Cold sores are caused by two strains of the herpes simplex virus (HSV): HSV-1 and HSV-2.
While cold sores on the mouth are usually caused by HSV-1, and genital herpes are usually caused by HSV-2, either virus can cause either type of sore. A 2006 article in the Journal of the American Medical Association, based on data from 1999-2004, reported that HSV-1 affected 57.7% of Americans. By age 50, some 80 to 90% of adults have the virus, and in the US, an estimated 50 million adults develop cold sores each year. Though there is great variation in the number of attacks people have after being exposed to the virus, most people with HSV-1 or HSV-2 experience one to three attacks per year, though the severity and the frequency of outbreaks tends to diminish over time.
What Causes Cold Sores?
People catch the herpes virus infection from others who have active lesions. Herpes can be transmitted through shared towels, eating utensils, razors, and through kissing. Oral sex can spread the virus as well. Up to 20 days after exposure to the virus, a person may develop cold sores. When the virus enters your body, it emerges near the original site of entry.
Before an outbreak of cold sores, many people experience tingling, itching, or sensitivity at the site where the cold sore emerges. After the initial herpes infection, the virus goes dormant in the nerve cells of the skin.
Why Cold Sores Come and Go
Cold sore outbreaks tend to emerge occasionally as an active infection at or near the original site. It’s not always easy to predict what will trigger a new outbreak, but some of the more common triggers include:
- Sun exposure
- Fever
- Menstruation
- Excess stress
- Fatigue
- Allergies
- Certain foods (including peanuts, almonds, chocolate, and other foods high in arginine)
What You Can Do About Cold Sores
If you have an outbreak, avoid sharing personal items and avoid direct contact with others. Likewise, you should avoid contact with or sharing personal items with someone who has what looks like a cold sore. If you have recurring outbreaks, there are prescription medications that can help shorten the duration of outbreaks and lessen their severity.
Denavir is an antiviral cream you can use as soon as you feel a cold sore emerging. Denavir isn’t greasy, and dries clear, while penetrating the sore to target the virus with an antiviral medication called penciclovir. It also protects the skin and helps reduce cracking and discomfort. Some cold sore treatments don’t work in the pre-sore, “tingling” phase of an outbreak, but Denavir can be used as soon as you feel a sore coming on. Denavir selectively targets the HSV-1 virus, which is the most common cause of cold sores on the mouth, and it prevents the virus from reproducing. It helps people with cold sores get over them quickly so they can get on with life.
eDrugstore.com dispenses prescription medications like Denavir that can help people cope effectively with cold sores, making them less painful and making them go away sooner. At eDrugstore.com, we believe in outstanding customer service, are HIPAA compliant, and are strongly committed to customer privacy, online security, and swift product shipment.
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