first infection site. Herpes simplex virus, either type 1 or type 2, produces all cold sores. It is a very damaging virus, as you will see. When this virus first infects you, it will choose a nerve set nearest its entry point. It will reside in that nerve for life. All cold sores caused by this virus family will be in the same location every time - on the end of that nerve. WHAT CAUSES A COLD SORE? The herpes virus is normally dormant in the root cells of its chosen nerve. If the conditions become right, this viral family will move to the surface, through the nerve, and enter thousands of cells. Unlike bacteria, the herpes virus can't reproduce its own kind. In parasite fashion, the herpes virus enters your nerve cells and forces them to become virus factories. Swelling of the area occurs as the cells fill up with the virus particles they are creating. When the cell is full to capacity, the controlling virus destroys it dumping out millions of new viruses. The destruction of many cells close together causes the open cold sore. These cold are quite painful to the touch because the nerve tips are exposed. ARE COLD SORES VERY CONTAGIOUS? The herpes simplex virus is an extremely tiny living particle. It enters the body through soft tissue - like lips - or through cracks in the skin. You are very contagious from the first itching until the final healing redness is gone. Contaminated fingers and kissing are the most common ways you pass this virus to others. Do not touch the cold sore with bare fingers and always sterilize your hands after any cold sore treatment. You can spread the cold sore to any place on your body. You can get cold sores on your fingers, arm or cheek if the virus gets through a crack or other sore to the soft tissue. These can be more painful than common lip sores. Be especially careful not to infect your eyes. A cold sore on the cornea will cause serious injury. The herpes simplex virus infects nearly 90% of the world population because it is so tough and contagious. You usually contract it in your youth. About 70% of those infected will get one or more outbreaks per year. WHAT CAN I DO TO GET RID OF COLD SORES? Stress is the most common reason that the herpes virus becomes active. Under stress, your hormones change, causing an acid pH balance. The herpes simplex virus does very well when your body is in an acid state. Your body needs no help from you to heal oral herpes cold sores. But it is a slow process, often taking up to four weeks. You can cut this healing time in half with a good cold sore treatment. Your best bet for effective cold sore treatment is still by using natural remedies. They usually work better than prescription and over-the-counter options. Lysine, garlic oil and zinc are three of the top choices in cold sore treatment today. Lysine and zinc are best taken as supplements, but all three can benefit you if put directly on the cold sore too. Constant cleansing of the cold sore area using alcohol or hydrogen peroxide is critical care too. Without a doubt, oral herpes cold sores really put the hurts to your social life. They are very difficult to deal with. With what you have just read, you should now have a huge advantage the next time a cold sore attacks. It takes a little trial and error to find the best cold sore treatment for your own needs. But when you do, you will enjoy beautiful cold sore freedom. About the Author: More questions about Cold Sores? Go now to Denny Bodoh's very popular web-site loaded with tons of FREE information. You will get some very potent Cold Sore Treatment ideas you can use immediately. |
Tags