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Archive for the ‘Cold Sores’ Category

Cold sores are also called as the fever blisters. When the herpes simplex viruses attacks the body blisters or cold sores shows there presence. These viruses may attack the body in childhood or during encounter with infected persons. Often virus lay in the body in a dormant stage .Some times cold sores may come on genital organs and near finger areas. Once the viruses attack the body, it becomes a hard task to flush them out of the body. Therefore, we cannot remove them totally but we can shield our body from infection or reactivation.

To reduce or decrease the reactivation or infections try to avoid the triggering of the blisters. To reduce the pains of the cold sores apply ice on the blisters for about five to ten minutes for each hour. This remedy will be more effective when applied for the upcoming blisters as ice prevents the further growth of the cold sores. Another way to prevent the further growth of the cold sore is the application of tannic acid. Tea bags contains adequate amount of the tannic acid and this will stop the further growth of the cold sores. To reduce the growths apply a tea bag for about five to ten minutes each hour at the beginning of the sores.

If cold sores already out braked then press a warm tea bag on the cold sore for about 20 to 30 minutes. Continuous application for five days helps in disappearance of the sores. Along with the external application, one has to concentrate on daily diet. To keep check on the cold sores infected peoples have to avoid acidic and salty food. These foods will increase the paining of the blisters.

High intake of arginine food like peanuts, chocolates, peas, grains, oatmeal, seeds and whole-wheat products should be avoided. Along with this high intake of coffee also affects the cold sores. Regular diet need to be supplemented with vitamins and nutrition’s. Particularly vitamin B complex and folic acid are helpful to reduce the paining of the cold sores. These certain remedies are helpful to reduce the pain of cold sores but you can follow certain things that will prevent you from reactivation of the blisters.

To avoid the contamination or infection the infected person must not share there cups, towels, and other things and cosmetic with the normal person. Skin to skin touch also spreads the infection and therefore kissing or sex should be avoided. Long exposure in the sunlight increases the pains and infection of the cold sores therefore while going outside person has to apply sunscreen lotion to body particularly to the lips, as they are the delicate as well as sensitive part of the body.

Some small things are important to shield the body from viruses. After an attack, you need to replace the toothbrush.

Herpes cold sore is a common illness caused by the herpes simplex viruses. One can easily characterized this infection by noticing a bunch of fluid filled blisters that appears either on red area of the skin or the mucous membrane. After activation, these blisters heal fast, however, they have tendency to reappear.

Viruses of cold sores are of two types, one is herpes simplex type I (HSV I) and other is herpes simplex type II (HSV II). HSV I cause the cold sores and HSV II causes genital herpes that comes on the genital organs of the body.

However, both types of viruses can infect any area of skin and mucous membrane. Almost 80% of the adult peoples have antibodies against HSV I in their body where as about 25% of adult peoples have antibodies against HSV II. Usually viruses transmit through close personal contact with active lesion. These viruses will attack the body in childhood but will never shows symptoms until teen age.

Entry of the viruses in the body is through mouth and then attacks the nerve cells. From there they travel towards the ganglia via nervous system. In ganglia viruses lays in dormant state. In the positive situations viruses comes in active stage and cold sores will out breaks. Weak defense of body to viruses lead to reactivation of the viruses and blisters will again out breaks.

Infection of these viruses can progress in different ways. Some of the peoples have mild or no symptoms. When the viruses gets active they will out breaks the blisters. First out break of blisters starts one to two weeks after the activation and collapse few weeks later. Afterward whenever the viruses will activate blisters will return. Symptom of out breaking is unpleasant tingling feeling in the skin; subsequently number of fluid filled blisters will appear on the skin. Later on scab will cover all the sores and will fall within 8 to 10 days. Until scab covers the sores viruses spreads infection continuously.

Therefore, to avoid the infection by the viruses avoid direct contact with the sores. If such contact occurs, viruses will spread the infection every part of the body that includes fingers and genital organs. You have to wash your hands regularly particularly when you touch lips. Picking at the sores need to be avoided, as this will lead in spreading the viruses as well as it will result in bacterial infection of the sores. To avoid the reactivation of the viruses body need to healthy and therefore try to include healthy food in your regular diet. Key to avoid the infection is varied diet, regular exercise and enough sleep.

Major triggering that activates the viruses is fever, long exposure to sunlight, pregnancy, and menstruation. However, triggering varies from person to person. Therefore, while going out apply sunscreen lotion to the body and also consume healthy and nutritive food. This will help you in shielding the body from infection and reactivation.

Cold sores or fever like blisters with outbreaks caused by viruses that attack the body. These viruses are also called as herpes simplex viruses. Once the body is attacked with these viruses, it is hard to get rid of them. Therefore, one has to try different remedies to keep the body shielded from these viruses. Viruses attack the area around mouth and nervous system of the body. The viruses are dormant in the body and when triggered activates them. Blisters around the mouth can observe presence of the viruses. Blisters are painful and watery and can occur on genital areas and mucous membranes.

There are certain remedies that keep the viruses in inactive states and the person suffering with the cold sores avoid triggering of the sores. Many of the times, viruses can be triggered in the pregnancy or menstruation period. This period is of the hormonal changes and there is lot of possibility of triggering the hormonally induced out break of cold sores.

Another reason of out breaking of the cold sores is sunlight. More exposure of the skin to the sunlight can out break the blisters. Sunburns also cause the cold sores or blisters. Therefore, while going outside one has to apply the sunscreen lotion on the lips, as they are the most sensitive. This is the easy remedy to control the cold sores. Cold and wind also triggers the blisters and hence this needs the same precautionary measure.

Person suffering with cold and flue has more chances of out breaking of the cold sores. In the flue or cold the resistance capacity of the body decreases and easily gets affected by the viruses. Another reason of virus triggering is the stress. Stress weakens the immune system of the body and the person may become vulnerable to any viruses that prowl around. However, one cannot avoid stress but can limit its bad effects on the body.

To shield your body from these viruses try to get proper amount of sleep. Adequate amount of sleep keeps the person stronger and healthier than the person who is getting less sleep. This is one of the precautionary measures to reduce the infection of the viruses. Along with sleep, the body needs to be supplemented with nutrition. Proper nutrition supplement and adequate amount of protein are helpful in healing process. Along with nutrition and proteins, body also needs the supplement of antioxidants and vitamins.

Antioxidants are especially important to keep body healthy and guarding off cold sores. Vitamin B deficient peoples frequently suffer with the out breaks. Amino acids and lysine are also helpful to shield the body from cold sores. (see our lysine article) Nevertheless, one has to intake these supplements under recommendation of doctors as over dose can affect the body. Best way to protect you from the cold sores is to stay calm and composed.