Where Do Cold Sores Come From?

Cold sores are a symptom of the herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1). This is slightly different from the herpes virus that’s responsible for genital herpes. An HSV-1 infection is easily transmitted and highly contagious. That’s why it’s managed to infect almost 90% of all the people in the world.

The chemical structure of lysine, an essential amino acid that can fight cold sores.

Most people get infected when they are still children. Even something as simple as a peck on the cheek from an affectionate relative is enough to pass it on. Children also have weaker immune systems, so they’re more susceptible to picking it up.

Even when you don’t have a cold sore or a fever blister, the virus is there. It hides in the nerve clusters and appears when it’s triggered by stress, hormonal changes or even exposure to sunlight. Nobody really knows what causes it to flare-up, and your doctor will tell you there’s no way to get rid of the virus. But many people have found lysine to be very effective in the treatment of cold sores.

What Is Lysine?

Lysine is an essential amino acid. Your body needs it to function, but can’t make it itself. So you need to get it through your diet, either in the food you eat or by taking a supplement. It’s one of many amino acids that are responsible for the formation of protein in the body. It’s important for proper growth and aids in the absorption of calcium and the formation of collagen.

While most of us get enough lysine from our diet, athletes, burn patients and vegans may need to take a lysine supplement.

Lysine for Cold Sores: How Does it Help?

Although lysine has no effect on the HSV-1 virus itself, it still has the potential to stop the virus from replicating in your body. That’s because the virus needs arginine to grow. Arginine is another amino acid that competes with lysine for absorption in the fatty tissues of the body. Fortunately, lysine is far stronger than arginine. That means it has the potential to retard the growth of HSV-1.

Studies have shown that lysine not only helps cold sores to heal faster, it also reduces the frequency and severity of outbreaks. Increasing your intake of lysine may be the closest thing you can get to a cure for cold sores.

Lysine in Your Diet

Cheeses, meats and fish are all sources of lysine.

Because your body can’t make its own lysine, you need to get it from the foods you eat. Foods that are naturally high in lysine include the following:

• Lean beef and lamb – These are the best sources but you can also get lysine from beef ribs, rib-eye steak and sirloin.
• Cheese – Parmesan, Gruyere, Romano, Swiss cheese and hard goat’s cheese are all good sources.
• Turkey and chicken – Any part of the bird you prefer to eat will contain lysine.
• Pork – Pork chops, pork tenderloin, ham and bacon are all high in lysine.
• Soya – Products like tofu, soy flour and soy chips contain moderate amounts of lysine.
• Fish – Tuna, salmon, mackerel and snapper have the most lysine when compared to other fish.
• Seafood – Along with fish, other kinds of seafood such as cuttlefish, lobster, octopus and crab are all excellent sources of lysine.
• Seeds and nuts – Pumpkins seeds contain the most lysine, followed by pistachio nuts, sunflower seeds and cashew nuts.
• Eggs – No matter how you prepare them, eggs contain a moderate amount of lysine.
• Pulses – Beans, lentils and split peas are excellent sources of lysine and a good alternative for vegetarians.

If you eat most of these foods, then chances are good that you are getting enough lysine in your diet. But if you’re prone to cold sores, you may need to increase your levels of lysine to counter the HSV-1 virus.

What About Lysine Supplements?

Getting the right amount of lysine to keep cold sores at bay through your diet may be difficult. And if you need extra lysine, it would probably be easier to take a supplement. But how much should you take?

Lysine is available in different forms such as capsules, tablets, powder and liquid. When you get the tingling sensation that indicates a cold sore is about erupt, take at least 1000mg three times a day with meals until it clears. To prevent future outbreaks you take a 1000mg maintenance dose every day.

Lysine, used properly is a safe and natural way to deal with cold sores. It also makes sense to take extra lysine daily to prevent flare-ups and keep the virus under control. You should also get enough sleep and avoid stress as these are common triggers for cold sore sufferers. You don’t have to put up with cold sores for the rest of your life. As the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

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Not only does this affect your love-life, but it can make you feel alone and depressed. But it doesn’t have to be like this. When you know what to expect from a herpes outbreak, it becomes easier to manage. So let’s begin with the difference between primary and recurrent outbreaks.

How Long Do Herpes Outbreaks Last (Primary)?

Cold sores are a symptom of herpes.

Occasionally, you may be infected with herpes and not even realise it until you pass it on to someone else, or the virus is reactivated. But generally, you’ll experience a primary outbreak within 2 – 20 days after contracting herpes. This is usually the most severe and painful outbreak you will experience. And it may take 2 – 3 weeks for the sores to heal completely.

During this time the symptoms you may experience include:

• Tingling, burning and itching of the skin where the sores will appear.
• Small, fluid filled blisters will usually appear 24 – 72 hours after the tingling starts.
• Muscle aches, headaches, nausea, fever and a flu-like feeling.
• If you have genital herpes, you may have some pain when you urinate.

Although the sores will clear, the virus retreats into the body. It remains hidden in the ganglia of your nerves cells. From there it can be reactivated whenever your immune system weakens. This could be from exhaustion or illness. Some people also experience recurring outbreaks from exposure to sunlight. And women tend to have more outbreaks than men as it seems hormonal changes may reactivate the virus, too.

So you can expect flare-ups to occur, but these won’t be as painful as the primary outbreak. However, if your outbreaks occur frequently, or are very painful, you may want to seek further treatment.

How Long Does a Secondary Herpes Outbreak Last?

