Cold sores usually appear on the upper body, mainly around the lips and mouth, but they can emerge anywhere on the skin, including the tongue.
In the vast majority of cases, you catch a
cold sore through direct contact with the skin affected by the virus.
ACT FAST THE first sign that a
cold sore is on its way is a tingling or itching feeling.
Since
cold sores are very contagious, the best way to prevent them is to avoid skin contact with people who have them and refrain from sharing foods, utensils, towels, or other items.
The pharmacist said
cold sores were most dangerous at the oozing stage but mine was already scabbing over.
They need to be applied when a
cold sore is first appearing.
A
cold sore can be triggered by extreme changes in temperature, busy schedule and too little sleep.
It could have occurred if you've recently kissed somebody with a
cold sore or it's also quite likely that the virus has been in your body since childhood - in the majority of cases children pick up the virus from parents or family members who unwittingly pass it on when giving their youngsters a kiss.
If you are prone to
cold sores, it can help if things that precipitate an attack can be avoided.
A new over-the-counter medicine called Abreva may help
cold sores heal faster and reduce bothersome symptoms.
Also known as fever blisters,
cold sores are caused by a virus called herpes simplex type 1, not to be confused with herpes simplex type 2, the notorious virus that causes genital herpes.