A common sore that many people experience is a difficulty that is known as cold sores. These are small blisters that typically form on the lips or inside of the mouth, although they may also form in the nose as well. They tend to be painful and, although most cold sores are small, there are also times when they may be larger as well. If you suffer from cold sores and live in the SouthLake or Grapevine area, you can contact the medical professionals that Better Faster Urgent Care for assistance in dealing with the problem. They can provide you with the treatment that is best for your needs.
The most common reason why a cold sore would occur is because of a viral infection. There are different types of viruses that can lead to cold sores, with the most common being herpes simplex virus type I. You can also experience a cold sore as a result of the herpes simplex virus type II, which is the type of virus that is often responsible for genital herpes.
If you have a cold sore, it means that you are infected with the virus that leads to the problem. It is likely that you will continue to have a problem with cold sores from time to time, although they may come and go throughout your lifetime. It is important to recognize that the herpes virus is not curable, and, even though the visible sign that you have the virus may come and go, you always have the virus in your body.
You can catch the herpes simplex virus from other individuals through direct physical contact. For example, you may kiss somebody with the herpes simplex virus and if they have the virus and the skin is actively shedding it, it can pass to you and you will then be infected for life. More than likely, you will catch the virus from somebody else when they have active sores, either inside the mouth or exposed on their lips. You may also catch the virus if you are exposed to their saliva, as it may also carry the virus as well.
Although the most common time when you are most contagious is when you have active cold sores, you may also be able to pass the virus on to other individuals, even if you don’t have active cold sores present. Once the cold sores begin to crust over, it is also less likely that you will pass on the virus, although it is not impossible. It is physically possible to transmit the virus through touching common items, such as towels or drinking out of the same glass, although it is much less likely to occur than it is with direct physical contact.
Where Did Cold Sores Come From?
When you are infected with the herpes simplex virus, it is an infection that will last for your lifetime. When it first enters your body, it will travel through your nerve cells to an area that is known as the ganglion. This is an area of nerve cells that are collected together in a single location. Once it reaches that area, it will enter into a dormant period that is sometimes referred to as a latent period.
Although approximately one out of every five individuals is infected with the herpes virus, not all of them are going to exhibit symptoms. For many individuals, the virus will simply remain dormant and they will not have to deal with cold sores but for others, at some point, cold sores are going to be a problem. This occurs when the virus starts to multiply and once it multiplies enough, it will travel down the nerve and eventually affect the skin. When this happens, it results in a cold sore. There may be reasons why it is more likely for you to have cold sores, including if you have the flu, are under an exceptional amount of stress or if you have trauma to your skin.
There are treatment options and, although they will not cure herpes and remove it from the body, it will help to treat the symptoms of cold sores. If you live in the Grapevine or Southlake area, you can come to Better Faster Urgent Care for the treatment that you need. After looking into your individual case, we may be able to prescribe a medication that will help to reduce the number of cold sores that you have or can reduce the issue in other ways.
