Home Remedies For Cold Sores
Chris Borg | December 21, 2011Many people go online every day to research the question are cold sores contagious. This viral infection has affected most people at one point in their lives and they may not have even realized it. This infection is the herpes simplex virus.
There is really not just one answer to this question. A cold sore is the herpes simplex virus and it hides deep within the nerve roots and can not be taken away with any type of medicine. The sore is usually a small area that does cause a bit of pain. The blister spot can be filled with fluid. These are mostly found on the lips. A symptom to look for before it appears is that the area where it will be will be on fire and tingle. Generally, these blisters only last for a few days.
There are several reason that people will get this virus. A few of the more popular reasons associated with getting cold sores are being in contact with an infected person, over exposing yourself to the sun, a hormonal change, stress, a type of damage to the skin and also an illness can trigger the virus. They can come back right away, wait years or just never come back. When they do come back they tend to show up in the same spot as they were previously.
Prevention of the cold sore is fairly simple. Common sense plays a huge part in not contracting the virus. The obvious one is to wash your hands frequently to stop the infection from spreading, also stay away from skin contact with people that do have the virus. Although the blisters maybe gone the person is still contagious because their saliva will be carrying the disease.
Another prevention tip is to not share any of your items. These items could be your Chap Stick, utensils and towels. As always, wash your hands frequently to avoid passing the virus on to another person. Also, be careful when touching other parts of your body, as the virus is easily spread to other areas. Something else to consider is to wear sunscreen all year around because too much exposure to the skin can initiate the virus.
Depending on your preference you could choose to take a pill to relieve your symptoms or use a type of cream. Also, there are several at home remedies to try. Some of the things that have worked for other people is changing your diet, using nail polish remover on the area, using vitamin supplements or putting on a cold compress to relieve some of the pain.
Another great natural supplement that works is Lysine. It is an amino acid and is in some foods that you probably already eat daily. These foods include cheese, milk, fish, chicken and most vegetables. If you are looking for a type of cream Abreva is the only FDA approved treatment of cold sores. It is a topical, over the counter cream that is applied to the affected area. It reduces itching and pain. Both of these can be purchased at any local store.
When looking for the answer to the question are cold sores contagious remember the prevention methods and if you do happen to contract this infection, as most people will there are a lot of remedies to help deal with the symptoms. As of now there is no cure but at least you will receive some relief from the treatments that are available.
Ever wonder: “Are cold sores contagious?” Herpes Simplex sufferers can find more information about tried and tested home remedies for cold sores on our site, now.





