| Coldsores, also called fever blisters and oral | | | | frequently. Then the virus sheds to our fingers - |
| herpes, are a global epidemic - or | | | | and is easily transmitted to another location or |
| pandemic.Coldsores are the visible symptom of an | | | | person.Self-control is imperative. Each time you |
| active herpes virus infestation. More specifically, | | | | touch your coldsores, you must wash your |
| coldsores are the result of the reproduction | | | | hands.Keep little bottles of hand sterilizing soap or |
| process of the herpes virus.The World Health | | | | baby-wipes on hand. Baby-wipes have a sterilizing |
| Organization estimates 85% to 91% of the world | | | | ingredient and are particularly handy and useful. |
| population currently carries the herpes simplex | | | | You can dab the coldsores with them instead of |
| virus type 1 or 2 (HSV-1 and HSV-2). For all | | | | your fingers. This also speeds healing of |
| practical purposes, that means just about | | | | coldsores.Coldsores are brought on primarily by |
| everybody is infected with the coldsores virus. | | | | physical stress. Keep in mind even mental stress |
| Recorded history shows that this has been true | | | | will manifest itself physically. Colds (thus the term |
| since about 500 years prior to the Roman | | | | coldsores), fever (thus the term fever blisters), |
| Empire.HSV-1 is responsible for about 80% of | | | | pregnancy, injury, and nearly any physical trauma |
| reoccurring coldsores. The other 20% of | | | | can easily bring the virus out of hibernation and |
| coldsores are caused by HSV-2.Of those infected | | | | cause coldsores.Fact is, upcoming weddings, |
| with the herpes virus, 76% will have one or | | | | according to the mail I get, are one of the biggest |
| several coldsores within the next 12 months. The | | | | causes of coldsores.There are a huge variety of |
| other 24% often go a lifetime without | | | | treatments for coldsores. These include |
| experiencing any symptom of coldsores.The | | | | over-the-counter medications, prescription anti-viral |
| herpes virus most of the time is latent, or in | | | | pills and salves, and many natural remedies.You'll |
| hibernation, in the nerve ganglia nearest to the | | | | find over-the-counter products are mainly |
| site of your coldsores. In the case of facial | | | | comfort medications. None of them have ever |
| coldsores, this would be in an area behind the | | | | proven to shorten your coldsores. One exception |
| jawbone, near the brain stem.When the coldsores | | | | to this - some have antibacterial agents. This |
| virus becomes active, they travel up the nerve | | | | prevents secondary bacterial infections. If you do |
| fibers to the surface where they replicate and | | | | get a bacterial infection, and this is common, it will |
| create those painful coldsores right on the end of | | | | greatly lengthen the healing times and discomfort |
| the nerves.Coldsores normally occur on the face, | | | | of your coldsores.Much of the benefit of |
| appearing on the edge of the lip, called the | | | | over-the-counters is a numbing agent to reduce |
| vermilion border. The nostril is also a common site | | | | pain. Some contain oils that help keep the scab |
| for coldsores.What most people don't know, | | | | softer so it doesn't crack.Prescription medications |
| however, is coldsores can appear anywhere from | | | | for coldsores, up to this point, have been dismal |
| the waist up. For example: fingertip coldsores do | | | | failures. There are several brand names but the |
| occur. They're often a much more painful event | | | | generic name for the active ingredient is acyclovir. |
| because of the constant use of the fingers in our | | | | The antiviral salve will take, maybe, one or two |
| daily routine.Coldsores are extremely contagious. | | | | days off your 3-week coldsores. The antiviral pills |
| The coldsores virus spreads externally, not | | | | helped reduce the number of coldsores for only |
| internally. Kissing is the primary way coldsores are | | | | 47% of the people tested. This was a very short |
| transmitted to others - especially from adults to | | | | study so it wasn't very accurate.Please note this |
| children. Most people are infected before they're a | | | | medication is not to be taken if you're pregnant |
| dozen years old.The lips, mouth and nose are not | | | | or going to be pregnant soon. Also, there is some |
| protected by skin and are an easy target. | | | | concern for liver damage.Your best option, in fact |
| Coldsores can also spread to anywhere on the | | | | your ONLY option for coldsores right now, is the |
| body where the virus can find an opening - like a | | | | variety of known natural remedies for coldsores. |
| cut on the finger.Although coldsores are not life | | | | In real life studies, natural remedies have |
| threatening, coldsores can cause a lot of grief and | | | | shortened the duration of coldsores by as much |
| damage if spread to the eyes with contaminated | | | | as 85%. Among these are honey, DMSO, tea |
| fingers. This can cause loss of sight. Also, with oral | | | | tree oil, zinc, lysine, aloe vera, certain herbs and a |
| sex, the coldsores can be spread to the vagina or | | | | few others in certain forms and |
| penis, creating the dreaded genital | | | | combinations.Coldsores can literally be a real pain. |
| herpes.Coldsores are contagious from the first | | | | But you can easily, like many thousands of others |
| itching stage to the disappearance of the final red | | | | have, discover the right combination of remedies |
| spot. They are most contagious during the open | | | | for yourself and enjoy a lifetime of freedom |
| weeping and crust stages. The crust cracks | | | | from coldsores.Denny Bodoh is a 33-year |
| frequently when you move your mouth, as in | | | | newspaper veteran, and an alternative health and |
| smiling.The fluid from these coldsores is absolutely | | | | nutrition research writer. Learn more about |
| teaming with the coldsores virus.Extreme caution | | | | coldsores, and what you can do about coldsores, |
| must be taken with active coldsores. Coldsores | | | | by going to his wildly popular cold sore site. |
| itch and hurt a lot, so we tend to touch them | | | | |