How Does a Cold Sore Form?
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Contracting HSV
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Cold sores are fluid-filled blisters that typically appear around the mouth, lips or nose. Despite their small size, they are often very painful. But how do we get them? It begins by contracting the Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV), Type 1. This virus can be contracted simply by sharing infected saliva with someone who already has the virus: sharing eating utensils, kissing, or inadvertently coming in contact with an infected person's saliva.
The Virus Becomes Active
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After the initial infection, the virus will again become active at or near the original infection site. The virus will typically enter the nerve cells through a break in the skin and travel through the nerve until it reaches a place known as the ganglion. It is here that the virus will lie dormant until it begins to multiply again. Then it travels down the nerve to the skin. This is where the cold sore is formed.
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Triggering the Virus
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Outbreaks can be triggered by several situations. Having a cold, the flu or a fever can cause an outbreak. A recurrence can be triggered by stress, hormonal changes, over-exposure to the sun, changes in the immune system and damage to the skin. Since the virus hides deep within the nerve roots, it cannot be treated by medication. There is no cure for the virus, merely steps to be taken to prevent an outbreak.
Spreading the Virus
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The virus can be spread from person to person or from location to location on a single person. If you experience an outbreak and are not a frequent hand-washer, you can easily spread the virus to others or other parts of your own body. If you touch the cold sore on your lip, you can spread it to your finger if you do not wash your hands after that initial contact. You can also spread the virus by sharing objects such as eating utensils, razors, even towels with others. You can pass the virus along even if a cold sore is not present. If you come in contact with normal looking skin, that same skin could be shedding the virus. The best way to avoid the virus is to wash your hands often.
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