Ancient Cause of Cold Sores and Fever Blisters

Amazingly tough is the virus that causes cold sores and fever blisters. This virus has survived when many other ancient diseases have disappeared. Today, the Center for Disease Control tells us that about 89% of the people on Earth are infected with this virus.

Outbreaks of cold sores or fever blisters are caused by the replication process of the herpes simplex virus. Both strains - type 1 and the type 2 - cause identical sores. Many viruses disappear over time but the cold sore virus will be with you for life.

The cold sore virus is for life but the good news ... it is most often latent. It hibernates in the nerve cells near the area of first infection. The amazing truth is, 34% of those infected with herpes will never have a single outbreak. The other 66% of us will average 2.1 fever blister events per year.

Cold sores and fever blisters are highly contagious. Not only must you be careful not to infect someone else, but you should be extra cautious not to re-infect another spot on your own body. Wherever the virus can get through the skin, it will form a new cold sore colony there.

One cold sore on the lip can easily be spread to many other sites on the lips, giving you a whole lip full of sores. Every spot where the virus can find a way through the skin creates a new cold sore colony. The most feared is spreading the virus to your eyes. It happens - and usually results in some permanent vision damage.

Taking effective care of a cold sore is quite easy and will dramatically reduce the risk of further spread to yourself or loved ones. The most important rule is to not touch a cold sore with your bare fingers if possible. It is most contagious from initial swelling up through final healing.

Treat your cold sore or fever blister frequently with alcohol soaked cotton swabs, tissues, or paper towels. This will protect your fingers from contamination and will kill a lot of virus. You can also use hydrogen peroxide - which adds healing oxygen. Either one may sting.

Preventing cold sores and fever blisters is the best course. Actually they are much easier to prevent than to heal. Best of all, you do not have to suffer the many miserable symptoms of those hideous sores.

If you are serious about preventing cold sores, the first thing you should do is start taking an excellent quality nutritional supplement. Your stress will be greatly reduced and your immune system will be much stronger and more able to resist the cold sore virus.

Lysine is very popular as a natural treatment for cold sores and fever blisters. It does work quite well as an oral cold sore remedy but not too hot as a topical treatment. The common dosage for healing a cold sore is 2000 to 4000 milligrams divided throughout the day. Some recommend a maintenance dosage of 500 milligrams per day to prevent cold sores.

As you have seen, the root cause of cold sores and fever blisters is the herpes simplex virus - either type 1 or type 2. They are extremely contagious, uncomfortable and embarrassing. Care must be taken not to spread to others or other parts of your own body.

Finally, you should use hydrogen peroxide or alcohol soaked cotton balls or tissues to continually cleanse and disinfect the sore. Also, taking a regular vitamin supplement will help reduce your stress, keep your immune system super strong, and ultimately help prevent cold sores and fever blisters.

Author, Denny Bodoh, is an expert on cold sores. If you despise cold sores as much as he does, visit his extremely popular web site to discover one amazing cold sore cure after another.