Cold Sore Care
December 18, 2009
First thing to understand about cold sores is that they are contagious. The biggest trouble is that if necessary steps are not taken they will easily spread to other parts of the body.
Colds sores are caused by herpes simplex. The infection shows no symptoms during the initial stages. The virus immediately reaches the nerve ganglion after the infection. Once the virus travels to the nerve cell of the skin, a cold sore is produced.
Even after the sore heals one is not sure if the virus has been expelled from the body or has it travelled again to the nerve ganglion for the time being. In order to break this cycle of reoccurrence proper treatment should be taken.
Characteristic symptoms of cold sore are discomfort from the lesion which erupts often and oozes out a fluid. The sore appears with redness and appears as a yellow mark once it tries up.
Certain factors trigger the occurrence of cold sores. These include excess physical and emotional stress, monthly periods, exposure to sun light (UV rays) and wind.
Sexual intercourse, even kissing, must be avoided with the person who is having cold sores. If cold sores occur around the lip area then keep them moisturized using lip balms with sunscreen protection (minimum SPF 15).
Foods that contain excess salts and arginine should be avoided. These foods are peanuts (especially slated peanuts), chocolates, fries, chips and grains.
Do not share clothing, razor, dishes, etc of the infected person.
Treatment and Remedies
Physicians or the healthcare provider may prescribe vitamin C and L-Lysine (amino acid) supplementation for the cold sores to heal. Vitamin C is the prime nutrient for building a strong immunity against any viral or bacterial invasion.
Analgesics (painkillers) may also be prescribed. The treatment mainly involves topical application of aloe vera based creams and lotions.
Even as a home remedy, freshly obtained aloe vera pulp is applied onto the affected area. It bringing relief from the itching and reduces redness.
Application of ice is equally effective. The ice can be applied to the sore for 5 minutes after every hour. The ice helps in shrinking of the tissue and interrupting its growth.
Comments
Got something to say? Join the conversation and leave a comment below.