Causes of Cold Sores – Understanding How These Blisters Are Formed
Cold sores, also called fever blisters, are painful small blisters that affect the lips or the skin around the mouth. You may detect that you are starting to form this skin infection because it feels itchy and painful. As these fluid-filled blisters affect the mouth, it can be embarrassing and discomforting to the sufferer. These lesions can also last for days until weeks.
So what are the causes of cold sores and why are others not affected by it?
The virus herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV1) causes these painful blisters to appear on the affected individual. You might associate 'herpes' with some sexually transmitted disease but the herpes simplex type 1 virus is different from the herpes simplex type II virus that causes the sexually transmitted genital herpes. However, a person with cold sores can infect the genitals of another when he performs oral sex.
The type 1 herpes simplex virus is the most common one, in which it is said that around 90 percent of all people may have at least had a cold sore in their entire life. Although cold sores are considered mild infection, it can be harmful to those who have very poor immune system caused by diseases like AIDS or by other disorders. In this case, the infection caused by the herpes simplex virus can spread to the eyes and cause blindness or to the brain, which can cause meningitis.
Most people do not show any signs of infection during the first exposure to the type 1 herpes virus, thus they remain undetected. However, this sore-causing virus exists under the nerves and can continue to remain inactive until they are triggered to come out to the surface and cause the infection.
Before the sores appear, the affected person may experience sensitivity, burning, itching and reddening of the infected part, and it may continue to develop into small blisters.
Among the common triggers and causes of cold sores are stress, fever, sunburn, colds, allergies and even menstruation. It is important to keep in mind that this type 1 virus is also highly contagious and can spread from person to person through kissing and sharing of utensils. Although this virus commonly affects the mouth, it can affect other parts of the body as well. This skin lesion can also heal on its own, but unfortunately, it can also recur regularly - which is often a misery for the sufferers.
A weak immune system is one of the major triggers and causes of cold sores especially those outbreaks of chronic blisters on the area. When this happens, it is always wise to get treatment because this virus can cause small blisters to join and form bigger blisters, and it is after the rupture of these lesions that it can become very contagious. The virus can thrive well in the saliva of the affected person, thus sharing of utensils and glasses and oral sex are the most common ways that can spread the virus from one person to another.
What is surprising about this skin infection is that others are easily affected by it while others are not. In a recent study, this has been attributed to genetic factors so you may want to build your body's defense system in case you are prone to these sores.
Studying the causes of cold sores will indeed help you in dealing with it and in preventing its spread to other people.
So what are the causes of cold sores and why are others not affected by it?
The virus herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV1) causes these painful blisters to appear on the affected individual. You might associate 'herpes' with some sexually transmitted disease but the herpes simplex type 1 virus is different from the herpes simplex type II virus that causes the sexually transmitted genital herpes. However, a person with cold sores can infect the genitals of another when he performs oral sex.
The type 1 herpes simplex virus is the most common one, in which it is said that around 90 percent of all people may have at least had a cold sore in their entire life. Although cold sores are considered mild infection, it can be harmful to those who have very poor immune system caused by diseases like AIDS or by other disorders. In this case, the infection caused by the herpes simplex virus can spread to the eyes and cause blindness or to the brain, which can cause meningitis.
Most people do not show any signs of infection during the first exposure to the type 1 herpes virus, thus they remain undetected. However, this sore-causing virus exists under the nerves and can continue to remain inactive until they are triggered to come out to the surface and cause the infection.
Before the sores appear, the affected person may experience sensitivity, burning, itching and reddening of the infected part, and it may continue to develop into small blisters.
Among the common triggers and causes of cold sores are stress, fever, sunburn, colds, allergies and even menstruation. It is important to keep in mind that this type 1 virus is also highly contagious and can spread from person to person through kissing and sharing of utensils. Although this virus commonly affects the mouth, it can affect other parts of the body as well. This skin lesion can also heal on its own, but unfortunately, it can also recur regularly - which is often a misery for the sufferers.
A weak immune system is one of the major triggers and causes of cold sores especially those outbreaks of chronic blisters on the area. When this happens, it is always wise to get treatment because this virus can cause small blisters to join and form bigger blisters, and it is after the rupture of these lesions that it can become very contagious. The virus can thrive well in the saliva of the affected person, thus sharing of utensils and glasses and oral sex are the most common ways that can spread the virus from one person to another.
What is surprising about this skin infection is that others are easily affected by it while others are not. In a recent study, this has been attributed to genetic factors so you may want to build your body's defense system in case you are prone to these sores.
Studying the causes of cold sores will indeed help you in dealing with it and in preventing its spread to other people.
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