Overview Of Cold Sores

Cold sores are a group of blisters that develop around the mouth or on the lip. This infection is known to be caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). Cold sore is a very common infection, and the virus still stays in the body after treatment, and it can reoccur when it is reactivated.

Cold sore is not a serious infection; healthy people who get cold sores get healed within two weeks. This infection can be spread to people who don’t have it and is highly contagious.

People with this infection are contagious until all the sores clear. There are some precautions you can follow to avoid infecting others until all the sores have scabs, below are some of them:

• Wash your hands frequently throughout the day
• Wash your hands if you touch a cold sore or apply medicines or ointments on it
• Avoid touching the cold sores
• Don’t share drinking cups or eating utensils
• Don’t share beverages or drinks
• Don’t share personal items like lip balm, lipstick, towel, razor, etc.
• Avoid direct contact with people with a weak immune system including newborn babies
• Avoid intimate contact
• Don’t kiss people most especially little children

These precautions should be strictly adhered to, especially if you are around a child with eczema or someone with a weak immune system like in the case of HIV/ AIDS. This is important because this infection can be severe if this group of people contact it.

At Clearskin London, our team of dermatologists London are always ready to offer medical assistance to people with skin infections and cold sores is not left out. Give us a call today!