What Are Cold Sores and How Do You Treat Them
Cold sores are painful blisters, sometimes called fever blisters, usually found on the lips, gums or roof of the mouth. The herpes simplex virus causes them. Find out about the latest research and innovative treatment options for these uncomfortable flare-ups.
Cold Sores Caused by Herpes Virus
Cold sores are contagious and often confused with canker sores, which are not contagious. Canker sores typically form on the tongue or walls of the mouth. Herpes virus infections, either type I or type 2, usually last a week and a half. Herpes simplex type 2 is normally a genital infection, but the virus can also affect the area around the lips (WebMD, 2013).
Herpes infections recur because the virus that causes the sore lives in the nerve fiber near the site. If you have a cold sore and have an area of skin breakdown elsewhere on the body, your virus might replicate there, causing another viral cache, and another sore. Up to 80 million Americans are affected by herpes (WebMD, 2013).
Researchers Find Cellular Process that Cures Cold Sores
Recently, scientists discovered a cellular process by which the cell is able to destroy the virus. The nuclear membrane of an infected cell can identify herpes simplex type 1 virus, and then stimulate the immune system to fight its replication. Researchers at the University de Montreal collaborated with scientists at Penn State and Washington University, and they hope to use this discovery to eventually treat the virus with medication that can activate this mechanism against herpes. They also plan to attempt to utilize their discovery to help prevent infection by other pathogens that hide within cells to prevent their own destruction (English et al., 2009).
Cold Sore Quick Facts
• The fluid that leaks from a cold sore is full of replicated viral particles.
• The herpes virus spreads by kissing or through the use of the same washcloth.
• Topical agents with anti-viral property relieve pain and help the sore heal.
• Even without treatment, cold sores heal themselves but remain quite painful.
• Cold sores hurt because the virus lives in the nerve (known as neuropathic pain).
• When the virus enters a nerve cell, it forces it to make clones of the virus, and the virus destroys the cell and releases the clones (contagious!)
(Bell et al., 2013; Richardson et al., 2013)
Herbal Cold Sore Remedies
There are multiple herbal remedies for cold sores. Here is a list.
• Lysine - One of the most highly recommended herbal products is lysine. This holistic product is an amino-acid used to make the proteins that make antibodies, the body's defense against pathogens like herpes simplex. Lysine can be found in supplements or ointment.
• Lemon balm – This therapy also has antiviral properties and helps promote the healing process if used as a cream or balm.
• Reishi mushroom – This mushroom is long used in Asia because it strengthens the immune system. Reishi should be used with caution because it can also prolong bleeding. If you take aspirin or Coumadin, discuss reishi with your doctor before beginning that supplement.
• Astragalus – This is an herb that is sometimes used with reishi to improve the immune system in people with herpes virus.
• Reservatrol – A substance found in red grapes and red wine that has anti-oxidant properties, reservatrol helps prevent cold sores. When studied at Northeastern Ohio University, reservatrol in a topical cream preparation was found effective in prevention of cold sores if used soon after infection. These researchers said reservatrol was as good as acyclovir, which comes in a topical ointment often prescribed by doctors.
• Peppermint oil –This substance penetrates the skin and is a viracide, which means that it kills viral particles. However, although studies have shown that peppermint oil is effective against herpes, we need more research due to its toxicity. It should not be taken by mouth, as it is unsafe in even small amounts.
• Prunella vulgaris – Another herb known as "self-heal" or Prunella vulgaris helps with cold sores. This herb is found in Europe and Asia, and is effective against herpes simplex 1 and 2.
• Propolis –This is a substance used by bees, collected from conifer buds to cement the beehives and keep them sanitary. It works against herpes by preventing penetration of the cells by the herpes virus. Propolis is a resinous substance thought to block viral replication.
• Echinacea –Another good herbal remedy is echinacea, which some naturopathic experts claim has protective properties against the viruses that cause the common cold, is also active against herpes simplex virus type 1.
