How To Get Rid Of Cold Sores On Mouth – Medically reviewed by Debra Sullivan, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., CNE, COI – By Jessica Caporuscio, Pharm.D. on January 15, 2020
Cold sores, also known as herpes labialis, are caused by the non-genital herpes simplex virus type 1. People can experience cold sores on the lips or in the mouth.
How To Get Rid Of Cold Sores On Mouth
Transmission of nongenital herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) occurs during childhood through non-sexual contact, but adults can become infected through sexual activity. HSV-1 lies dormant in the skin cells and neurons beneath the skin until a trigger stimulates it.
How To Get Rid Of Cold Sore
Before the cold sore appears, people can feel a burning, stinging or itching sensation on the lips. For the best results, doctors recommend starting treatment as soon as the tingling starts, before the cold sores appear.
In this article, we discuss the stages of cold sores and what to do if a cold sore develops. We also explore how doctors treat infections and how people can avoid getting colds.
At first, people will feel a tingling, itching or burning sensation in the skin around the mouth or the base of the nose. Doctors call this the prodrome stage.
In the first stage of cold sores, people will not see the blister. People with persistent colds may experience milder symptoms. Doctors recommend starting treatment as soon as the symptoms begin.
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Treatment for cold sores may include oral or topical medications. Sometimes people will use both types to treat cold sores.
, researchers found that high doses and short courses of valacyclovir can reduce the duration of cold sores by about 1 day.
If the person does not use any medication, a fluid-filled blister will occur about 1 to 2 days after the first symptom.
The third stage, which takes place around day 4, includes the opening of the blister and release of the fluid. Doctors call this stage the wound or weeping stage. If other people come in contact with the blister fluid, they may also develop cold sores.
Get Rid Of Cold Sores Fast
Between days 5 and 8, the cold sore will dry up and leave a yellow or brown crust. The crust will eventually flake.
Some crusts may form and come off during this stage. Each new scab will become smaller until the wound heals. Most of the time, cold sores will not leave a scar.
People who come into contact with other people’s cold sores may become infected. However, it must come into contact with liquid when the blister bursts.
Some people may experience persistent cold sores. According to the American Family Physician (AAP), various stimuli can awaken dormant viruses, such as:
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When the cold sore enters the sore or weeping stage, around the fourth day, the cold sore becomes infectious.
A person exposed to fluid from another person’s open blister may develop a cold sore between 2 and 20 days after contact.
People can be exposed to other people’s cold sore fluids by kissing or sharing utensils, drinks, cosmetics or towels.
Doctors recommend that treating cold sores at the beginning of symptoms, before the blisters appear, can prevent cold sores.
Valacyclovir (generic Valtrex Cold Sore Treatment)
People with colds can usually recognize the first symptoms and know that they need to start treatment right away.
Some people suffer from chronic colds and need preventive care. Taking acyclovir or valacyclovir every day can prevent cold sores.
People should avoid intimate contact with people with colds. Do not share utensils, toothbrushes, towels and razors.
People with cold sores should avoid touching the blister, and if they do, wash their hands thoroughly.
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Cold sores are a common non-genital HSV-1 infection that people can get through sexual and non-sexual activities.
People who start treatment when they feel tingling and itching on the lips can prevent cold sores from appearing.
If a cold sore appears, it will go through five stages from the prodrome stage to healing. During the ulcer stage, a person can transmit the virus to others. The fluid in the blister contains the virus. People with colds should avoid kissing and sharing utensils, towels and drinks.
A person can have a cold sore for approx. 2 weeks, but some doctors recommend that cold sores can last up to 6 weeks. Medicines can help reduce the duration of cold sores.
Expert Advice: How Do I Get Rid Of My Cold Sore?
Medical News Today has strict purchasing guidelines and only sources from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutes and medical journals and associations. We do not use tertiary references. We link to primary sources – including studies, scientific references and statistics – in each article and also display them in the resources section below our articles. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and up-to-date by reading our editorial guidelines. Cold sores can occur when people are infected with the herpes simplex virus, which causes small, fluid-filled blisters on the lips and in the mouth. Many people get colds repeatedly throughout their lives, because the virus is inactive in the body between outbreaks.
The blisters usually burst and form crusted ulcers. Most will heal without treatment within a few weeks.
This article explores why some people often get colds, as well as how they can be treated and prevented.
When a person is infected with the herpes simplex virus (HSV-1), it usually causes an initial outbreak of cold sores.
Ways To Get Rid Of A Cold Sore
The virus then remains in the human body for life, causing new colds at random when it is reactivated.
If a person keeps getting colds, there may be an underlying cause. Many factors can cause reactivation and subsequent cold sores, including:
The virus that causes the common cold is highly contagious, even if people do not have the common cold.
People can get or spread HSV-1 by sharing utensils, food and drinks. Kissing and oral sex can also spread the virus. Oral sex can also spread HSV-2, which usually causes genital herpes.
How To Get Rid Of A Cold Sore
Not everyone who gets the virus will have persistent colds. People at greatest risk of developing a cold or other complications from the virus may have weakened immune systems. These people include:
Having conditions such as eczema or psoriasis can also increase a person’s risk of developing cold sores.
Cold sores usually go away on their own within a few weeks. However, most people want to speed up the healing process to reduce discomfort as quickly as possible.
There is no cure for cold sores, but some treatments can speed up the healing process, reduce bothersome symptoms and reduce recurrences.
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Taking antiviral drugs can speed up healing time and reduce relapse rates. Your doctor may prescribe oral or topical antiviral medications.
Oral antiviral medications tend to be more effective than topical treatments. Examples of antiviral medications that your doctor may prescribe for a cold include:
While antiviral medications focus on treating cold sores, other treatments can help ease the discomfort they cause. These treatments include:
If people have frequent colds, they should talk to their doctor about antiviral medication. He may prescribe antiviral medication for regular use to prevent cold sores.
Are Cold Sores Contagious? Spreading Cold Sores
Cold sores can cause irritation and pain. When a person has HSV-1, it can become dormant between outbreaks, which can reoccur throughout life.
If people keep getting cold sores, they may want to talk to their doctor about taking an antiviral medication to reduce recurrence.
Medical News Today has strict purchasing guidelines and only sources from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutes and medical journals and associations. We do not use tertiary references. We link to primary sources – including studies, scientific references and statistics – in each article and also display them in the resources section below our articles. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and up-to-date by reading our editorial guidelines. Cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus, and this is a difficult virus to control. Once it’s attached to your nervous system, you’re always at risk of getting a cold sore, and since it’s unpleasant and uncomfortable, you’ll want to learn how to get rid of a cold sore as quickly as possible.
The problem with cold sores is that the virus that causes them is actually sitting around waiting to be reactivated. Remember, don’t confuse cold sores with canker sores. You can easily get rid of a canker sore with home remedies, but it’s different from a cold sore.
Coconut Oil For Cold Sores + Other Home Remedies
So, while quick treatment is important, prevention is also important. If you know that stress, menstrual cycles, sun or wind damage to the skin, illness or fever, and burns can cause it, then you can also prevent it.
But if it does happen, there are a few things you can do at home to treat a cold sore quickly or get rid of a cold sore to keep it alive.
Rubbing alcohol is used to dry cold sores to heal them. It also helps reduce the duration by reducing the risk of bacterial contamination.
To use rubbing
How To Get Rid Of A Cold Sore In 3 Days Flat!
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