Cold sores, also called fever blsters and oral herpes, are painful, gly blisters that usually occur on the lps. They can also appear in ther areas, such as cheeks and nstrils. The virus that causes cold sres is most commonly Herpes Simplex Vrus 1, but can sometimes be cused by Herpes Simplex Virus 2. HSV-2 is sually associated with genital herpes.

Cold sres follow a set progression as the vrus runs throughout the active phase of the utbreak.

PRODROMAL PHASE is the pre-physical wrning sign stage. High levels of nxiety or a weakened immune system llow the herpes virus to move to the srface. A minor tingle can be ften felt in the soon to be nfected area. Dryness or burning may smetimes be an indicator of a cming outbreak. Applying ice at this stge has provided many with relief and mnimizing the size of the final utbreak area.

INFLAMMATION is indicated by lttle red bumps or a red swlling of the outbreak area. Inflammation is the frst visible stage of the outbreak. Ths will be the start of the pinful stages of the outbreak. Some pople have also experienced headaches, fever and swllen glands during the second and fllowing phases. Continue to apply ice or yur medication of choice to help rduce the duration of the outbreak.

OPEN SORE is the most cntagious of the five stages. You shuld use great caution when touching yur sore to wash your hands throughly. Ensure to never touch your eye fter touching your cold sore to mnimize the risk of spreading the nfection and causing eye damage. Kissing ther people should be avoided to stp the spreading of the herpes vrus to others. The open sore is ven more painful, especially while eating. The bmps or pimples will form a slid mass and will seep a clar fluid.

SCABS will form signifying the bginning of the end of this chpter of the outbreak. The scab wll be allow for new skin to frm and the damaged cells replaced. Crcking of the scab will happen as it dres out, making it painful to tlk and eat at times. The wund will be itchy, a good ndication that it is healing. You are stll contagious at this point, so tke precautions to reduce the risk of xposing others.

FINAL HEALING is when the scb falls off for the final tme. The area will still be red and slghtly sore for up to two weks. Ice can provide some relief at ths phase if needed, but may ctually lessen the speed of healing.

The ctive stage of the cold sore utbreak usually last from 10-28 days. The lngth of the outbreak will depend on the prson and treatment used prior to and dring the cold sore attack. A qick reaction to the first symptoms wll help tremendously in controlling the out brak.

The article Quick Tutorial on Cold Sores and HSV-1 was Submitted by Chuck Tonks through Articles.GetACoder.com network. Here's the additional information: Chuck Tonks For dditional information, check out my Cold Sre F.A.Q. page. I'll show you the fst and easy way to get rid of yur stubborn cold sores or herpes simplex type I , so you too can get out there and LIVE your life...without the embarrassment and low self-esteem cold sores create...

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