According to the Mayo Clinic, cold sores, also called fever blisters, are a common viral infection. They are tiny clear fluid-filled blisters that can be found on or around the lips. The skin around the blisters is often red, swollen, and sore. The blisters may break open, leak a clear fluid, and then scab that can last for several days. Cold sores usually heal in two to three weeks without leaving a scar.
WHAT CAUSES COLD SORES?
There are days when you wake up and discover that you have a blister on your lip and you begin to wonder where it came from. It might surprise you to know that cold sores spread from person to person by close contact, such as kissing. They are usually caused by herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), and less commonly herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) enters the body through a break in the skin, around or inside the mouth. Both types of viruses can affect your mouth and/or genitals and can be spread from person to person by oral sex. Cold sores are contagious even if you don’t see the sores.
There is no cure for cold sores, but treatment can help manage outbreaks. Prescription antiviral pills or creams can help sores heal more quickly and they may reduce the frequency, length and severity of future outbreaks.