Thankfully, secondary outbreaks resolve faster than the primary outbreak. But it will still take 3 – 14 days for it to clear up. And you can expect many of the same symptoms such as:

• Tingling – this is a sign that the virus is active.
• Blistering – small blisters begin to appear and fill with fluid.
• Ulcers – as the blisters break, shallow wounds or ulcers may appear.
• Scabbing – the ulcers lead to scabs which will take some time to heal.
• Healing – you may notice that your skin becomes dry and flaky as it heals.

You can expect a recurrent attack within six months of the initial outbreak. And during the course of a year you can expect 2 – 3 more outbreaks. If you have more than five flare-ups in 12 months or less, your infection would be considered chronic. You may need medical advice to help you manage the symptoms.

For How Long Will I Be Contagious?

The duration of a herpes outbreak varies, but you and your partner can manage duration and severity.

Unfortunately, even when you’re not showing any symptoms, the virus can still be spread through contact with other people. To avoid passing you infections on to others, take the following precautions:

• During a flare-up, do not have any kind of sexual contact until the sores have healed.
• Always use a condom. While this may reduce your chances of passing the virus on, remember that a condom may not cover all of the sores on your body.
• Watch out for the tingling, itching and burning sensations which signal that a flare-up is coming on. Stop all sexual contact and wait until the outbreak has run its course.

It’s a good idea to get your partner tested. If you’re both infected with the same type of herpes, then you may not need to take medication to prevent infection.

Can Herpes Be Treated?

There are medications that a doctor can prescribed to help you manage the symptoms of a herpes outbreak. Unfortunately, that’s all they can do—manage the symptoms. You won’t find a cure and you’ll have to live with the fact that you may experience outbreaks for the rest of your life. Although many people find that their outbreaks decrease in severity and frequency over time, they’ll always be at risk of infecting the people they care about.

And the side-effects from these prescribed drugs can be even worse than the outbreak itself. Nobody wants to spend their life taking something that makes them ill. The different antiviral medications affect people in different ways and it may take some trial and error before you find one that works without making you sick.

What About Alternative Treatments?

A quick way to deal with a cold sore outbreak.

Herpes is certainly not a new disease and natural treatments that are safe and effective have existed for hundreds of years. Unlike the medication a doctor will prescribe they’re unlikely to cause any uncomfortable side-effects. And they’re more affordable than expensive antivirals.

If you already have an outbreak and you’re looking for something to soothe your blistered skin, you can try some of the following:

• Aloe vera: Available from your local drug store, aloe vera takes the sting out of herpes blisters and it’s a natural anti-bacterial agent.
• Witch hazel: Just dab it on the blisters with a cotton swab a few times a day and it will dry out the blisters, helping your skin to heal faster.
• Milk: Simple but effective, milk is packed with virus fighting immunoglobulins. And if you get right out of the fridge, the cooling effect will make you feel more comfortable.

But to get the core of the problem, which is the virus itself, you need something stronger. Herpeset is a convenient spray-application that combines the healing properties of natural plant extracts and homeopathic remedies. It’s both effective and gentle.

If your infection is chronic, and the meds your doctor prescribed are making you feel worse, then you should read The Ultimate Herpes Protocol. Melaine Addington experienced debilitating side effects from the medication her doctor prescribed. So together with her father, a conventional doctor, she worked on developing a protocol to strengthen the immune system and eradicate the virus from her body.

You might be infected with herpes, but that doesn’t mean you have to suffer with it. Natural treatments are available and they can help you cope with symptoms and reduce the chance of infecting others. Learn everything you can about herpes and your outbreaks will be a thing of the past.

The post How Long Do Herpes Outbreaks Last? appeared first on Herpes Gone.

On average, a cold sore takes between 8 – 12 days to clear without any kind of treatment. Freaking out yet? Who wants to spend a week or two walking around with a festering blister on your face? And why do they take so long to heal?

Here’s what you need to know about the lifecycle of a cold sore from herpes simlex virus.

How Long Do Cold Sores Last: Five Stages

Stage One: Tingle

Before you see a cold sore, you might feel a tingling.

You don’t really notice it at first, but then you become aware of a strange sensation on your lip. It could be a tingle, or an itch or even a burning sensation. The skin on your lip may feel like it’s getting tighter.

These are the signs that a cold sore is forming. The thin skin on your lips is starting to swell due to the inflammation caused by the virus that has been activated.

Duration: Days 1 – 2

Stage Two:  Blister

Now it gets ugly. Small blisters start to appear in a cluster on your lip. The pain gets worse and the itching intensifies. These blisters are filled with fluid that contains millions of particles of the HSV-1 virus. Your body is busy fighting the virus by sending white blood cells to the area.

Duration: Days 2 – 4

Stage Three: Ulcer

Just when you thought it couldn’t get any worse, the blisters burst. Ouch! If you thought the last four days were uncomfortable — this is the most painful stage of the cold sore lifecycle. A shallow ulcer develops and the area is red and inflamed.

Duration: Days 4 – 5

Stage Four: Scabbing

The worst is over, but there’s still a long way to go as your skin starts to heal. As the cold sore dries out, a golden-brown scab forms over the area. Splits and cracks may form in the scab and if you pick at it now, it may bleed a little. As with all scabs, things can get itchy as the skin starts to heal.

Duration: Days 5 – 8

Stage Five: Healing

After a cold sore, or fever blister, forms, scabbing and healing will take some time.

At last, you’re on your way to showing your face in public again. The scab starts to come off, but the skin underneath may be dry and flaky. It may also look slightly red or pink, so take care and moisture as much as possible to avoid any scarring.

