Anyone who has ever had a cold sore knows they can be as embarrassing as they are uncomfortable. A contagious infection caused by the herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1), cold sores are fluid-filled lesions that can last for a week or longer.
Cold sores usually appear near the mouth: on the lips, chin, and cheeks. Sometimes they show up in the nostrils or on the roof of the mouth or the gums.
Signs and symptoms may not show up for 1 to 3 weeks after exposure to the HSV and include:
- Small, fluid-filled red blisters, usually near the mouth
- Pain, tingling, or burning around the mouth or nose before a blister appears
- Itching or sensitivity at the site before a cold sore appears
- Fever
- Sore throat
- Swollen lymph nodes in the neck
- Oozing blisters, which then form a yellow crust that eventually sloughs off to reveal pink skin underneath. Continue reading “Take Care of Cold Sores Naturally”
