What are cold sores?

This is an automatically translated article.

A spot on the skin that started to tingle and numb a few days ago, then turns into a red, blistering, and bursting lesion that is a common manifestation of a cold sore. This is a type of trauma that most people experience at least once in their lives. So what are cold sores and what causes them not everyone knows.

1. What are cold sores?

Cold sores, also known as blisters or herpes, are a very common type of skin lesion caused by a viral infection. Their initial manifestation is small, fluid-filled blisters inside and distributed above and around the lips. These blisters are often grouped together in patches; After the blisters burst, the scabs can persist for several days. Most cold sores heal in two to three weeks without scarring.
Cold sores are caused by herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and less commonly herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2). The disease is spread from person to person through close contact, such as kissing or oral sex. Both of these viruses can affect the mouth or genitals and can be spread through oral sex. Even cold sores can be contagious even if the sores are not visible. Sharing eating utensils, razors, and towels and clothing can also spread the virus.
To date, there is no cure for cold sores completely. However, early therapeutic interventions have been observed to help control flare-ups. Antiviral medications or creams applied to the skin can help cold sores dry and heal faster. At the same time, they can reduce the frequency, duration, and severity of future outbreaks.

2. What are the symptoms of cold sores?

The appearance of cold sores usually goes through certain stages as follows:
Tingling and numbness: Many people experience itching, burning or tingling around the lips for a few days before the appearance of small nodules, stiffness, pain, and blisters begin to break out. Blisters: Small fluid-filled blisters often break out along the edge of the lips. They sometimes appear around the nose or cheeks or inside the mouth. Draining and crusting: Small blisters can merge and then burst, leaving shallow open sores that ooze and crust over. Signs and symptoms can vary from person to person as well as by location on the body. In addition to the lips, the semimucosal and mucosal transition zones of the genital organs are also common sites for cold sores. In addition, the severity of cold sores depends on whether this is the first outbreak or the recurrence. Accordingly, during the first cold sore, symptoms can have an incubation period of up to 20 days after exposure to the virus. At this point, the sores can last several days and the blisters can take two to three weeks until the area is completely healed. However, in recurrences at the same site, symptoms tend to be less severe than in the first outbreak and the duration of the full-blown outbreak is also shorter.
In addition to the local manifestations, the patient may also have fever, sore throat, headache, muscle pain, swollen lymph nodes ... accompanied. In the case of children under 5 years old, cold sores inside the mouth are often confused with herpes. These are sores that involve only the mucous membranes and are not caused by the herpes simplex virus.

Once a person has had an episode of herpes, the virus stays in the nerve cells of the skin and can emerge as another cold sore in the same spot as before. Recurrence can be triggered by:
Viral infection or fever Hormonal changes, such as those related to menstruation Stress, fatigue Exposure to sun and wind or the outside environment Declining in the immune system Pre-existing skin damage

3. How are cold sores diagnosed and treated?

The diagnosis of cold sores can be made only by observing their characteristic manifestations. If there are suspicions, to further confirm the diagnosis, the doctor may take a sample from the exudate for testing.
Regarding the treatment of cold sores, they usually go away without treatment within 2-4 weeks. Several prescription antiviral drugs can help speed wound healing, including: Acyclovir, Valacyclovir, Famciclovir, Penciclovir. These drugs are available in pill form. Others are creams that are applied to the sores several times a day. Overall, the pill was found to be more effective than the topical cream. Even for very severe infections, some antiviral drugs can be given by injection to quickly bring about systemic effects.

4. Possible complications from cold sores

Although skin lesions can heal on their own without scarring, in some people the virus that causes cold sores can cause serious problems in other areas of the body, including:
Table Hands: Both HSV-1 and HSV-2 can be spread to the palms, on the fingers. This type of infection is commonly known as herpes whitlow. Children who suck their thumb can transmit infection from their mouth to their thumb. Conjunctival eye: Viruses can sometimes cause eye infections. Repeated infections can cause scarring or permanent damage, leading to vision problems or vision loss. Widespread areas of skin: People who already have a skin condition called atopic dermatitis (eczema) are at increased risk of cold sores that spread throughout the body during an outbreak. This is a serious condition and requires inpatient monitoring.

5. How can cold sore outbreaks be prevented?

As a precaution, your doctor may prescribe an antiviral medication to take regularly if you have cold sores more than nine times in a year or if you are at high risk for serious complications. Some observations suggest that sunlight may be a trigger for relapses. Therefore, patients should pay attention to apply sunscreen to the site of cold sores, to avoid the risk of flare-ups.
To avoid spreading cold sores to other people or other parts of the body, you need to follow some precautions:
Avoid kissing and skin contact with others while the blisters are present. : The virus is most contagious when the blisters are in the oozing phase. Avoid sharing personal items: Utensils, towels, lip balm, and other personal items can spread the virus when blisters are present. Keep your hands clean: When you have a cold sore, wash your hands carefully before touching yourself and others, especially babies or people with low immunity.

In summary, cold sores caused by herpes are a common skin lesion in everyday life. Although the majority of cases usually resolve on their own without specific treatment, the disease can still cause serious complications, especially in weakened areas. It is important to follow precautions to prevent infection or reactivation of the virus for yourself and those around you.
Periodic health check-ups help detect health conditions as well as common diseases early, so that a treatment plan can achieve optimal results. Currently, Vinmec International General Hospital has general health checkup packages suitable for each age, gender and individual needs of customers with a reasonable price policy, including:
Health checkup package general Vip Standard general health checkup package Patient's examination results will be returned to your home. After receiving the results of the general health examination, if any diseases are detected, you can use services from other specialties such as testing, imaging, .. right at the Hospital with quality treatment. Outstanding customer service and value.

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SEE ALSO:
Herpes (blisters) on the lips: What you need to know Why do you get blisters in your mouth? Common skin problems in adults: Shingles, hives and more