Duration: Days 8 – 12

From the moment you feel that first tingle, until you’re all healed up, you’re contagious. That means you could pass the virus on to other people, so avoid kissing anyone until it’s all over. This is especially important when it comes to new-born babies, the elderly or anyone with a compromised immune system.

What Can You Do to Speed Up the Healing Process?

Once a cold sore starts, there is little you can do but let it run its course. However, there are some steps you can take to reduce the severity of an outbreak:

• Natural treatments: You might be surprised to find that many of the things in your grocery cupboard will help to relieve the itching and swelling that comes with cold sores. Milk, corn flour and peppermint oil can be applied to the blister to soothe the skin, kill the virus and heal the sensitive skin on your lip.
• Pain relievers: Paracetamol and ibuprofen can help you get some relief from the pain caused by the blisters swelling and erupting.
• Prescription topical treatments: If you can get to a pharmacist, they may recommend a cream or ointment you can use to treat your cold sore.

While all these remedies will help you through the five stages of the cold sore cycle, none of them can kill the virus and remove it from your body. For that you need to take a long term approach and investigate alternative remedies.

When Just Treating a Cold Sore Isn’t Enough

Conventional medicine believes that the HSV-1 virus (which is responsible for cold sores) cannot be eradicated. That’s because it lies dormant in your nerves until it is triggered by stress, illness and even exposure to sunlight. That’s depressing news — particularly if you suffer from frequent break outs.

A protocol to deal with the root cause of cold sores, namely the herpes virus itself.

Something your doctor won’t tell you is that your body has the ability to defeat this virus. But it needs help. That could come from an all-natural, herbal product like Herpeset. It’s available in a handy spray-application that you can use three times a day. But you don’t apply it directly to the cold sore; instead, you spray it under your tongue where it can be absorbed directly into your bloodstream. With regular use of Herpeset, you’ll notice that your outbreaks decrease in frequency and severity.

One of the things that makes the HSV-1 virus so tough to kill is the protein barrier that protects it. Getting past this can be difficult, but someone has found a way. In her book, The Ulitmate Herpes Protocol, Melaine Addington describes how to break through the exterior barrier of the virus, stop it from replicating and ultimately, remove the virus from your body.

Her book has helped countless people free themselves from the pain and embarrassment of fever blisters for good. And her approach is completely natural and inexpensive.

A cold sore seems like a little thing, but they’re painful and unsightly. People who never get them just don’t understand how you feel about having to deal with them. But, if you do some research you’ll find a remedy that works for you. Whether you just need to speed up the healing process, or want to get rid of cold sores for good, a natural approach is always the safest and most effective way.

The post How Long Do Cold Sores Last? appeared first on Herpes Gone.

Yes, fever blisters, or cold sores if you prefer, are the result of the herpes simplex 1 virus. You probably picked it up before you turned the tender age of 10. And now, like almost 80% of the population, you have future flare-ups to look forward to for the rest of your life.

Why Do We Get Fever Blisters?

Fever blisters, or cold sores, are a common symptom of herplex simplex 1 virus.

A fever blister is a sign that the HSV-1 virus has been “reactivated.” Once you’ve been infected, the virus doesn’t leave your body. Even though you may have recovered from the initial outbreak, the virus remains dormant in your body until something triggers it.

Children are often infected when someone who has the HSV-1 virus kisses them. The virus uses the nerves as pathways through the body and when it reaches a cluster of nerve cells (the ganglia), it sets up home. When it’s reactivated it travels back the way it came, towards the mouth. But often, it takes a slightly different route and ends up as a blister on your lips. And that’s why you tend to get cold sores in the same area every time the virus flares up.

Fever Blisters on Lips: What Triggers a Flare-Up?

Unfortunately, nobody really knows the answer to this question. But some common triggers appear to involve the immune system, such as physical and emotional stress. Hormonal changes also affect the immune system and may trigger an outbreak. While some people find that being exposed to the wind or sunshine for long periods also causes fever blisters to appear.

How Can You Treat a Break Out?

From the moment you sense that tingling, burning or itchy sensation on your lip, take action. The sooner you treat a fever blister, the easier it is to make sure it doesn’t stick around long. Take a natural supplement that can boost your immune system. Increase your Vitamin C and make sure you’re getting enough sleep.

Aloe vera applied to a fever blister can help keep it from drying out.

You can even dab witch hazel, aloe vera or milk on the blister to keep it from becoming dry and forming a big scab. Resist the urge to scratch, pop or pick at the blister or scab. Irritating your skin will only prolong the healing process. Keep your lips moisturised with a good quality lip balm and, most importantly—don’t kiss anyone. You don’t want to be responsible for passing the virus on to someone else.

How Contagious Are Fever Blisters?

They are extremely contagious. While you’re experiencing an outbreak you can infect someone just by kissing them. So until your lip has healed, you need to avoid any kind of intimate contact with others. That includes oral sex. Although the HSV-1 virus is generally responsible for fever blisters, it can cause genital herpes.

Will You Ever Be Free of Fever Blisters?

Probably not, although most people find that outbreaks happen less often as they get older. But the fact remains that whenever your immune system slumps, a fever blister could happen.

That’s because the virus is almost impossible to eradicate. Once you’ve contracted it, it never leaves your body completely. Even with prescription medication, the best you can hope for is a reduction in the severity and frequency of flare-ups. But some people have been able to control their symptoms, and even eliminate the virus with the use of natural methods and supplements.

Fever blisters on the lip are the worst because they are so visible. You can’t hide them with make-up or clothing and they take ages to disappear. But you don’t have to live them forever. Do some research and you’ll find a safe and effective remedy that works.

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Where Do Cold Sores Come From?

