Cold sores are a very common medical condition, but living with them is no fun.

Anyone who suffers from cold sores knows the symptoms all too well.  The first symptom of a cold sore is typically a minor pain around the mouth.  Then after a day or two, that pain turns into a sore that looks like a reddish colored blister.  After around 7-10 days, the blister usually breaks or oozes off.  That will leave a crusty scab, and after a few days, the cold sore will finally be gone, and the area will start to heal.

There's a misconception that cold sores only appear around the mouth.  They can form almost anywhere on the face or in the mouth (though these should not be confused with canker sores, which are a different matter).  They can even appear below the neck on occasion.  However, it's true that cold sores are more often than not found around the mouth.

As many people know, cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus, though it's a different type of herpes than the sexually transmitted genital herpes.  Still, there are some similarities between the two strains of the virus.  For starters, both are transmitted through physical contact.  So if one person has an active cold sore, they can spread it directly--as in kissing--or indirectly, such as by sharing a drinking glass, a towel, or something of the like.  Therefore, if you have a cold sore, you must be careful not to infect someone else.

Another characteristic of people who have the virus that causes cold sores is that the virus usually lies dormant.  Someone who is infected might go months or longer without seeing any symptoms of a cold sore, but that doesn't mean they are cured of the virus.

In fact, there is no permanent cure for cold sores.  But the good news is that there are many ways to prevent them and treat them.  The conventional cold sore treatments--namely, antiviral drugs--can shorten the duration of an attack.  There are a variety of over-the-counter creams and painkillers that help as well.

Also, there are several cold sore alternative treatments and home remedies that you can try.  These include many varieties of dietary and herbal supplements.  Some of these are simple, like vitamins and aloe vera, and others are more unconventional, such as lemon balm and resveratrol.  It's true that none of these are clinically proven cures, but that doesn't mean that some of them aren't beneficial.

Of course, the best way to deal with cold sores is to prevent an attack by avoiding potential triggers.  For example, getting too much sun can trigger cold sores, so staying in the shade and using a quality sun block can help.  Additionally, minimizing stress, getting adequate amounts of sleep, and staying generally healthy can all be beneficial.  Even if you've had cold sores in the past, these strategies and more may reduce the frequency of future attacks. 

Again, cold sores are a very common problem, and even if they can't be permanently cured, there are many methods to treat and prevent them.  So if you are sick of getting cold sores, realize that you aren't helpless against them!  To learn more, please check out the other sections of this site.