Info about Herpes
How to treat cold sores
Cold sores, also known as fever blisters are provoked by the Herpes simplex virus and they manifest as painful lesions in the area of your mouth. They are highly contagious and probable to have repetitive outbreaks as the virus cannot be completely eliminated from your system. People suffering once from cold sores are due to suffer again.
First thing you should when you have a cols sore is to make sure that it is actually a cold sore. The alternative is a canker sore. The difference between them is that canker sores always appear inside your mouth, while cold sores usually appear outside and only occasionally inside the mouth. In addition, canker sores are also smaller than cold sores.
When it comes to cold sores, it is important to treat them as quick as possible, even before they are visible for the others. Before an outbreak, you can and most probably will feel a little bump as well as a hotter place on your skin. As soon as you detect it, you should quarantine it as it is contagious and you do not want to spread it. Avoid kissing or sharing things that have been in contact with your lips or mouth. These include straws, cups or other utensils. You should also avoid touching your cold sore as you may spread the infection to other parts of your body such as genitals or eyes.
All you should do is wash it gently with warm water and soap.After the cold sore is healed, make sure you throw away your toothbrush because the virus may rest there and infect you over and over again.
Moreover, you can take an antiviral medicament. It will not prevent cold sores, as they cannot be prevented, but it will speed up the healing process. In some cases, it may stop new outbreaks, but not very often. You can also try using topical ointments that have the same effect.
Furthermore, you should do something to ease the pain as it is called a sore. There are special creams for cold sore and some medicament such as ibuprofen or aspirin may be effective. Another remedy is applying some ice on the affected area and keep it there no more than 10 to 15 minutes. Also warming up the area may relieve some pain.
Finally, you have to patient for your cold sore to heal. It may take as long as two weeks and you have no other alternative. Do not try to scratch it or squeezing it as you will only make it worse.
Nevertheless, if it really annoys you and you feel it happens a lot too often and your weak immune system may be responsible, then you should have a talk with your physician. Otherwise, there is not much to do when it comes to cold sores but to wait to heal and try to ease some of the symptoms. If you follow these instructions, then cold sores should become a little more bearable or, at least, you know what happens and what you should and should not do.