Cold sores on or in nose are usually a sign that you are run down.

Cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV -1). You may have been infected by someone else when you were very young. The virus is extremely contagious and spreads easily. Children don’t have fully developed immune systems which is why it is so easy for them to pick up.

The virus spreads by contact, and you can pass it on even when you don’t have a cold sore. That’s because it hides in the nerve cells until stress or illness trigger it to erupt again. While it’s almost impossible to rid your body of the virus completely, there are some things you can do to make the cold sores in your nose disappear as quickly as possible.

Four Home Remedies for Healing Cold Sores

On average it takes between 10 and 14 days for a cold sore to heal without treating it. You can reduce that time by using some simple home remedies:

• Vitamin C: This antioxidant provides a real boost to your immune system which means it can aid your own body in clearing up a cold sore. So the moment you feel that tell-tale tingle, reach for an orange, eat strawberries or add an extra helping of broccoli to your evening meal. These foods are all high in Vitamin C. Alternatively; you could get a supplement and take it daily until the cold sore goes away.
• Saline nasal rinse: It may be uncomfortable, but salt acts like an antiseptic. It will keep your nasal passages clean and clear and reduce inflammation. All you need is salt and water and a small bottle you can use to squirt the solution up your nose. It takes some practice but your symptoms should ease quickly.
• 

  If you don’t mind the smell, apply garlic paste to a cold sore to make it go away faster.

  Garlic: Known for its antibacterial qualities, a garlic paste can be applied to the cold sore three times a day for 10 – 15 minutes. It works well, but it’s not for everyone. Unless you’re happy to smell like garlic all day, you might not want to try this remedy unless you’re desperate.

• Witch hazel: Because it’s an astringent, witch hazel dries out the blister before it has a chance to burst and form a scab in your nose. Apply it gently with a Q-tip or cotton ball a few times a day.
• Lysine: This is an amino acid that can stop the virus from replicating. Your body can’t make it so you need to get it from your diet. Foods such as red meat, fish, poultry, eggs and beans all contain lysine. You can also get it as supplement in tablet, powder or liquid form. Take 1000mg three times a day when you’re experiencing a flare-up. You can also take 1000mg once a day to reduce future outbreaks.

All of these suggestions can help you deal with a cold sore. But if you want to tame the HSV-1 virus you need to take a long-term, holistic approach to your general health. The virus is largely kept under control by you immune system. So avoid triggers like stress and illness by eating well, exercising and getting sufficient sleep.

Cold sores in the nose can be extremely painful, but they are usually a sign that you’re run-down and need to take better care of yourself. Don’t think of them as an inconvenience, but as an indicator of your well-being.

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Best Cold Sore Treatment: Remedies

Cold sores are a symptom of herpes.

There are ways to help your cold sore clear up faster. And many of them are readily available and cheap. All you need to do is take a look in your grocery cupboard:

• Milk: Dab a cotton ball in some milk at apply it to the blister for a few seconds. It’s the immunoglobulins in milk that tackle the virus. But a cold milk compress also relieves the heat generated by the blister and feels good.
• Corn Flour: You’ll need to make a paste with corn flour and water and then smooth it over the blister. For best results you should leave it overnight. Corn flour works by neutralising the pH of the cold sore. This takes the stinging sensation out and lets your skin get to work on healing itself.
• Garlic: A natural antiviral, garlic acts like a disinfectant and works at killing the virus off quickly. You need to make a paste from the garlic and apply it at least three times a day for 10 to 15 minutes. Although it works, this may be awkward if you need to leave the house.
• Honey: This golden treat can be used for any kind of skin ailment, even burns and cuts. Honey is packed with mysterious ingredients that help the skin to heal.

You could get a prescription ointment from your doctor, or ask your pharmacist for an over-the-counter cream. But why waste your money when there are plenty of natural and effective remedies in your own home?

They work just as well for getting rid of a fever blister as quickly as possible. But if you’re constantly suffering from outbreaks, you need more than just a quick home remedy to sort out the problem.

Herpeset: A Homeopathic Alternative

Unlike anything your doctor may recommend, Herpeset combines plant extracts and homeopathic preparations into a handy spray. No, you don’t spray it on the blister; you spray it under your tongue where it’s quickly absorbed by your bloodstream.

Not only does it clear up cold sores quickly, but with regular use many people have reported that they experience fewer flare-ups. That may be due to the fact the natural ingredients support your immune system which help it to keep the virus under control. There are no side-effects with Herpeset and it’s very affordable.

The Ultimate Herpes Protocol

A protocol to deal with the root cause of cold sores, namely the herpes virus itself.

A doctor will tell you that once you have the HSV-1 virus, you can never get rid of it. But for Melaine Addington, that’s not entirely true. When she was infected she took the meds her doctor prescribed, but couldn’t live with the side-effects. So she looked for a way to build up her immune system, and figured out how to destroy the tough protein coating that protects the virus.

Once she had cured herself, she created The Ultimate Herpes Protocol. Here she shares her knowledge with others and she has helped countless people completely eradicate the virus and get their lives back. Everything she recommends is safe and natural. And although it may take some time and effort, it’s the only way to rid yourself of cold sores for good.

When it comes to getting relief from cold sores, everyone is different. You may need to try a few things before you find something that works for you. You don’t have to run to the doctor every time you get a cold sore. Try some alternative remedies. You’ll be surprised how well they work.

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Are Cold Sores Contagious? For How Long?

Before you see a cold sore, you might feel a tingling.

You know a cold sore is about to erupt when you feel a tingle on your lip. It could also burn or get really itchy before the blister appears. At this stage, your cold sore is already contagious.

