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BY JEAN STARR
Times Correspondent | Friday, November 11, 2005 | (No comments posted.)
They're called cold sores or fever blisters, but can pop up without the cold or the fever. Unfortunately for those prone to these unsightly blisters, stress, sun exposure or even a visit to the dentist can build a fluid-filled bump on the lips in short order.
The herpes simplex virus is the culprit, and it lies dormant in about 70 percent of adults, says Dr. Heather Hazel, family practitioner at Westchester Medical Group in Chesterton.
"The cold sores are reactivated during times of stress or illness or suppression of the immune system," she said. "People who carry the virus might notice certain things that trigger it."
Unpleasant & unsightly
Reducing stress, cleanliness and staying healthy help keep fever blisters at bay
There is good news and bad when it comes to cold sores. The bad news is they're contagious and unsightly. The good news is they are normally not cause for a doctor's visit, and they usually clear up in seven to 10 days. Cold sores, which also are called fever blisters, can't be prevented or cured, but steps can be taken to reduce their frequency.
Hazel recommends knowing what your triggers are. "Use lip balm with sunscreen if light seems to be an issue," she said. "Learn to cope with stress and take care of yourself to prevent other types of illnesses."
Other issues could include getting a break in the skin, for instance, chapped, cracked lips in winter.
The virus can be spread even when blisters aren't present, but mostly it is contracted through direct contact with the fluid that is inside the blister. If someone in your home has a cold sore, Hazel says, cleanliness is key. Wash your hands often, don't share utensils and don't kiss on the lips.
Aurora Kittredge of Chesterton gets a cold sore anywhere from six to 10 times a year. Catalysts for the blisters are stress and extreme weather. The nursing student and mother of two keeps her lips protected with lip balm to help lessen her susceptibility.
"I have to use Carmex constantly," she said.
Carmex uses ingredients that provide a Sun Protection Factor from 15 to 30.
To prevent sharing her virus with her husband and children, Kittredge says, "no sharing," and that includes glasses, towels and kisses.
"They typically last (in the blister stage) from two to four days," she said. Kittredge can feel a cold sore before it even appears. "I'll wake up and feel them tingling," she said.
An over-the-counter medication that seems to prevent the sore from gaining ground is Abreva.
"It seems to keep it from going on as long. But the thing with cold sores is once you get one, you'll have it no matter what."
If you're wondering if the virus that causes cold sores also can cause genital herpes, the answer is yes. According to the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, genital herpes is caused by herpes simplex virus type 2, while herpes simplex virus type 1 is the strain that usually causes cold sores. Either virus type, however, can cause sores in either the facial or the genital area.
Another concern is the virus' spread to the eyes. According to the McKinley Health Center at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, touching the cold sore and then touching the eye can cause an eye infection or ulceration of the cornea. And in very rare cases the herpes virus can produce meningitis and encephalitis in adults with an immune deficiency disorder.
The bottom line for cold sore sufferers is to learn to deal with stress, stay healthy and make a conscious effort to prevent spread of the virus to others.
Signs and symptoms
* Small, painful, fluid-filled blisters on a raised, red, painful area of your skin
* Pain or tingling, called the prodrome, often preceding the blisters by one to two days
* Usual duration of seven to 10 days
* Cold sores usually appear on your lips. Occasionally, they occur on your nostrils, chin or fingers. And, although it's unusual, they may occur inside your mouth -- but only on your gums or hard palate, which is the roof of your mouth. If the sore appears on other soft tissues inside your mouth, it may be a canker sore, but it's not a cold sore.
* Symptoms may not start for as long as 20 days after exposure to the herpes simplex virus, and usually last seven to 10 days. The blisters form, break and ooze. Then a yellow crust forms and finally sloughs off to uncover pinkish skin that heals without a scar.
Complications
* Cold sores are contagious. They can pass from one person to another through skin-to-skin contact. The herpes simplex virus can be transmitted even when blisters aren't present, but the greatest risk of infection is from the time the blisters appear until they have completely dried and crusted over.
* If you have a cold sore, avoid contact with infants, anyone who has eczema (atopic dermatitis) or people with a suppressed immune system, such as people with cancer, AIDS or an organ transplant. These people are at higher risk of more severe infection.
* Herpes infection of the eye causes scarring of the cornea and is a leading cause of blindness in the United States.
Treatment
Cold sores generally clear up without treatment in seven to 10 days. If you experience frequent bouts, your doctor may prescribe an antiviral medication to treat cold sores. Using a medication may shorten the duration of cold sores and decrease your pain.
SOURCE: MayoClinic.com
Signs and symptoms
* Small, painful, fluid-filled blisters on a raised, red, painful area of your skin
* Pain or tingling, called the prodrome, often preceding the blisters by one to two days
* Usual duration of seven to 10 days
* Cold sores usually appear on your lips. Occasionally, they occur on your nostrils, chin or fingers. And, although it's unusual, they may occur inside your mouth -- but only on your gums or hard palate, which is the roof of your mouth. If the sore appears on other soft tissues inside your mouth, it may be a canker sore, but it's not a cold sore.
* Symptoms may not start for as long as 20 days after exposure to the herpes simplex virus, and usually last seven to 10 days. The blisters form, break and ooze. Then a yellow crust forms and finally sloughs off to uncover pinkish skin that heals without a scar.
Complications
* Cold sores are contagious. They can pass from one person to another through skin-to-skin contact. The herpes simplex virus can be transmitted even when blisters aren't present, but the greatest risk of infection is from the time the blisters appear until they have completely dried and crusted over.
* If you have a cold sore, avoid contact with infants, anyone who has eczema (atopic dermatitis) or people with a suppressed immune system, such as people with cancer, AIDS or an organ transplant. These people are at higher risk of more severe infection.
* Herpes infection of the eye causes scarring of the cornea and is a leading cause of blindness in the United States.
Treatment
Cold sores generally clear up without treatment in seven to 10 days. If you experience frequent bouts, your doctor may prescribe an antiviral medication to treat cold sores. Using a medication may shorten the duration of cold sores and decrease your pain.
SOURCE: MayoClinic.com
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