Doctors Define Cold Sores and Its Causes

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Doctors Define Cold Sores and Its Causes

Friday, June 6th, 2008 Subscribe To Our Feed

Many cold sore sufferers can define cold sores and its causes due to a lifetime of outbreaks. They can also testify to the stigma they have felt picking up prescriptions for antiviral medications such as Valtrex, which is used to treat both cold sores and genital herpes. Both are highly contagious. Both have no cure. Both types of herpes can lie dormant, but still be transmitted though there are no actual sores present. Genital herpes (HSV-2) is sexually transmitted but cold sores (HSV-1) are most commonly transmitted by oral contact such as kissing, or using someone else’s lipstick or toothbrush.

Causes of Cold Sores

Doctors define cold sores and its causes as the following: “The virus lies latent (dormant) in the body and is reawakened (reactivated) by factors such as stress, sunburn, or fever from a wide range of infectious diseases including colds. Recurrences are less common after age 35. Sunscreen (SPF 15 or more) on the lips prevents recurrences of herpes from sunburn.” This quote is from the website www.medterms.com. Now that it has helped to define cold sores and its causes, it is important to know how to prevent cold sores. To prevent cold sores, it is important to avoid all the main causes. Since fever, sun exposure, colds, stress, and other physical or emotional trauma cause cold sores, care should be taken to get plenty of rest, drink water, avoid the sun, maintain a healthy diet, and learn to manage stress. This will help prevent cold sore outbreaks.

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