Cold Sores Causes
Cold sores are frequently referred to as fever blisters and they can normally be found on the lips and around other areas of the mouth. Although most everyone has heard the phrase “cold sores” not everyone knows what they are or what causes them. They will appear as a small blister that is a reddish or purple color and they normally last for about a week.
First, it’s important to realize that there is a big difference between a cold sore and a canker sore. A canker sore normally appears on the inside of your mouth and they are ulcers that are not contagious. Cold sores are actually caused by the herpes simplex virus type one.
They are contagious and you can get them by sharing utensils, towels and razors with someone who has the virus. However, studies show that many people come in contact with the herpes virus that causes these sores when they are very young. It’s for this reason they don’t even know they have the viruses until it reoccurs
Since the initial espouser usually doesn’t result in the sores, many people don’t associate them with the initial exposure. However, this is what happens once the person is infected. The virus will usually lie dormant in the nerve cells for awhile until something triggers it again. When this happens that person will have an episode in which the sores will appear. Each time something triggers an outbreak, it will occur in approximately the same area around the mouth.
Some of the triggers include being exposed to the sun for long periods of time, being under stress, high fever, trauma, weak immune system and in women their menstrual cycle. You can have a cold sore at anytime once the infection has entered the body. You may go for long period’s in-between the out breaks but the virus can be reactivated anytime without you even knowing why.
Tags: Featured News
