Doctors Define Cold Sores and Its Causes

What Are Cold Sores?

Cold sores are a common ailment caused by the herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1). There is no cure for this herpes virus. Herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2) is the virus that cause genital warts, a sexually transmitted disease, and it also has no cure. Cold sores and genital warts occur as fluid-filled blisters and have similar treatments. This article will focus on HSV-1 and will define cold sores and its causes according to the medical community.

Cold sores, medically defined, are "small sore(s) situated on the face or in the mouth that cause pain, burning, or itching before bursting and crusting over. The favorite locations are on the lips, chin or cheeks and in the nostrils. Less frequented sites are the gums or roof of the mouth (the palate)." Cold sores can occur singly or in clusters. They are not the same as canker sores, which are ulcers that occur in the soft tissues of the mouth. To define cold sores and its causes, ask a physician or visit online websites such as WebMD or Medicine Net.

Many cold sore sufferers can define cold sores and its causes due to a lifetime of outbreaks. They can also testify to the stigma they have felt picking up prescriptions for antiviral medications such as Valtrex, which is used to treat both cold sores and genital herpes. Both are highly contagious. Both have no cure. Both types of herpes can lie dormant, but still be transmitted though there are no actual sores present. Genital herpes (HSV-2) is sexually transmitted but cold sores (HSV-1) are most commonly transmitted by oral contact such as kissing, or using someone else's lipstick or toothbrush.

Causes of Cold Sores

Doctors define cold sores and its causes as the following: "The virus lies latent (dormant) in the body and is reawakened (reactivated) by factors such as stress, sunburn, or fever from a wide range of infectious diseases including colds. Recurrences are less common after age 35. Sunscreen (SPF 15 or more) on the lips prevents recurrences of herpes from sunburn." This quote is from the website www.medterms.com. Now that it has helped to define cold sores and its causes, it is important to know how to prevent cold sores. To prevent cold sores, it is important to avoid all the main causes. Since fever, sun exposure, colds, stress, and other physical or emotional trauma cause cold sores, care should be taken to get plenty of rest, drink water, avoid the sun, maintain a healthy diet, and learn to manage stress. This will help prevent cold sore outbreaks.


Cold Sores