But it’s at its most contagious when the blister bursts. All that fluid contains millions of virus particles and it’s very easy for it to spread. And even when a scab has formed you’re still at risk of spreading the virus to others. Every time you move your lips to talk, eat and drink or smile, the scab can split and tiny amounts of fluid may leak.

To be on the safe side, it’s best to assume that you are contagious from the first prickle on your lip, until the scab has disappeared.

How Can You Avoid Spreading the Virus?

You may be aware that the best way to prevent spreading a cold sore is to avoid kissing people. But there’s more to it than that. Here are some other precautions you should take:

• Don’t share utensils

Sharing utensils is one way to spread herpes and cold sores.

If you put in in or near your mouth, don’t share things with other people. This includes food, eating utensils, cups and glasses and drinking straws. But don’t forget about toothbrushes, lipsticks and razors.

And take extra care with the linen you use. The virus can survive on inanimate objects like towels and sheets for a little while. If you share these things with other members of the family, get your own set to use when you have an outbreak.

• Keep your hands to yourself

Do you know how many times you touch your face? Only about a million times! And from your fingers you can spread the virus to other objects such as your phone, a door handle or counter top.

If you can’t wash your hands every time you touch your face then keep a hand sanitiser close by and use it often.

• Don’t go down

Having a cold sore means oral sex is off the table too. The HSV-1 virus that is responsible for cold sores can be the cause of some cases of genital herpes. And you wouldn’t want to take the risk of landing your partner with an uncomfortable and embarrassing infection.

You should be particularly careful around young children and babies, the elderly and people who are ill. Their immune systems aren’t strong enough and that means they have a greater risk for contracting the virus

How Can You Speed Up the Healing Process?

In general it takes between 3 – 14 days for a cold sore to clear without treatment. If you want to heal faster you’ll need to act quickly and consistently.

As you soon as you feel a cold sore coming on, reach for the Vitamin C. This antioxidant will give your immune system a boost to help it fight the virus. You should also use a lip balm to keep the skin on your lips soft and supple. This will stop the scab from cracking and your skin will heal faster.

Although you can get an antiviral ointment from your doctor or pharmacist, there are plenty of natural products that work just as well and are often much cheaper. Follow the advice in this article and you won’t have to worry about giving your cold sore to someone else.

The post Are Cold Sores Contagious? appeared first on Herpes Gone.

Fever blisters are common in very visible areas such as the face, where you least want them.

Although fever blisters aren’t unusual, they are annoying. You might get them several times a year and the problem is they’ll never go away completely. If you suffer from regular outbreaks, this can be a very depressing thought. While your doctor might prescribe something that will shorten the duration of your outbreak, he cannot cure it.

But, if you educate yourself about your condition and research alternatives, you’ll find a solution that works for you. Fever blisters are often nothing more than a symptom of a larger problem. They are caused by a virus that is almost impossible to destroy. The more you understand about how the virus operates, the better you’ll be able to avoid future flare-ups.

Before getting in to how to get rid of fever blisters, some basics:

Understanding the Cause of Fever Blisters

Fever blisters, or cold sores, are a result of a virus called Herpes Simplex Virus 1 (HSV1). It normally affects the lips and areas around the mouth. Most people are infected as children and at least half of the world’s adult population carries the disease.

The initial infection often appears with cold or flu-like symptoms. You may get a headache, fever and sore muscles. After the first infection, the virus retreats into the nerves where it lies dormant until it is triggered again. Subsequent infections may not be as serious, but the virus will always remain in your body.

Some of the things that may trigger a recurrence are:

• Fever
• Stress
• Fatigue
• Hormonal changes
• Exhaustion
• Compromised immunity

Taking care of your health, getting sufficient rest and reducing stress can help you to reduce the chances of a reoccurring infection.

How Contagious are Fever Blisters?

The virus does require direct skin-to-skin contact to spread. Kissing someone with a fever blister is the most obvious way to get infected. But even shaking hands with someone who has recently touched their fever blister can also transfer the virus.

If you have a fever blister, you’ll need to take extra precautions if you engage in oral sex with your partner. Although the HSV-1 virus is the most common cause of oral herpes, you could give your partner genital herpes.

People with weaker immune systems are especially vulnerable. Young children and sick people will not be able to fight the virus and may experience complications. Even if you don’t have any symptoms, you can still spread the virus. Although there are long periods when the virus isn’t active, it sheds for a few days every month.

Luckily the virus can be killed with soap and water. So wash your hands regularly and avoid sharing eating utensils to prevent spreading the virus to your loved ones. You should also wash your bedding and towels in hot water to avoid infecting your family.

You can even spread the virus to other parts of your body. Fever blisters can be very itchy but you need to resist scratching them. Even the scabs can be infectious, so try to keep your hands away from your face. Not only will it reduce the risk of spreading the disease, but it will also help your skin heal faster.

How are Fever Blisters Treated?

A doctor will be able to diagnose your condition simply by looking at your blisters. A fever blister is easy to identify and distinguish from other kinds of sores. Along with symptoms such as tingling and itching, the collection of pus-filled blisters is very distinctive.

If you’re just looking for relief, your doctor may prescribe an ointment to relieve your discomfort. But these are only effective if you start applying them at the first signs that a fever blister is about to erupt. For more severe cases you may need to take a course of antiviral medication. You may need to swallow a pill twice a day, or insert one under your lip which dissolves throughout the day.

Along with this, he or she may prescribe a steroid cream to reduce the inflammation and swelling caused by the blister. A steroid cream can only be used if you’re taking antiviral medication. This is because steroids can decrease your body’s ability to fight infections.

