HealthyLife Articles

Tag: lip

  • Cold Sores

    Dental & Mouth Concerns

    Cold sores appear on or near the lips. They are painful and unpleasant. Nearly 1 in 3 people will have them. Cold sores are also called fever blisters.

    Signs & Symptoms

    *  Tingling feeling on or near the lips for 36 to 48 hours before the sore appears

    *  Itching at the site (early sign)

    *  Small, red blisters with pus-filled centers

    *  Blisters form a yellow crust that lasts about 10 days

    *  One sore or a cluster of sores

    Causes, Risk Factors & Care

    Cold sores are caused by the herpes sim- plex virus (HSV), either HSV-1 (this is most often the cause) or HSV-2 (the usual cause of genital herpes). The virus lies dormant in the body and can return. A fever, cold, stress, cold or windy weather, and strong sun exposure are triggers for outbreaks.

    Cold sores are very contagious, especially when the blisters rupture and weep.

    Cold sores are treated with self-care and antiviral medications, such as acyclovir and penciclovir. Prompt treatment may reduce the discomfort.

    Self-Care / Prevention

    *  Keep the sore clean and dry.

    *  Apply antiviral medication, if prescribed, to the affected area at the first sign of a cold sore.

    *  Try an over-the-counter treatment, such as Abreva antiviral cream, Campho-Phenique, Blistex, or make a paste with cornstarch and water. Dab some on the sore with a cotton swab.

    *  Dab aloe vera or petroleum jelly on the sore. Use a cotton swab.

    *  Apply ice to the sore or suck on a frozen popsicle.

    *  Take an over-the-counter medicine for pain.

    *  Learn to relax. Meditate, practice yoga, etc. Learn to deal with stress, too.

    *  Avoid foods that are sour, spicy, or acidic. These may irritate the sores.

    *  Take vitamin C and/or zinc supplements, as directed by your doctor.

    *  Apply cool compresses when the sores have crusted over.

    *  Try not to worry or be too self-conscious. This only makes the situation worse.

    Prevention

    To avoid getting or spreading cold sores:

    *  Don’t share drinking glasses, towels, or cooking utensils.

    *  Don’t touch cold sores with your fingers. If you do touch the cold sores, do not touch your eyes. This could cause a serious eye infection.

    *  Wash your hands often.

    *  Avoid kissing or direct skin contact with the sores. This includes oral sex. The virus that causes cold sores can cause genital herpes, too.

    *  When in the sun, wear a hat and use a sunblock with a sun-protective factor (SPF) of 15 or more on the lips.

    *  Use a lip balm on cold or windy days.

    *  Ask your doctor about a prescribed antiviral medicine to take or apply when you feel a cold sore coming on.

    *  Try to figure out what triggers the sores. Once you identify a trigger, do what you can to avoid it.

    *  Get regular exercise.

    Medical Care

    Contact Doctor When:

    *  You have eye pain with the cold sore. Pain from the sore limits normal activity.

    *  The cold sore has lasted longer than 2 weeks.

    *  Cold sores appear 4 or more times a year.

    *  Cold sores appeared after you started a new medicine or are present while taking steroid medicines.

    *  Eczema

    Healthier at Home book by the American Institute for Preventive Medicine. www.HealthyLife.com. All rights reserved.

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine

  • Give Cold Sores The Cold Shoulder

    SELF-CARE CORNER

    Close up image of cold sore.

    Cold sores – those bothersome blisters that appear around the mouth – can be painful and embarrassing. Cold sores are spread by a virus, but not the cold virus.

    Cold sores happen when a person gets infected with the herpes simplex virus (HSV). This is why cold sores may also be called “oral herpes.” HSV is very contagious. It can be easily spread person to person by:

    *  Sharing drinks or utensils

    *  Kissing

    *  Touching a cold sore or infected person’s face, and then touching your face

    *  Touching an infected person’s face and then touching someone else (this is how many babies get HSV)

    *  Sharing personal items like razors or towels

    *  Intimate or sexual contact

    *  Touching the same object that was touched by a person with a cold sore.

    The type of HSV that causes cold sores is usually HSV  type 1. Another type of HSV,  known as HSV type 2, is most often spread through sexual contact. HSV type 2 is the virus that usually causes genital herpes. But, either type of  HSV can cause cold sores or genital herpes.

    What triggers cold sores?

    Once you get HSV, there is no cure. It stays in the body forever and it may cause repeated outbreaks of cold sores. Certain things may trigger a cold sore outbreak. Things that bring down the body’s defenses may allow the virus to become active and produce a cold sore again. Many people get cold sores due to:

    *  Stress

    *  Hormone changes such as menstruation or pregnancy

    *  Illnesses, like the flu or a cold

    *  Sun exposure

    *  Certain foods

    Don’t spread cold sores!

    Even if you stay healthy and avoid stress, there is no way to prevent all cold sore outbreaks. So, it’s best to try and avoid spreading cold sores and HSV to others.

    The best way to avoid spreading cold sores is to wash your hands frequently and avoid contact that could spread the sore. If you feel a cold sore coming on, don’t share drinks and other items listed in this article. Avoid touching your mouth and don’t touch people’s faces or kiss people, especially babies, children and people with weakened immune systems.

    Treating cold sores

    If you get cold sores frequently, ask your doctor about medicines that can help. Some antiviral medicines can reduce the number of outbreaks. They also help lower the chance of spreading HSV to others.

    Some over-the-counter medicines can also help speed up the healing time of a sore, but they won’t prevent outbreaks or stop the spread of HSV. Ask your doctor if one of these treatments might work for you.

    Sources: American Academy of Pediatrics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institutes of Health

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine