What Causes Cold Sores
What causes cold sores? Why did I contract them? Are these really what I think they are? These are probably one of the very first few questions that automatically pop into your mind when you start seeing those red blisters on your lips and mouth.
What Virus Causes Fever Blisters?
Cold sores or fever blisters are primarily caused by virus called herpes simplex. Cold sores on the lips, mouth and nearby areas are usually a symptom or oral herpes (herpes labialis), though genital herpes also involves cold sores appearing in the genital area.
Oral herpes is in turn caused by the type 1 virus (HSV-1), and genital herpes by the type 2 (HSV-2).
These two viruses are more common than people perceive them to be and are easily spread from one infected person to another.
Ways of Contracting The Virus
The infection sets off when someone gets exposed to the herpes virus through contact with moist surfaces or fluids that contain HSV from an infected person.
Cuddling, kissing, and sharing of personal items such as toothbrush, utensils, make-up and drinks are sure-fire ways of contracting the virus.
Oral herpes infected individuals can also spread the through hand contact most especially right after touching a blister, through sex, and other means of direct contact.
Other Potential Cause of Cold Sore
Though the herpes simplex virus is the main root cause of fever blisters, there are other factors which contribute to the onset of cold sores which include B complex, iron, folic acid and other nutrient deficiencies, reduced immunity to herpes simplex virus, hormonal imbalance, high-arginine diet, gluten sensitivity, hormonal imbalance and emotional stress, among others.
What Foods Cause Cold Sore
Eating foods that have high salt content and acid content have been seen to trigger cold sores. Also, arginine-rich food such as chocolates, peanuts, popcorn, coffee and beer are discouraged as herpes virus generally feed on arginine and survive through them.
What causes fever blisters on the lips?
Once contracted, the herpes virus may immediately display itself as a cold sore. The unfortunate fact about oral herpes is that once contracted, they stay in the nervous system forever.
The cold sore may heal, but the virus simply just travels away from the lip area and lies dormant at the nerve endings, with the possibility of getting activated at any time.
When activated, the virus travels down in a similar pathway so that they usually reappear again on the lips or in nearby areas.
Activation of The Herpes Virus
Fever blister and cold sore outbreaks are usually induced by a variety of physiological, emotional and external forces such as fatigue, health problems, dental surgery, minor skin injuries, hormonal imbalance, physical and emotional stress, and so on.
There are different triggering factors for different people, and it is very important to find out which triggers yours to prevent another onset of cold sores.
Oral herpes and cold sore symptoms can be quite difficult to manage. To deal with it, it is important to know what causes cold sores to know the means by which one can avoid contracting it or avoid future recurring outbreaks.