Although you’ll get some relief from the pain, and your fever blister may heal faster, it won’t have any effect on the virus itself. The medication itself can be unpleasant and there are a number of dangerous side-effects that accompany this kind of treatment.

Your doctor may explain to you that there is no cure for herpes and you’ll be susceptible to outbreaks for the rest of your life. For many people, this can be a depressing scenario that they aren’t willing to accept. Which is a good thing, because as it turn out, there are other options.

There are options you won’t learn from your doctor, either because they don’t know about them, or because they’re not allowed to recommend natural treatments. More on that later.

Are Natural Remedies Better at Treating Fever Blisters?

Fever blisters have been around for centuries. They were so common in Ancient Rome at one point that Emperor Tiberius banned kissing in an attempt to stop the epidemic. Over time, natural healers have discovered many plants that are able to heal fever blisters quickly and effectively.

Many of these alternative cures are readily available and inexpensive. They may even reduce the number of flare-ups and have the potential to completely eradicate the virus. This is because they support your immune system, helping the body rid itself of the virus.

Some popular remedies that have brought relief to millions of people include the following:

• Tea tree oil: It has powerful antiviral properties. It can kill the particles of the virus that appear on the blister as it erupts. It also keeps the area clean and free of infection so your blister will heal faster. It can be strong, so dilute the oil with some water before you apply it to your skin.
• Garlic: Another excellent antiviral, garlic paste applied to the blister for ten to fifteen minutes at least three times a day will disinfect the blister and decrease the healing time.
• Liquorice root powder: The active ingredient in liquorice, glycyrrhizin, is both an antiviral and anti-inflammatory. It provides instant relief from itching and burning and minimises the redness. You can use it as a paste, or drink it as a tea to promote faster healing.
• Tumeric: You can’t find a better anti-oxidant than turmeric. It fights free-radicals to promote fast healing. Like liquorice, you can either apply it as a paste or drink a teaspoon dissolved in warm milk.
• Honey: Excellent for healing any skin condition, honey keeps the area clean and promotes healing.
• Coconut oil: It’s antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal. Coconut oil repairs damaged cells and tissues and ensures that your blister won’t linger very long.

While any of these will help you get rid of the odd fever blister, a product called Herpeset can do even more.

Herpeset is the name of a homeopathic remedy for fever blisters/cold sores that gives great results due to a synergistic mix of many individually effective herbs.

Herpeset is a natural product that combines the strengths of several fever-blister-busting ingredients. Not only does it heal fever blisters quickly, but regular use can also prevent future outbreaks. Both plant extracts and homeopathic preparations are used in a spray application that reduces the tingling, itching, burning and swelling—as well as reducing the appearance of the fever blister.

It includes Rhus tox and Apis Mellifica which provide near instant relief from the itching and burning sensations that accompany the onset of a fever blister. Capsicum is added to bring pain relief while Baptista and Nitricum Acidum help with healing ulcers and broken, bleeding skin. Finally, Pyrogenium speeds up the healing process.

Unlike most remedies, you don’t apply this to your blister directly. Instead, you spray it under your tongue where it’s absorbed directly into your blood stream. It gets to work fast and helps your immune system fight the active virus. Many people who have used Herpeset report a significant reduction in the number of outbreaks they experience. Best of all, it’s completely safe to use and far more affordable than prescription creams. If this sounds interesting you can learn more from the official website here.

Is It Really Impossible to Cure Herpes? How to Get Rid of Fever Blisters For Good

Modern medicine will tell you that at the moment, no cure exists for the Herpes Simplex Virus. However, alternative medicine takes a different view. While there is no pill you can take that will completely remove the virus from your body, you can be cured.

But it requires a long-term approach and you will need to change your lifestyle. The body actually has the ability to heal itself. For example, when you catch a cold you may have a runny nose. This is unpleasant, but it’s a sign that the body is fighting an infection. Medicine may help relieve your symptoms, but it’s your body that defeats the virus responsible for your illness.

A strong immune system is your best weapon for fighting herpes. Unfortunately our modern lifestyles leave us stressed and undernourished which leads to a weakened immune system. To remedy this you can start doing the following:

• Take a lysine supplement: Lysine is an essential amino acid that the body requires for many important functions. Your body cannot produce it so you need to get it from your diet. Lysine blocks another amino acid, arginine. The herpes virus uses arginine to replicate. By increasing your intake of lysine, you can stop the herpes virus from replicating and reduce your outbreaks.
• Reduce your stress: Late nights and early mornings place stress on your body, especially your immune system. Getting sufficient sleep every night gives your body a chance to recuperate.
• Take care of your skin: A surprising trigger for fever blisters is sun exposure and dry skin. Use a sunscreen every day and keep your skin hydrated.

The Ultimate Herpes Protocol focuses on getting rid of the virus for good and not just hiding the symptoms.

Boosting your immune system is a good place to start, but it takes more than that. In her eBook, The Ultimate Herpes Protocol, Melanie Addington reveals the secret to breaking down the virus itself.

After being diagnosed with genital herpes, Melanie felt ashamed and depressed. The pills her doctor prescribed made her ill and even switching to another brand didn’t help. Eventually she overcame her embarrassment to speak to her father about it. Even though he was a conventional doctor, he refused to believe that this disease couldn’t be cured.

Together they devised a protocol that not only strengthens the immune system, but also attacks the virus. The key lies in destroying the protective protein coating that surrounds the virus. This leaves it vulnerable and your own immune system will have no trouble destroying it. But, viruses tend to replicate when they are under attack in order to preserve themselves.

