What Exactly is a Cold Sore & Can It Be Cured?

For some people, the "common" cold sore is just a harmless annoyance, while for others it is an unsightly, painful occurrence that cause discomfort and embarrassment. It's important to note that regardless of how severe your cold sore is, what it's not is "just an unsightly blemish." Cold sores are real medical conditions which can be treated by your physician or your dentist.

Cold sores are caused by a virus called herpes simplex type I. The virus hides itself in your body until something triggers it to appear. The majority of people catch the cold sore virus, when they are children, from friends or relatives. The virus can then lie dormant in your body forever and may cause outbreaks at any time. Cold sores have an added downside. They are very contagious and can be passed, by you, to others, even before the sore itself appears.

There are many factors which may trigger the appearance of a cold sore. Some of these are: stress, fatigue, the common cold, fever, exposure to sun, excessive heat or cold, menstruation, pregnancy and injury to the mouth.

The good news is that there are products on the market which can heal a cold sore. There are several such medications available over-the-counter and some which are only available with a prescription. It's best to consult with your dentist or doctor as to what product will be most effective for you. It's good to know that there are ways in which you can mitigate the symptoms of a cold sore.