The agony of having a cold sore reappear after you have diligently treated it and brought it back to health is something many have experienced. The question is, why does something like this take place? Why does it seem like one cold sore can lead to another and another and another? Below, we'll look into the cause of recurrent cold sores, offer some tips on how to avoid spreading the virus, and tell you when it's time to call our GP at home for cold sore treatment in Costa del Sol.
Recurrent Cold Sores: The Science Behind Them
Many people infected with the cold sore virus do not exhibit symptoms, making it difficult to treat cold sores. Additionally, even if you do not exhibit the classic symptoms of oozing blisters and tingling, your infected body fluids can still spread cold sores to others.
Whether or not you exhibit symptoms, contracting the cold sore virus can be a lengthy ordeal. The herpes simplex virus that causes cold sores, HSV-1 or HSV-2, can lie dormant in your cells and be triggered by a variety of factors once you've been infected. Since the dormant virus lives in the skin's nerve cells, it is common for cold sores to reappear in the same location as previous outbreaks when it is triggered. Because of this phenomenon, many people have recurring cold sores that appear in the same place.
What Causes Cold Sores to Recur?
Following an initial outbreak of cold sores, the herpes simplex virus can be activated by a variety of factors, including a cold sore-inducing stimulus. This can be:
- Changes in the immune system
- Stress
- Fatigue
- Virus infection or fever
- Hormonal shifts
- Sunlight and wind exposure
- Injury to the skin
There's a silver lining to recurring cold sores. The first cold sore outbreak is usually the worst, causing headaches, swollen lymph nodes, and lip and mouth sores. But recurring cold sore outbreaks are often less serious, with only lip sores. So while you may get cold sores in the same spot, the symptoms may be less severe.
How to prevent spreading cold sores
Even though your first outbreak may be the worst, recurring cold sores can be annoying and painful. You can prevent spreading them to other parts of your body and to others by taking a few simple steps:
- When cold sore blisters are present, avoid oral and skin-to-skin contact.
- Cold sores spread when blisters leak, so keep your fluids to yourself to protect others. Sharing blister fluid-contaminated items is also risky. Lip balm, towels, and eating utensils can spread the virus, so don't share them while you have cold sores.
- Lastly, washing your hands often to avoid spreading germs is an important way to keep from spreading the cold sore virus to other parts of your body and to other people.
GP at home for cold sore treatment in Costa del Sol
It is recommended that you call our GP at home for cold sore treatment in Costa del Sol if you are experiencing more severe symptoms or if you have a compromised immune system. For instance, if you have HIV or if you are undergoing treatment for cancer.
In addition to this, you should consider calling our GP at home for cold sore treatment in Costa del Sol if:
- There are indicators that an infection has set in, including redness around the cold sore, pus, and a fever.
- You're not certain you have a cold sore.
- You have more than one cold sore or the cold sore isn't healing.
- Your cold sore has advanced to the area around your eyes.
- You frequently experience cold sores.
If the cold sore becomes infected, antibiotics may be required.