The Ultimate Herpes Protocol will also show you how to prevent the virus from making copies of itself. With this three-pronged approach, the virus can be completely eliminated from your body. You’ll never have to worry about infecting others and you’ll never have another fever blister again.

It seems too good to be true, but Melanie has already received positive results with over 7500 people who have used the protocol. This is not a quick-fix solution. But if you’re serious about getting rid of herpes, and you’re willing to put in some effort, The Ultimate Herpes Protocol has the solution.

You can click here learn more from the official Ultimate Herpes Protocol website.

Fever blisters are really just the tip of a much more serious problem. Not only are they painful and ugly, but they can make your life a misery. Many people are unaware that they are actually an indication of a contagious virus. Doctors can only help you treat the symptoms and not the cause. On the other hand, alternative medicine can help you treat both.

It’s easy to be sceptical, but there are many people who have found relief using natural remedies. Some have even been able to rid themselves of the virus completely—and so can you. Holistic medicine works with the body and won’t upset the natural balance. It’s cheap, effective and improves your overall health. Can you imagine never having to worry about a fever blister again?

The post How to Get Rid of Fever Blisters appeared first on Herpes Gone.

Cold sores often occur where you least want them, visible to everyone. The lip is a very common spot.

Cold sores often appear around your mouth, making you feel self-conscious about your appearance. It’s almost impossible to conceal them with makeup. And even if nobody else seems to notice it, the swelling and heat it generates means you can’t ignore it. The itching can drive you crazy and it takes a lot of willpower to resist scratching it.

Even after the fluid has drained from the blisters, you’re left with a crusty patch of skin that’s unattractive and irritating. Cold sores can take between ten to fourteen days to clear up on their own. Once you’ve had one cold sore, you can look forward to more outbreaks for the rest of your life.

Prescription medication can only help you shorten the duration of an outbreak. And doctors will tell you it cannot be cured. But cold sores are nothing new. People have been suffering from them for centuries. Over the years, many natural remedies have been developed to treat cold sores. They are often more effective than anything your doctor could prescribe. Understanding why cold sores occur will help you find a remedy that works for you in the short term as well as how to get rid of cold sores for good.

What Causes a Cold Sore?

Cold sores (sometimes referred to as fever blisters) are caused by a virus. The Herpes Simplex Virus 1 (HSV-1) is similar to the same virus that’s responsible for genital herpes. And while HSV-1 is responsible for oral infections, it can spread to the eyes and genitals too.

The first time you got a cold sore you may have had some other symptoms. Headaches, fever and body aches often appear with the initial infection. You probably thought you had the flu. That’s why these lesions are commonly referred to as cold sores and fever blisters.

Although these symptoms soon disappear, the virus does not. It retreats into the body, hiding in the nerve ganglia where it lies dormant until something triggers it. In fact, a cold sore is often a sign that you’ve been pushing yourself too hard.

When you’re stressed or tired, your immune system is weaker. The virus takes advantage of your weakened defences and reactivates itself. Some other triggers, like sunlight and dry skin can also reawaken the virus. Using a sunscreen and keeping your skin moist can prevent unnecessary outbreaks.

How do Cold Sores Spread?

Cold sores are spread by direct contact. You may have been infected by kissing someone who has the virus or even if you just touched their hand after they touched their cold sore. Practising good hygiene can reduce the spread of the virus. It can be killed with soap and water. If you have a cold sore, wash your hands often to reduce the risk of spreading the virus to others.

It’s important to avoid touching your cold sore. Not only will this help it heal faster, but you won’t spread the virus to other areas of your body. The virus is carried in the fluid and even the scabs can be contagious. While the HSV-1 virus is the most common cause of cold sores on the lips, it can spread to the inside of the mouth, or even the eyes. An infection of the gums or eyes can be even more serious and painful. As difficult as it is, resisting the urge to scratch your cold sore is essential if you want to avoid further complications.

Sometimes the virus reactivates without showing any symptoms. This is called viral shedding and may happen several times a year. During this period you’re still contagious. Once you’re infected, you carry the virus for life so you’ll always have to be aware that you might pass it on to others. Small children and patients are particularly vulnerable because their immune systems aren’t as strong.

How are Cold Sores Treated?

Your doctor will probably write you a prescription for an antiviral cream. But you’ll need to start using it at the prodromal stage. This is when tingling, itching and burning sensations signal that a cold sore is about to appear. Using an antiviral cream once the blister has already formed will do little to relieve the discomfort or to speed up the healing process.

Medicine may help relieve the symptoms, but may not be the best option in this case.

Antiviral creams are also available from a chemist without a prescription. But these creams aren’t specifically designed to treat cold sores. They might soothe the pain, but they won’t help the blister heal any faster.

Antiviral tablets are also available, but these are usually only prescribed for severe cases. They work by stopping the virus from replicating and may reduce the duration of an outbreak. These are powerful drugs that tend to have many unpleasant side-effects, ranging from mild to serious. And while they may help you cope with the symptoms, they cannot eradicate the virus completely.They can also be quite expensive.

Who wants to spend the rest of their life paying for expensive medication that doesn’t solve the problem? Whether you have several outbreaks a year, or only get a cold sore once in a while, wouldn’t you rather spend your money on something that works?

How to Get Rid of Cold Sores With Natural Treatments

While modern medicine struggles to find a definitive cure for the herpes virus, thousands of natural healers and homeopaths have already found the answer. Gentle on the body and far more effective, natural treatments can offer you relief and help to prevent future outbreaks. They won’t break the bank either and you probably have some of them in your cupboard right now.

