Oral herpes, also known as cold sores or Herpes Labialis. affects millions of people all over the world. This article takes a look exactly what a cold sore is, why we get them and how to deal with them.

Herpes simplex 1, the virus responsible for Oral Herpes - cold sore outbreaks is a virus, which means a micro-organism smaller
than a bacteria that cannot grow without a living cell. The virus invades
living cells in the human body, and will use that cell to keep alive and
multiply.

Once you have contracted herpes, you have it for life. That sounds very
brutal but it is nevertheless a fact. However, the virus will be latent
most of the time. You will experience outbreaks in the form of a rash
around the mouth area that will develop into blisters which in turn will
turn into a dry scab. The process takes about 5 days but varies from person to person. Generally there is no scarring but you should refrain from
scratching or peeling the scabs.

Unfortunately it is very easy to catch oral herpes. This may explain
the common term cold sore as it is nearly as common as a cold. It
is estimated that about 50-80 % of the world's population have the Herpes Simplex 1
virus and many don't even know it. It is possible to have a herpes virus
for years with no outbreak.

Oral herpes is contracted via skin contact such as kissing, even kissing
on the cheek. Many people catch it as children from relatives and pass
it on to other children as adults.

Treating Oral Herpes - Cold Sores

There is no cure for herpes but you can treat it with good results
keeping outbreaks down to a minimum. The most commonly used treatments
are Acyclovir and Penciclovir contained in creams. The most common of which
are:

• Zovirax
• Vectavir

They can be bought over the counter in pharmacies but you should see a doctor
for diagnosis. The best result is achieved if the creams are applied before
blisters appears. You will usually feel them come on via a tingling or
irritation around the mouth area.

A Healthy Lifestyle will Help Reduce Cold Sore Outbreaks

There is no regular pattern to outbreaks for most people, however certain factors seem to
play an important role in triggering an outbreak of Oral Herpes - cold sores:

• Stress
• Tiredness
• Low immune defense system
• Other illnesses

As the above may suggest, a healthy lifestyle can be a great factor in
preventing outbreaks.

If you suspect that you have Oral Herpes you should see a doctor even
though the medication is available over the counter in pharmacies. It
is important to get your condition diagnosed. It is easiest to
diagnose herpes when you experience the symptoms and the doctor can actually see your outbreak.

Taking The Right Precautions with Oral Herpes - Cold Sores

If you have oral herpes you must take precaution to avoid spreading the
virus. When you have the symptoms you should avoid kissing, also if you
can feel the symptoms coming on. You should inform your partner and avoid
oral sex as your partner may contract genital herpes as a result.

Oral Herpes is mainly contagious when the symptoms are visible as cold sores but may still be
contracted without any sign of an outbreak.
Remember, you carry the virus with you at all times
once you have it. You should also avoid:

• Touching the mouth area when
  you have an outbreak
• Wash your hands regularly
• Don't share drinks or food
• Hold your hand over your mouth when you sneeze
• When applying the treatment cream use cotton buds, not fingers
• Do not dip the bud repeatedly in the cream, use a fresh bud each time to avoid cross
  contamination

Herpes simplex is by no means life threatening and there are rarely
any serious side effects. Start by SEEING YOUR
DOCTOR if you suspect that you have ANY form of Herpes

Related Links

• The Herpes treatment page
• Preventing cold sore outbreaks
• Minimizing the risk of passing on Oral Herpes
• Should you see a Doctor for cold sores?

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