Is Cold Sores Contagious?

The simple answer is yes, cold sores are contagious; however it is important to know why cold sores are contagious to fully understand that in most cases cold sores are unavoidable. Cold sores are a form of the herpes simplex virus. This is not the same strain of herpes as the sexually transmitted disease genital herpes. It is a milder form called HSV-1 and it is present in about 80 percent of the population.

In most cased HSV-1 is contracted before a person has reached 5 years of age. Because the virus is contagious, it is usually picked up from someone who kisses the child's face, such as a mother, father or sibling. This virus infects the body and never goes away. While cold sores may only appear once in a blue moon, the virus is always dormant in the body. This virus can be contracted at an older age as well. Most times it is contracted, because a person has kissed somebody who has open cold sores.

HSV-1 does not always present itself as a cold sore. As a matter of fact, HSV-1 usually first shows up as a nasty sore throat. Other symptoms of HSV-1 include sore mouth, fever and swollen glands. You should be aware that if you have ever had a cold sore you probably have the HSV-1 Virus.

The easiest thing that you can do to proven cold sores is to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables and take your vitamins every day. Get plenty of rest and do not allow your body to become run down. If you are prone to cold sores you should avoid using sunscreen with a high SPF close to your mouth.

If you wondering how to get rid of a cold sore have no fear there are many different treatments available to treat cold sores. The following is a list of medications available for the treatment of cold sores. Some of them can be found over the counter and others must be prescribed by your doctor.

1.) Acyclovir
2.) Denavir
3.) Famciclovir
4.) Valacyclovir

There are also a number of home remedies for cold sores. The following is a list of home remedies for cold sores. It is important to remember that these are not a replacement for advice from your doctor. You should always consult your doctor before trying any home remedies.

1.) Place ice on the affected area.
2.) Apply Mouthwash to the affected area using a q tip.
3.) Apply Tea Tree oil to the cold sore.
4.) Take a Lysine supplement to help prevent cold sores.
5.) Many elderly people swear that ear wax helps to heal a cold sore.

It is important to remember that cold sores and HSV-1 are contagious. You should avoid direct contact with someone else's cold sores, especially if you can't recall ever having one. The bad news is there is so vaccination for herpes simplex virus. The good news is that, while the virus can be rather bothersome and annoying, it is not deadly. If you get a cold sore, do what you can to treat it immediately and avoid contact with other people. This will help to prevent the spread of HSV-1.