(Wong, 2013)
The Cold Sore – Low Immunity Connection
Anyone with a severe or chronic illness should consult with their doctors before they begin a regimen of herbal supplements that might interfere with their medications. People who have compromised immune systems, such as the elderly or people with HIV, tend to be susceptible to viral re-infections like herpes, or, for example, herpes zoster, the virus that causes both chicken pox and shingles.
The healthy person can muster his or her immune defense against herpes. However, even extreme fatigue can affect your immune system, and if you know you have herpes, it is important to do what you can to keep your immune system functioning well. Some of the supplements we mentioned help to keep the immune system active before an infection occurs (Wong, 2013).
If you do have an infection, some things you should do include changing towels after each use, and avoiding contact between the sore and other people. Topical numbing creams can be helpful, as can putting ice on the sore. Just put some ice in a Ziplock baggie and seal it before placing it on your cold sore. If you have frequent herpetic infections, you should consult with your physician to determine if you have an underlying cause (WebMD, 2013).
Abreva Medication Prescription Medication- Cold sores are not only uncomfortable, but there is also a social stigma attached to them that makes people ashamed of showing their faces in public when one of them appears. The face is an area of the body that can’t really be hidden, which is why these sores are such a reviled problem; this is also why individuals might benefit from taking fast action instead of delaying the treatment. Those that struggle with this condition on a recurring basis are often willing to try just about anything to ensure that they don’t have to go through the experience again and again, and Abreva is helping many people accomplish just that. Not only is this medication able to prevent them from appearing, but it might just assist in preventing the spread of the sore, which is something that can easily turn a small blister into a big problem.
Since many people do not want to have to visit the doctor every time a cold sore appears, they might want to opt for non-prescription medications, such as Abreva, which will work effectively at controlling the outbreaks of cold blisters. While this treatment might not be able to cure the underlying cause of the condition, which is the herpes simplex virus, it can help to prevent the sores from appearing. Those that want to know how Abreva works to accomplish should start out by learning a bit more about how these blisters develop in the first place, thus allowing them to determine when and how a tingling sensation can be prevented from becoming a full blown cold sore.
The herpes simplex virus is responsible for causing these sores to develop, and once a person has been infected with this virus, they will have the condition for life. Every time an outbreak occurs, blisters will begin to appear, although there are certain times when this is more likely to happen than others, and this includes periods where the immune system is weak. When an outbreak does occur, patients will begin to experience symptoms that will give them the chance to prepare for what lies ahead. In the beginning, patients might not understand why they are presenting with certain symptoms, but over time, they will come to identify the signs that a cold sore is about to appear.
Tingling sensations in certain areas, such as the lips, are usually the first sign that a cold sore is going to appear, and it usually happens in that same spot. This first sign usually appears as far back as several days before any sores are apparent, which is more than enough time for patients to take action and prevent it from becoming a bigger problem. The outbreak happens soon after this, and it is usually not long before the sore begins to weep; this is usually a clear liquid that drips from the blister. After a few days, a crust forms over it and it begins to heal soon afterward. The condition doesn’t disappear overnight; it usually starts to shrink in size until it dissipates completely.
It is quite common for these sores to appear in the same places every time an outbreak occurs, and when the tingling sensation begins, individuals need to take action to prevent this from happening. This treatment comes in the form of a cream that needs to be applied to the affected area about five times a day, and the sooner this is done, the better. The cream is not only able to prevent the cold sores from breaking out, but it might also be able to stop one from growing larger in the event that it appears, which is very good news to individuals who were not able to recognize the signs in time and found themselves having to deal with this problem appearing overnight.
Ultimately, cold sores are not only physically taxing, but they can also make someone feel uncomfortable, especially individuals who are required to work with other people. It is quite common for individuals to find something that works very well and stick to it throughout the years whenever they have to deal with this type of outbreak, and Abreva is quickly becoming one of those go-to products.
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