A cold sore is typically a collection of red, inflamed blisters caused from the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), also known as the herpes simplex virus (HSV). They may appear on virtually any area of the skin, though the mouth and lip are the more common locations. They are also sometimes known as herpes ice cream or fever blisters. Up to 90 percent of individuals worldwide have at least one type of HSV. The usual symptoms are the worst - the sore, scabbing, blistering and/or discharge.
Cold sores are very contagious, so if you have one you should visit your doctor immediately to ensure that it does not spread to anyone else. Learn more about remotederm. There is no current known cure for cold sores, but there are some proven methods to prevent future outbreaks. If you have ever had one, you know that the best cold sore treatment is not taking medication and waiting for it to go away. There are many simple steps you can take to shorten the duration and prevent future outbreaks.
To reduce the duration of your cold sore treatment, there are several steps you can take to protect yourself. When experiencing active outbreaks, make sure to keep your lips smooth and free of any oil. This will help to prevent blistering. Be aware of the cold sore's triggers and take appropriate preventative measures. For example, smoking, alcohol and sun exposure all pose serious challenges to your cold sores' duration.
To help prevent future outbreaks, it is important to recognize the cause of your cold sore. It could be as simple as a recently eaten food or as complex as a vitamin deficiency. If it is a vitamin deficiency make sure you increase your vitamin intake before your next episode. Also, make sure your lip balm contains sunscreen. The sun is not a friend to anyone's skin, even the skin on their lips, and using lip balm with sunscreen will help to avoid an embarrassing cold sore outbreak.
Cold sores can also be a sign of an existing viral infection. For this reason it is important that you seek medical attention if you develop a fever, chills, swollen lymph nodes, or pain in the area of the cold sore. These symptoms indicate an infection and will require immediate treatment by a health care provider. The virus behind cold sore outbreaks remains unknown, but doctors do know that it is associated with the herpes virus. Learn more about cold sore medication. If you are interested in trying antiviral medications for cold sores, there are several medications that can be prescribed to help with the symptoms.
Along with antiviral medication there are a number of natural cold sore remedies that can be used. Lemon balm, applied directly to the sore, can provide rapid relief and fight off the virus that causes the cold sore. The same is true for applying tea bags to the area, again this can provide relief and fight off the virus that causes the cold sore. Applying ice to the area has been known to shorten the duration of the outbreak as well, and applying ice is perhaps the easiest cold sore remedies. A mixture of honey and lemon juice or a cup of yogurt with an egg can also relieve the pain and swelling of a cold sore, and eating an apple before you experience an outbreak can also help to slow down the development. Learn more from https://en.wikipedia.org/?title=Cold_sore&redirect=no.
