Cold Sore Care - Facts You Should Know

Cold sore care is at the top of the list for anyone who has ever had one of these painful sores before. While most people have heard of cold sores, many don't really understand what they are caused from or how to prevent them. Here are some cold sore facts to help in giving you a better understanding.

1. A cold sore and a canker sore are completely unrelated.

A lot of people have a misunderstanding on this one. A canker sore forms on the inside of your mouth, gums, or tongue and it is not a virus.

A cold sore forms on the outside of your mouth, in most cases, it is a virus. It comes as the result of having the herpes simplex virus type 1.

2. There is no complete cure for cold sores.

While there are many ways of treating a cold sore and preventing them from forming, there still is no cure for herpes yet. The virus stays dormant in your central nervous system, just waiting to become active.

3. Stress can cause an outbreak.

This is very true. Emotional stress is one of, if not the biggest, cause for breakouts. Other causes can also include an illness as well as other reasons. When the virus suddenly becomes active, it moves down the nerves and immediately causes a blister form.

4. Cold sores are contagious.

If you have an active cold sore, you can easily spread it to others. Kissing or sharing the same cup can cause it to spread. Sharing a towel or toothbrush are just a few of the many ways this virus gets spread.

5. Diet and exercise can help in cold sore prevention.

This is a fact that many people overlook. Diet and exercise will help in strengthening your immune system, which is turns helps to keep the virus dormant. By getting regular exercise, eating a healthy diet, and getting enough sleep, are good examples of cold sore care that will lead to keeping the virus from causing a breakout.

6. The virus can be spread to other places on your body.

After touching an active blister, be sure to wash your hands. If you don't and you touch your eyes, you can spread the virus.

7. Catching the symptoms early can lead to preventing the sore from breaking out.