How To Prevent Cold Sores

By Chris Borg

Most people in their lifetime will be affected by cold sores. They spread easily and are a viral infection that our bodies have trouble completely getting rid of. The question everyone seems to want to know is are cold sores contagious?

There is really not just one answer to this question. A cold sore is the herpes simplex virus and it hides deep within the nerve roots and can not be taken away with any type of medicine. The sore is usually a small area that does cause a bit of pain. The blister spot can be filled with fluid. These are mostly found on the lips. A symptom to look for before it appears is that the area where it will be will be on fire and tingle. Generally, these blisters only last for a few days.

The reasons that people get the virus vary from person to person. Some reasons that people get this virus are colds, an illness, stress, too much sun exposure and hormonal changes. There is also sometimes no straight forward cause of anyone getting virus. Also, when people get a re occurrence the re occurrence will show up in the same general area.

The prevention of sores is possible. Some ways to prevent getting cold sores is to avoid contact with the person infected. Do not touch or kiss that person. Even if there are no blisters on the person and they have cleared up that person could still be contagious because the saliva could still be carrying the infection.

Another thing that seems to be a given is not to share your personal items with others. Items such as towels, Chap Stick, lip gloss or utensils should never be shared. If you are the one who does obtain the virus avoid toughing other parts of your body after being exposed to the blisters because it could spread to the other areas that were touched. Always wear sunscreen all year around.

Depending on your preference you could choose to take a pill to relieve your symptoms or use a type of cream. Also, there are several at home remedies to try. Some of the things that have worked for other people is changing your diet, using nail polish remover on the area, using vitamin supplements or putting on a cold compress to relieve some of the pain.

Another proven method to try is using Lysine. Lysine is one of the eight amino acids. It is consumed through what you eat or can also be taken by mouth as a pill. Any regular store sells Lysine. Some of natural supplements to try are Bioflavonoids, Zinc and vitamin C. Other people rely on Abreva to ease some of their symptoms. Abreva is a topical cream that is applied to the area five times a day for ten days. It is the only FDA approved cold sore treatment. The active ingredient in it is docosanol, which is used in a lot of cosmetics.

When wanting answers to the question are cold sores contagious look no further than the person next to you. AT some point everyone will be exposed to this virus and depending on how your body handles it will determines how the symptoms appear in your body.

About the Author:

Ever wonder: "Are cold sores contagious?" You can get more information about tried and tested home remedies for cold sores on our website, now.