About Cold Sores
Cold sores are small blisters that are reddish or purple. They are usually manifested on the outer edge of the lip, on just one side. Cold sores can appear one at a time or in little bunches, and they are sometimes filled with fluid. They usually crust over and form a scab before they go away. The usual time frame of healing is 10-14 days, however, in some people they may last longer. Cold sores are also often called fever blisters. Cold sores are not the same as canker sores, which are small white sores that occur on the inside the mouth.
Cold sores are caused by a virus called herpes. Herpes is one of the most common viral infections in the world. The medical name for the specific virus that causes cold sores is herpes simplex. There are two types of herpes simplex infections: 1) Herpes simplex virus one (called HSV-1 for short), and 2) Herpes simplex virus two (called HSV-2 for short). HSV-1 is the cause of cold sores.
HSV-1 is so common that most Americans get infected with it, although many never have any symptoms. People can catch HSV-1 by kissing a person with a cold sore or sharing a drinking glass or utensils, so it’s easy to see why there are so many people who deal with cold sores.
