by Ann Major

Created on: March 03, 2011   Last Updated: June 10, 2011

Cold sores are small clusters of blisters caused by the Herpes Simplex Virus 1 ( HSV1). These blisters tend to congregate on the lips, around the mouth, the chin, and the nose. Anyone who has experienced the painful, unsightly and  embarrassing outbreak of cold sores, know how debilitating this condition can be when the virus becomes activited.

The bad news is, once a person has been infected by the HSV1, it never leaves the body. Rather, it lies dormant in the central nervous system, waiting for a trigger to re-activate it, and cause problems.  20-40% of people infected with HSV1 have recurrent outbreaks, usually about 3-4 times a year. 

Frequent eruptions can be influenced by mental or physical stress; sun or wind burn; illness or fever; injury or any kind of skin trauma induced by surgery, laser therapy or chemical peels.  The good news is, there are a variety of treatment options in alleviating cold sore symptoms. They can be home remedies, over-the-counter treatments, or prescription drugs.

The life cycle of a cold sore usually lasts 7-10-14 days. It begins with inflammation that includes redness or swelling in a localized area, signifying multiplying of the virus in skin cells.  Within a few hours or a couple of days, soft small blisters will begin to form, looking like little red bumps; they are tender to the touch.  When these blisters break, a fluid will ooze out, the most painful stage of the outbreak.

First stage of a cold sore outbreak normally involves tingling or a burning sensation in a localized area.  At this point, it is important to keep the area moist with lip balm or other protectants. Aim is to decrease the duration of the cycle, or prevent recurrences altogether.

Second stage involves formation of blisters that can be very painful.  At this point, fluids from blisters should be drained in a sanitary way, keeping the area dry, in order to prevent  bacterial infection.  Once the crust or scab heals, it will become very dry and eventually fall off. The spot may remain red for a couple of weeks, but will heal within a short period of time.

Cold sores are very contagious and its initial entry into the body usually occurs at a young age, often without symptoms.  Young children and babies often come in contact with the HSV1 through family members or hospital staff with cold sores.  This causes a condition

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