Other Names:
Fever Blisters

Symptoms:
These are thin-walled inflamed pimples which have a tendency to recur in the same area, most frequently at the borders of the mouth, but sometimes on the gums or conjunctiva (the lining of the inner surface of the eyelid). It tends to occur at, or close to, where the skin and mucous membrane meet. First comes a local tenderness with a small bump. Then this bump changes into a blister, and the tenderness may increase. Nearby lymph nodes may become swollen. After about 48 hours, the blisters crust over. Sometimes pus oozes, making eating difficult. Cold sores appear 3-10 days after exposure and may last up to 3 weeks, but generally only 7-10 days.

Cause:
This is an infectious disease caused by herpes simplex (herpes simplex virus I; Herpes virus hominis). But, for practical purposes, there are other causes as well:

Some people never have cold sores, and others have them frequently. Stress is a significant cause. Eating too much sugar is another. Excess ultraviolet light or acid foods cause them in some people. For some women, the onset of menstruation can be a cause. Alcoholic drinking and poor diet also bring them on. Local irritation can be an incipient factor. For some, cold sores tend to occur with a fever, infection, or cold, after exposure to the sun and wind, or when the immune system is depressed.

If cold sores occur frequently, the problem may be low thyroid function.

Cold sores seem somewhat like canker sores (which see), but they are different in several ways. They form blisters, but canker sores do not. They can form anywhere on the body, although especially on the mouth area or on the genitals. Whereas we are not certain of the bacterial or viral origins of canker sores, cold sores are caused by herpes simplex virus I.

Treatment:
• Eat plenty of raw vegetables.

• Apply ice for 15-20 minutes at the first sign of tingling. If possible, repeat it frequently. Apply vitamin E between applications. Get enough vitamin A (50,000 units) and B complex. Zinc is also important (zinc gluconate lozenges); dissolve in mouth every 3 hours for 2 days or take 25-50 mg daily. Daily take 2,000-3,000 mg of the amino acid lysine till the cold sore is gone. Protect your lips from sunburn and wind. Exercise plus adequate rest bolsters the immune system, so it can better resist cold sores.

• Also helpful is goldenseal, echinacea, red clover, and pau d'arco.

• If it is not bothering you very much, leaving a cold sore alone is a good idea.