Cold Sores
It never fails. Every time you have a big meeting ig up or an important presentation to give, you develop an unsightly cold sore on your lip. You wake up with a small cluster of tiny, harmless looking blisters, which quickly explode a pain full sore the size of Rhode Island (ok, so may be just looks that big to you).
True cold sores, the ones that occur on the lips, are caused by the herpes simplex virus I,” Evan T. Bell , M.D., a specialist in infectious disease at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York . Herpes viruses presumably lie dormant in certain nerve cells of the body lifelong, until something like stress, strain, a cold, or excessive exposure to herpes simplex causes them to manifest. In the case of herpes simplex virus, it happens to be on the lip, he explains. The sores last from 7 to 14 days.
Although many use the terms “cold sore” and “canker sore” interchangeably, they are different. Unlike cold sores, canker sores are oral lesions that are characterized by small, round, white areas inside in the mouth surrounded by a sharp halo of red. And while cold sores are highly contagious, canker sores are not.
Unfortunately, attempting to camouflage the little buggers with makeup often produces an even worse effect. Still, while you can’t do much about the way they look, you can do a few things to help decrease discomfort, speed healing, and keep them from coming back. You can even take steps to lent passing on your cold sore to others.
Cover it with a protective petroleum-based product. This will protect it from infection and help it to heal a little quicker,” says Marcia Kielhofner, M.D.” clinical assistant professor of medicine at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston , Texas .
Reach for aspirin, acetaminophen, or ibuprofen. “These sores can be quite painful because they are in an area that tends to be easily and continually irritated,” says Kielhofner. “An over-the-counter painkiller can greatly reduce this discomfort.”
Avoid salty or acidic foods. Things like potato chips or citrus fruits can further irritate cold sores and add to the pain, according to Kielhofner.
Apply an over-the-counter anesthetic. Putting a local anesthetic ointment containing benzocaine on the cold sore can help numb the pain temporarily.
Protect your lips from the sun. Applying sunscreen to your lips may help prevent sun-induced recurrences of cold sores, according to a study by the National Institutes of Health. Look for a sunscreen, designed especially for the lips, that has an SPF of 15 or higher. Some colored lipsticks now also contain sunscreen; check the cosmetic counter at your local department store.
Keep it to yourself. One important thing to keep in mind with cold sores is that they are extremely contagious. While you have a cold sore, avoid kissing and sharing cups, towels, or other such items. And wash your hands frequently.
Tagged under: acetaminophen, canker sores, cold sores, General Ailments herpes simplex virus
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