Viruses
Herpes

17 января 2022

Where Cold Sores Come From and How To Cope With Them

Where Cold Sores Come From and How To Cope With Them
Where Cold Sores Come From and How To Cope With Them
Viruses
Herpes

17 января 2022

Where Cold Sores Come From and How To Cope With Them

## Why do they appear? What is to blame for the small sores filled with liquid that suddenly appear on our lips? They are caused by herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). According to the WHO, two-thirds of the world's population suffers from it. It is highly contagious and easily transmitted through direct contact, including saliva and liquids. After infection, the virus "sleeps" for most of its life inside the cells of the trigeminal nerve and is activated when immunity is weakened due to ARVI, temperature, insufficient sleep, stress, hypovitaminosis, or general exhaustion of the body. Sunlight and ultraviolet light can also activate the virus. Hormonal changes are additional factors. In women, lip herpes may appear at certain stages of the menstrual cycle. ## Onset of the disease A cold sore often starts with a tingling, itching, or burning around the mouth. Then blisters appear on the skin, burst, and become crusted. It can take up to two weeks to heal. ## How to treat it? In order for the treatment to be effective, you should react immediately. __Docosanol ointment__ can help shorten the duration of a cold sore. But after the initial period, creams and ointments are unlikely to have a big impact. Herpes patches with hydrocolloid gel can be applied to the cold sore while it heals. __Antiviral pills__ are prescribed by a doctor if necessary. __Over-the-counter anesthetics__ (benzocaine, lidocaine, and tetracaine) can numb the skin and reduce pain and discomfort. If the virus has already entered the body, there’s not much chance to get rid of it for good. However, there’s ongoing research in this area. A group of scientists from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in the US used gene editing techniques to achieve a 90 percent reduction in latent herpes type 1 (HSV-1) in mice, which should prevent recurrence of the infection. Hopefully, we will get rid of these sores forever!

Читайте также

НовоеHow to Relax and Truly Unwind
Healthy lifestyle
+2

How to Relax and Truly Unwind

You probably have friends who say they don't know how to relax and don't mean it figuratively. Many people constantly feel tired and cannot relax beca...

26.05.25

7 Myths About Ticks
Lyme disease
+2

7 Myths About Ticks

Ticks can spoil a pleasant walk outdoors and significantly complicate your life. Despite the fact that these parasites are very common, most people kn...

22.05.25

What is the Best Form of Laundry Detergent?
Healthy lifestyle
+2

What is the Best Form of Laundry Detergent?

The modern market offers a wide variety of laundry detergents ranging from traditional powders to capsules and gels. Each of these has its own feature...

19.05.25

Measles is Returning: Why is the Number of Infections Increasing?
Measles
+2

Measles is Returning: Why is the Number of Infections Increasing?

Measles is a highly contagious disease caused by the Morbillivirus. And despite the fact that most people are immunized in infancy, the world is now e...

16.05.25

C-Section: Are There Any Risks for the Baby?
Pregnancy
+2

C-Section: Are There Any Risks for the Baby?

Sometimes a surgical delivery is the only possible way for a woman to safely give birth. And sometimes fear of pain makes a woman ask her doctor for a...

13.05.25

Artificial Intelligence Will Help To Predict the Risks of Death From COVID-19
Coronavirus

Artificial Intelligence Will Help To Predict the Risks of Death From COVID-19

British scientists have discovered that artificial intelligence is much more effective than medical experts in using cardiac ultrasound to identify CO...

13.05.25

Oatmeal pancakes with berries
Fast result
+4

Oatmeal pancakes with berries

Oatmeal provides slow-releasing carbohydrates for sustained energy, while cottage cheese adds high-quality protein. The berries are rich in antioxidan...

13.05.25

Smoothie with persimmon
Fast result
+4

Smoothie with persimmon

This smoothie is naturally sweet, rich in fiber, and packed with vitamins from fruit. The yogurt provides probiotics that aid digestion and boost gut ...

13.05.25

Stop Drinking... Sugar!
Sugar
+4

Stop Drinking... Sugar!

When discussing reducing sweet foods in the diet, we often forget that some drinks have no less sugar than candy, cookies, and pastries. Let's take a ...

13.05.25

How Heart Diseases Are Treated in 2025
Heart
+3

How Heart Diseases Are Treated in 2025

Cardiovascular diseases remain the most common health issue worldwide. However, new innovative treatments emerge every year, allowing people with hear...

13.05.25

A Pacemaker the Size of a Grain of Rice
Heart
+2

A Pacemaker the Size of a Grain of Rice

Biomedical engineering is constantly evolving, and innovations appear that radically change the usual approaches to treatment. One of the latest of th...

12.05.25

Fiber: The Biggest Enemy of Excess Weight
Weight loss
+3

Fiber: The Biggest Enemy of Excess Weight

The human diet must contain a balance of macronutrients including proteins, fats and carbohydrates. For the normal functioning of the body, primarily ...

05.05.25

How Does Global Warming Affect Health?
Global warming

How Does Global Warming Affect Health?

Global warming is a topic that's widely discussed today. At first glance, what could be so bad about the planet getting a little warmer? Unfortunately...

21.04.25