Skincare Treated

What Are Cold Sores?

When small blisters first appear on the lips, the initial suspicion is whether they are those dreaded fever blisters. But before we answer that, let’s answer the question “what are cold sores?”

Cold sores are small, red painful blisters or ulcers most commonly seen on the lips and in the mouth and in about 10 per cent of cases, on the nose, chin or cheeks. In rare cases, blisters also surface on the fingers, on the gums and roof of the mouth.

 Herpes Simplex Virus

 This disease is caused by the herpes simplex virus. There are two kinds of herpes simplex virus – type 1 and type 2. The type 1 virus usually causes cold sores.

 The virus enters the body and shelters in the root of the nerve cells of the central nervous system. The virus can remain dormant and therefore go undetected for long periods of time.

 When activated, it travels down the nerves to the skin, causing a tingling and burning sensation. It then grows and multiplies in the cells, destroying the host cells in the process. What are visible on the outside are cold sores.

 Why Cold Sores?

 Cold sores are contagious and the infection can be transmitted from one person to another by close skin contact. The virus can also be passed on through infected saliva.

 The stage when a person is most contagious is when they have active blisters filled with fluid. The risk of contagion decreases after a few days as the blisters get dry and crusted. Contrary to popular belief, cold sores cannot be transmitted through towels and infected surfaces.

 The HSV-1 virus is activated by a variety of conditions including stress, sunburn and fever caused by various infectious diseases and by influenza or the common cold. That’s why they are called fever blisters or cold sores.

 Injury to the skin and changes in hormones like menstruation or alterations in the body’s immune system also act as triggers. For instance, cancer patients who are undergoing chemotherapy have weakened immune systems and can suffer severe attacks of cold sores.

 Stages of the Disease

 When answering the question “what are cold sores?” we need to take a look at the different stages in the life of a cold sore. In the initial or prodrome stage, before it becomes visible, there is a tingling sensation and soreness.

 After a couple of days, blisters filled with fluid appear. These usually occur in groups or clusters. By the fourth or fifth day, the blisters burst and ulcers are formed, causing a great deal of pain.

The ulcers take a few more days to dry out and form scabs, which tend to itch, crack and bleed. The cold sores finally heal and vanish about 10 days after they appear.

 Cold sores usually do not leave scars. However, they may recur at any time, sometimes within a month, sometimes after a year. They are also prone to recur in the same location.

 This is because the herpes simplex virus remains in the nervous system even after recovering from an outbreak.

 How to Treat Cold Sores

 There is no need to see a doctor to treat cold sores, unless the outbreaks are frequent. There are many over the counter drugs available to treat the pain and itching associated with cold sores.

 There is no known cure for the disease but at least you now know the answer to the question “what are cold sores?”