by Daniel Mcclellan

Created on: April 26, 2008   Last Updated: April 29, 2008

A good portion of the population is familiar with the feeling .You get a tingling sensation somewhere around your lips, and you know you're going to wake up in a day or two to a collection of painful blisters that you can't seem to hide. They're cold sores, and it's estimated that about 80% of the populations gets them. A cold sore is caused by the Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV1), which is usually spread through skin to skin contact, although the virus can also travel through saliva. They are most contagious during an outbreak, but the virus can be spread at any time. There is no cure, but knowing about them and what makes them tick can help reduce the number of outbreaks and the duration of outbreaks if they do occur.

Several catalysts can influence the outbreak of a cold sore. A fever or cold can cause a cold sore, which is why they're often referred to as fever blisters. Getting sunburn on your lips can trigger an outbreak, as can too much stress. Skin trauma and changes in hormone levels and in your body's immune system can also cause cold sores. Preventing these triggers will reduce the frequency of your cold sores.

Once you've got a cold sore, you have a few different options for managing it. If you leave the cold sore alone the virus will run its course and disappear within a week or so. Over the counter ointments will provide symptomatic relief. That is, they can ease the pain, but they will not decrease the duration of the outbreak. Ice applications and ibuprofen can also help the pain. Dicosanol cream, found in Abreva, has been shown to reduce the healing time if it is applied at the first sign of an oncoming cold sore. Some prescription-strength ointments and pills can reduce the duration of a cold sore. Do not touch the cold sore and be careful about sharing cups and utensils with others. If you do touch it, wash your hands immediately with warm water and soap.

Some people swear by a particularly painful at home remedy for cold sores that they say can clear up a cold sore faster than any medication. This treatment involves a sterilized needle, some cotton swabs, and rubbing alcohol. The needle is sterilized in the alcohol and then used to puncture and drain the fully developed blisters. Once there are no blisters left, the cotton swab is dipped in the alcohol and used to gently scrub out the opened blisters. Rubbing alcohol can deactivate the virus, and if you get them all, the area should stop producing blisters and begin to scab over and heal immediately.

Ultimately, prevention is your best bet. Sunscreen and lip moisturizers are a good start. If you do have to face a cold sore, do what you can to ease the pain, and be careful not to spread it during the outbreak. As you learn to take action immediately, you'll experience fewer and less frequent cold sores.

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