If you have a cold sore, this is a clear indication that you have contracted a herpes virus. A cold sore is an annoying bursting blister that causes crusting on the lips. During that period it is extremely contagious and touching the lips by yourself or others is not desirable. What causes cold sores, what are the symptoms and why should one avoid further contact?

Treating cold sores

• Open blisters and contamination
• Herpes as a cause
• What are the symptoms?
• Contracting the virus
• How can a cold sore be treated?
• Genital herpes

Open blisters and contamination

If you suffer from a cold sore, this will manifest itself in a tingling sensation in, on or around the lips, after which the lip opens in the form of painful blisters. The cold sore can recover within ten days. A side effect of the condition is that people feel less well and experience some fatigue. While you have open blisters, there is a high risk of infection if third parties touch the blisters. Touching the cold sore can cause it to be transferred to the genitals, causing genital herpes. This can also occur through oral intercourse. It is therefore always necessary to touch a cold sore as little as possible and certainly not by others. Washing your hands properly is therefore very important. What causes cold sores and what else can you do about it?

Herpes as a cause

Normally a cold sore is caused by the herpes simplex virus type I, sometimes type II and simplex keratitis. If a person is infected with the virus, it will remain so for life. The virus settles in the nerve that controls the tongue and face. The immune system is not active within that nerve and so the virus always remains present. As a result of solar radiation, blisters are activated, after which they burst and crust over. This ensures that cold sores can break out all year round, but the most serious form of the condition occurs during the summer.

What are the symptoms?

If a cold sore occurs, you will usually get small blisters on the lip relatively quickly, which are filled with fluid. This is often announced in advance with a pricking to painful sensation, where you can feel the heartbeat in the lip. If it opens, the blisters will dry out, causing the well-known scabs and wounds such as cracks in the lip to occur. The bladder fluid and scabs are extremely contagious and you should avoid touching them as much as possible. Please note that these spots can also occur in and around the nose. Recovery from this condition often takes ten days.

Contracting the virus

An important way to contract the herpes simplex virus is through skin contact, where the virus is often transmitted through bodily fluids. Think of sweat, saliva and mucus. After becoming infected, it can take up to two weeks for the first symptoms to appear, but it often takes five days. If there is an infection, it cannot be gotten rid of. If an infection occurs, this does not necessarily mean that there are symptoms. If you do have symptoms, this often happens if you have less resistance. If you regularly have cold sores, be extremely careful with babies. Preferably do not touch the baby, because it is extremely sensitive to contamination.

How can a cold sore be treated?

Protect your lips from solar radiation. If you go outside, apply a good sun protection block to your lips, preferably with zinc sulphate. This shields herpes cells from healthy cells, so that the symptoms are less severe. The effect of the zinc ointment is also that no blisters form, because the bladder fluid is extracted. Antivirus medications can also be taken, but it is difficult to determine when a cold sore will actually break out. If the blisters are already open, it is a good idea to use pure alcohol. Pure alcohol has a disinfectant effect and keeps things clean. In addition, the wound dries out faster, reducing the risk of infecting others. If the blister has not disappeared after two weeks, a complication may have arisen. Then go to the doctor.

Genital herpes

The cause of genital herpes is herpes simplex type 2 and is related to cold sores in 25% of cases. It means that oral and unprotected contact through the transmission of fluids can also cause genital herpes or cold sores. It leads to fatigue, headache, muscle pain and a lot of itching. The blisters occur around the genitals, but can also occur on the thighs, buttocks and anus. These are usually painful itchy sores, which become dry again over time. If you have any doubts or questions about this, please consult your GP or the GGD of your municipality.

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