What can you do to prevent a cold sore?

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cold sore stages pictures
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When you feel that you are getting the cold sore stages pictures or are you are already affected by the cold sore, then there are several things you can do to avoid yourself from the feeling of discomfort which a cold sore often brings with them. In this article, we will discuss the things that you should not do when you are affected by the cold sore or have the symptoms of cold sores.

About Cold Sores and stages?

Cold sore is a form of the herpes simplex virus. It is usually small painful blisters that form around the nose, face, or mouth. It is a very common infection that can be transmitted from one person to another during personal contact. This thing usually stays for 1 to 2 weeks, and after that, if you take proper precaution, they disappear on their own.

What food should you avoid during core sore stages?

There are several foods that you should avoid consuming if you are getting the cold sore stages pictures and if you notice any symptoms of cold sore stages:

1. Oranges

Grapefruit, oranges, and several other citrus foods you should not eat during the cold sore stages pictures. Since all this food contains acid, which can cause severe pain to your cold sore blisters, as mentioned by the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), however, tomatoes are also one of that food that contains high acid; instead, you can consume the middle alternative, which includes bananas, grapes, and cucumber, to your daily fruit diet.

2. Pickles

Vinegar might create problems for the cold sore blisters as per the Brown University health services; they say that you should keep aside the pickles when having snacks. Stick to the non-pickled foods during your cold sore stages pictures.

3. Curry

If you love having spicy food, then you will have to prevent heavy, spicy food from managing the outbreak of the cold sore for the sake of your health. As per recent reports, consuming spicy food can irritate the cold sore area around the mouth.

4. Pizza

You should avoid consuming bigger food in which you have to open your mouth wider, such as pizza, as it stretches the blisters that are formed around your mouth. A cold sore appears for some days but is very painful. To get relief from the pain and make the healing process faster to avoid consuming pizza.

5. Salted Peanuts and Chips

Some of the acidic foods like salted peanuts; chips can also irritate the cold sore surface. Stop consuming salted food till blisters do not disappear from your skin.

Cold Sores: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment, and More
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Home Remedies for Cold Sores and stages of sore

However, avoid consuming some of the food to avoid irritation to the cold sore. You should also try some of the cold sore home remedies to get relief from the cold sore. Some of the home remedies are given below:

  • When you experience tingling for the first time, it means cold sore stages pictures are about to happen. To reduce and stop the cold sore from appearing, it’s better to apply antiviral ointment.
  • When the cold sore already infects you, you should apply a non-prescription ointment or gel to get relief from the pain and follow all the further instructions given on the backside of the label.
  • The other thing you can do is to take the ice cubes in a clean cloth and hold them over the cold sore.
  • Run the tap till the water gets cold. After the water is cold, you will require wetting a towel and holding them against the cold sore at least five to 10 times. Do it repetitively multiple times a day.
  • Slowly spread the petroleum jelly all around the cold sore and in its surrounding area to avoid the sore.
  • Another thing you can do is to take the prescribed painkillers such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen.

Why do cold sores come and go?

The person who is earlier infected with HSV-1 might not get infected with the cold sore stages for years, but at the time it arises suddenly, it happens because herpes Simplex virus already remains inside the body for a longer time before reactivating. If you take any sort of stress, it might reactivate the virus, and therefore cold sore appears on your skin. If you are more exposed to the sunlight, then also, in some cases cold sore appears. Some of the most common causes of the HSV-1 are because you might be having a cold, flu, menstrual cycle, and emotional stress. There is no permanent treatment for the HSV, so if this virus infects you once, you have to carry it for a lifetime.

Are cold sores dangerous?

It depends on the body there are some people for them cold Sore is not a dangerous health problem. Whereas there are several other people who face lots of complications due to the outbreak of cold sores. You are required to go for quick medical attention if you go through from following symptoms:

  • If you are suffering from a severe fever.
  • If you are undergoing atopic dermatitis (eczema) and seeing that cold sores are forming across the body.
  • If you find that your immune system is facing problems in consuming immunosuppressive medication because of HIV.
  • If your cold sore is not disappearing within two weeks.

Are cold sores contagious?

Yes, cold sores are a highly contagious disease. It can be easily passed from one person to another no matter if blisters are still not formed; if the blistering starts appearing, the continuous phase will be stronger. If any person in your family has a cold sore, they should not have personal contact with others. Never share your essential personal items. You should also not share makeup, wash the clothes or other personal items as it transmits the cold sores to your family members. It is also recommended to continuously wash your hands, especially when you touch the blisters, as it can lead to infection.

7 Disturbing Facts About Cold Sores Every Woman Should Know
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What do cold sores look like? Are they the same as canker sores?

Commonly known as fever blisters, Cold sores generally appears around the lips. They look more like blisters and often appear in clusters. It is not the same as canker sores as cold sores occur around the mouth whereas canker sore is not caused because of herpes Simplex virus also occurs inside the mouth.

Know how to get rid of cold sores

Since cold sores occur due to the virus, they cannot be cured; there is no specific treatment to permanently cure them. This virus undergoes a particular cycle, and the only thing you can do is wait for the sores to disappear. In the very first stage, you’ll feel irritation around your lips, but you won’t see anything. In the next step, you’ll find that blisters are appearing. In the end, the blister will start disappearing, and the healing process will be started. This means you will have to wait for 1 to 4 weeks for this cycle to get completed.

Is there medication to cure cold sores?

People who usually suffer from cold sores or those exposed to serious complications of the cold sores are then advised to take a prescription from their doctor to consume the antiviral medication that prevents the virus and helps in the healing process. This medication is not for completely eliminating the herpes simplex virus, but it can ease the healing process. Also, this medication prevents the virus from getting reactive. You are required to take this medication orally as it is very effective no matter if you have blisters or not. And it’s another version of medicine that needs to be applied to the blisters several times a day, which also helps in making the healing process quicker.

We hope all the information given above is useful for you when determining what not to do and what are home remedies you can take when the cold sore infects you. Share your views below.