Cold sores are tiny blisters or tiny clusters of blisters that usually appear around the mouth and lip region of the body. Cold sores are not only unsightly, but they can also tend to be very uncomfortable to deal with. Cold sores can last for as long as a few days or they can even last as long as a few weeks. A lot of people are unaware of what causes cold sores.
One True Cause of Cold Sores
There is only one true cause of cold sores, but there are many triggers. Cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus. There are two types of this virus. Cold sores are caused by the type one of the herpes simplex virus. Genital herpes is caused by type two of the herpes simplex virus. All cold sores that are located on or near the face are generally caused by the first type of the herpes simplex virus.
What causes cold sores is not a mystery. Only HSV (herpes simplex virus) can cause cold sores. If you have a cold sore, you can just bet that you have the herpes simplex virus. Cold sores are not caused by anything else other than the herpes simplex virus. Cold sores may have different triggers, but they are all caused by the same virus.
Cold Sores in Children
Children can contract the herpes simplex virus just as easily as adults can. In fact, most people contract the herpes simplex virus as small children and are not aware of it.
Cold Sores on the Nose
Cold sores can be contracted to other parts of the body besides the lip. Cold sore can show up on the nose, cheeks, and even inside of the mouth. A cold sore on your nose or face is not any different than a cold sore that is located on the lip.
Cold Sores in the Mouth
Canker sores, which occur inside the mouth, are usually mistaken for cold sores. Cold sores that develop inside of the mouth are fairly rare, but they do occur. These types of cold sores cannot be treated in the same way as a cold sore on the lip may be treated. If you experience a cold sore located inside of your mouth, you might want to consider seeing your doctor so that they can provide you with some treatments for relief.
Cold sores that occur in the mouth often occur on the upper part of the mouth or the roof. Cold sores in the mouth are often mistaken for canker sores and vice versa. Canker sores are small white bumps located on the inside of the mouth, usually around the gums.
Cold sores are reoccurring problem that you can expect to deal with for the rest of your life. There is not currently a cure for the herpes simplex virus. That is why cold sores keep coming back.
Triggers
Stress. High levels of chronic stress can lead to the formation of cold sores. High levels of stress on the body can cause the immune system to crash. Once your immune system crashes, you are susceptible to cold sore out breaks and other viruses and diseases.
Hormonal changes can trigger cold sores to occur as well. Hormonal changes can include menstruation or a hormonal imbalance. This is why women with active herpes simplex virus often have cold sores pop up around the time of their periods.
Fever or sickness can also bring a cold sore around. This can include the common cold, the flu, or any other type of illness that will weaken your immune system.
A weakening of the immune system is another factor in what causes cold sores to appear. Sickness, stress, and malnourishment can all lead to the immune system breaking down. Taking a daily vitamin can help ensure that you are giving your body everything that is needs to fight for you.
Trauma to the skin can also to the development of a cold sore. Sometimes, there simply is not a reason or trigger that causes a cold sore to develop. Cold sores tend to come and go as they please without giving any rhyme or reason.
Prolonged exposure to ultra violet light can also trigger a cold sore.
Prevention
While almost sixty five percent of the human population already has contracted the herpes simplex virus, you can try to protect yourself from contracting it by washing your hands as much as possible. Hand washing and good hygiene can not only prevent you from contracting the herpes simplex virus, they can also help you to prevent cold sores from reoccurring.
Applying lip balm or chap stick with some kind of SPF can help prevent cold sores as well.
Eating a balanced diet that is full of the essential vitamins and minerals can also keep cold sores at bay. Garlic is a good food to help prevent cold sores and any other antiviral disease. Iron and Zinc are two very important minerals in the prevention of cold sores.
Dried Melissa leaf boiled in hot water can also help prevent cold sores from appearing. This is a commonly found herb that is safe to ingest.
If you feel a cold sore coming on, you can prevent it from forming by applying over the counter medicines like Abreva directly to the area that is tingling.
Cold sores are a common problem that no one should feel ashamed of. Some people have the herpes simplex virus without even knowing it because it lies dormant. This means that the virus is in their body, but it does not become active. What causes cold sores or trigger cold sore in some people may not affect others. Each individual is different. The most important thing to remember about cold sores is that you can seek treatment to ease your discomfort. If you get cold sores that do not go away after a two week period, you might want to consider making an appointment with your doctor.
Sources
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/coldsores.html
http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cold-sore/Pages/Introduction.aspx
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001631/