If you already have a blister on your lip and you just want to get rid of it as quickly as possible, here are some of the things you can use:

• Witch-hazel: Easy to find at your local chemist or general store, witch-hazel is useful for a number of skin ailments. Use a cotton swab or earbud to dab it on the cold sore a few times during the day. It will ease the itching and stinging and dry the blister out faster.
• Aloe Vera: Not only does it soothe dry and irritated skin, it also helps to kill bacteria. Keeping your cold sore clean and moist will help speed up the healing process.
• Peppermint Oil: Peppermint oil is extremely effective at killing virus particles once they’re outside of the body. Although drinking it won’t help, dabbing it on your cold sore will eliminate any vestiges of the virus that lurk on the sore itself. It also significantly reduces the healing time.
• Corn Flour Paste: Nothing takes the sting out of a fever blister like a paste made from corn flour and water. It works by neutralising the pH of the sore, which prefers an acidic environment. You can leave it on overnight and it will cut the healing time in half.
• Milk: Packed with virus fighting immunoglobulins, cold milk takes the heat and sting right out of a cold sore. Soak a cotton ball in a small amount of milk and press it on the cold sore for several minutes.

All of these remedies are as effective at treating a cold sore as anything your doctor could prescribe. They are all perfectly safe to use and don’t have any harmful side effects.

A quick way to deal with a cold sore outbreak.

If your outbreaks are more frequent, you may want to consider a product called Herpeset. It’s a liquid blend of plant extracts and homeopathic preparations that together form a powerful remedy for treating cold sores. Here’s a quick breakdown of what it contains and how it works:

• Rhustox: Reduces itching and inflammation.
• ApisMellifica: Stops stinging and burning pain.
• Baptista(Wild Indigo): Speed the healing of ulcers.
• Capsicum: Relieves the pain associated with cold sores.
• NitricumAcidum: Heals cracked and bleeding skin.
• Pyrogenium: An antiseptic used for healing ulcers.

Individually, any of these ingredients could be used to treat a cold sore. But when they’re combined, they become even more potent. Herpeset is very safe to use and there are no known side-effects associated with the use of this product. All of the ingredients are natural, or in low concentrations that cannot cause any harm.

Herpeset is available as a spray-application. You simply spray the mixture under your tongue about three times a day where it can be absorbed into the bloodstream. It works from the inside out, without upsetting the natural balance of your body (unlike traditional medicine). You can get it from the official website here.

Of course, the ultimate goal would be to completely rid yourself of the virus. Then you would never have to worry about cold sores or infecting someone you love. But if modern medicine can’t do it, how can you?

Actually, it can be done and it doesn’t require expensive medication to do it. The secret lies in working with your immune system to help it fight the virus. These are some of things you can use to get your immune system fighting fit:

• Eat foods rich in lysine: Lysine is an amino acid that blocks arginine, another immuno acid that viruses need in order to grow. It’s also available as a supplement that you can take every day.
• Avoid acidic foods: Herpes, like many other viruses tends to thrive in acidic environments. Keeping your body more pH neutral will help to kill the virus.
• Take a daily zinc supplement: Studies have shown that zinc is effective at reducing the number of outbreaks experienced in a year. It also helps to significantly reduce the duration of an outbreak.
• Take Echinacea: A popular remedy for fighting colds and flu, Echinacea is a general immune booster that will help to cut down the number of outbreaks you experience over time.
• Load up on Vitamin C: Vitamin C can boost your white blood cell count and it’s these white blood cells that are sent in to battle viruses.Having a good supply of white blood cells allows you to fight off unwanted intruders without losing energy and strength.

But no matter how much you boost your immune system, the herpes virus has something that makes it very difficult to beat. A tough protein barrier coating protects the virus, acting like armour against your body’s natural defences.

A protocol for how to get rid of cold sores for good, by dealing with the root cause, namely the herpes virus itself.

In her book, The Ultimate Herpes Protocol, Melanie Addington shares the secret of how to break down the virus’ defence, allowing your body to conquer it once and for all. Melanie discovered this when she worked with her father, a medical doctor, to cure her own herpes infection.

She tried conventional medication, but experienced severe side-effects from the pills her doctor prescribed. Even switching medication didn’t help and she became depressed and despondent. Finally, she took matters into her own hands and together with her father, created a programme to that completely eliminates the herpes virus from the body.

The Ultimate Herpes Protocol consists of three stages. First, you’ll learn what to eat to boost your immune system. Having a strong immune system is essential for the second stage. This is where you’ll discover how to dissolve the protein coating around the virus, leaving it vulnerable to attack. Finally, Melanie will teach you how to stop the virus from replicating. Without being able to replicate there is no way the virus can hide in your body.

To date she has helped about 7500 people completely cure themselves of a herpes infection. And she can do the same for you. With a little time and effort, and the knowledge you’ll gain from The Ultimate Herpes Protocol, you’ll be able to beat this virus and remain free of cold sores for the rest of your life. If dealing with the root cause itself is for you, you can learn more from the official Ultimate Herpes Protocol here.

Cold sores are so common that many people don’t understand the fuss about them. Yes they’re painful and embarrassing, but they hardly seem life-threatening. But a cold sore is actually just a symptom of something more serious. The herpes virus responsible for cold sores can cause serious complications.

That’s why it’s important to treat the cause and not just the symptoms. Although modern medicine can’t help you with the problem, natural alternatives can. They’re safer, more effective and cheaper. Are you serious about getting rid of cold sores for good?

The post How to Get Rid of Cold Sores appeared first on Herpes Gone.