Cold sores start with an itching of the skin usually around the upper lip or on the sides of the lips and then small red blisters start to form. They occasionally form on the nose, chin or fingers. They can also occur inside the mouth on the palate. The red blisters get filled with a clear fluid and they usually last a painful 7 to 10 days and disappear as mysteriously as they appeared. During their occurrence the experience is quite painful and one wants to scratch at the blisters or pierce them so that they subside. The blisters follow their own cycle in which they form get filled with fluid, burst and leave a yellow crust which then falls off. Luckily about one goes through a bout of cold sore the skin reappears without any scar on it. Cold sores are also called fever blisters and are at times mistaken for canker sores which are a different disorder. Cold sores are contagious and are caused by a strain of herpes virus.

The virus can lie dormant and then breakout and it is estimated that cold sores breakout twenty days after the virus has been contacted. How does one get infected? The answer is by coming in contact with a person who has an active attack of cold sores. This can happen by kissing, sharing utensils, towels, razor, etc. anyone who has a cold sore or cold sores should not share any of their personal things with other people. It can also be transmitted to an infant by letting the infant’s skin come in contact with the skin of the person who is carrying the disease. Even after the blisters have dried and crusted away there is a possibility of transmitting it. One should take necessary precautions for at least a month after one has recovered from an attack.

Cold sores occur and one may not even know how they contacted the disease and no one is sure as to what causes them. One theory is that vitamin B12 deficiency causes cold sores. The theory of vitamin b12 cold sores is based on a study conducted on people who had cold sores and were found to be suffering from a B12 vitamin deficiency. If the cold sores don’t heal within two weeks then one should seek medical aid, or if they keep recurring or if one is prone to various illnesses due to a weak immune system. If the cold sores keep recurring or one feels some irritation to the eyes then also one should go and see a doctor.

If one has a cold sores attack one should stay away from people who are suffering from cancer, AIDS or have had an organ transplant. The reason is that the immune system of such people is weak.

Medical treatment is only required if the cold sores don’t run their normal course and heal in a couple of weeks or there are frequent outbreaks or other parts of the body also get infected. Doctors normally give a topical medication to relieve the cold sores. Doctors may recommend anbesol for cold sore pain as anbesol does offer temporary pain relieve during a cold sores outbreak.

Cold sores or fever blisters ca be avoided by taking certain precautions, like avoiding skin contact with people who have the cold sore blisters. Don’t get stressed out, or too much sun exposure. If one has contacted cold sores then keep the hands clean, don’t scratch the blisters and avoid contact and sharing of personal items. There are some cold sore home remedies that one can use, like placing an ice cube on the sore, applying a cornstarch patch, rubbing juice from an aloe plant.

If one wants to learn more about cold sores treatment or see pictures of cold sores one can always see them on the internet.