What Exactly Is A Cold Sore?

The red swelling and fever blisters you often get in winter are known as cold sores. They usually appear around your mouth, on your lips and your nostril flares. The little blisters are painful fluid filled protrusions under your skin, caused by a viral infection.

When conditions are optimum for the virus to expand and propagate, the result is the cold sores on your face. The virus, a herpes simplex HSV- 1 is present in nearly everyone, lying dormant and harmless the majority of the time.

Most people have sufficient antibodies to contain a viral outbreak and s avoid the cold sores from affecting them.

However 20 to 25 percent of people at some stage of their life, do not have sufficient antibodies to contain the virus., Through a combination of their current circumstances, drained body resources or an infection, the virus may spring to life.

As the cold sores are extremely contagious, contact with another person, can quickly precipitate an attack.

Although the cold sores and fever blisters are very uncomfortable and unsightly, they are not in themselves usually dangerous. Leaving the malady untreated or being in surroundings which are conducive to propagate the virus further, could however lead to a more serious condition.

A normal outbreak of cold sores, left untreated will usually subside in a matter of weeks if not re infected. With the help of medications and some types of home remedies, this can be considerably shortened.

Seeking medical advice is however paramount if there is a yellowish pus filled with bacteria in any of the sores, or if you attain a high fever. These are symptoms of further complications, which should not go untreated.

Especially if you  should have any eye irritation , seek medical advice, as an infection of the eyes can lead to permanent visual damage.

So cold sores when combined with other symptoms can lead to a more serious condition, and should not be ignored under any circumstance. Apart from discomfort and ugly appearance, the flaring up of cold sores can become a precursor to something more sinister.

Now you know exactly what a cold sore is, and can act accordingly in case you are affected by such and inflammation.