Herpes simplex-1 (HSV-1) causes herpes (cold sores), the fluid-filled blisters that can appear on and around your lips. It is a very common thing to get a cold sore, but often misunderstood how people get them and how to get rid of them. Here's how.
What are cold sores?
Cold sores, also known as fever blisters, are small red sores that occur occasionally on or near your lips or in your mouth. They actually have nothing to do with colds or with fevers; they're caused by a virus called herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1).
Nearly nine out of 10 Americans are infected with the cold sore virus at some point in their lives. Most of us pick up the virus through sharing food with or kissing someone who has a cold sore. However, you can also get infected from someone who doesn't have a visible sore, because some infected people have the virus in their saliva even when they don't have cold sores. Once you get the virus, it stays in your body for good, hiding in nerve cells near your ear.
HSV-1 is closely related to HSV-2, the virus that causes genital herpes, a sexually transmitted disease. If you receive oral sex from someone with a cold sore, the HSV-1 virus can sometimes cause genital sores. Also, if you give oral sex to someone with genital herpes, the HSV-2 virus can occasionally cause sores in your mouth, which look like cold sores.
When you first catch the cold sore virus, you may have mild flu-like symptoms, including swollen gums, a sore feeling in the mouth, swollen lymph glands in the neck, and fever. You don't develop cold sores when you're first infected, and only about a third of all people who catch the cold sore virus will ever develop sores.
If you do develop sores, about a day before you can see any blisters, your mouth will likely tingle, itch, or feel warm in places. Then you'll see a cluster of small blisters that will turn into a shallow, painful sore. In a few days the sore will crust over and slowly disappear. The whole flare-up lasts about seven to 10 days.
Canker sores are red-ringed white sores that can look similar to cold sores but, unlike cold sores, aren't contagious. Experts aren't sure what causes canker sores. Commonly cited culprits include stress, vitamin and mineral deficiencies, injury (like scraping your mouth with your toothbrush or a sharp tortilla chip), and astringent chemicals in foods such as lemons or nuts. They usually disappear within 10 days.
Cold sores aren't very serious for most people, just a little annoying. They go away on their own in one to two weeks, but there are some things you can do to feel better while you have them:
TeleWellnessMD providers often prescribe L-lysine to help decrease the duration and frequency of HSV-1 outbreaks.
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References
American Academy of Dermatology. Herpes Simplex pamphlet.
Thompson KD. Antiviral activity of viracea against acyclovir susceptible and acyclovir resistant strains of herpes simplex virus. Antiviral Res 1998 Jul;39(1):55-61.
Lin L, et al. Topical application of penciclovir cream for the treatment of herpes simplex facialis/labialis: a randomized, double-blind, multicentre, aciclovir-controlled trial. Journal of Dermatological Treatment. 2002 Jun;13(2):67-72.
US Food and Drug Administration. Life Threatening Side Effects with the Use of Skin Products Containing Numbing Ingredients for Cosmetic Procedures. February 2007.
Last Updated: Jan. 20, 2018
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