What Is A Cold Sore On The Mouth

Cold sore is a very annoying condition. Apart from the fact that it causes pain and discomfort to  the affected  area,  it  also  appears  in  the  most  delicate  and  taken-care-of  parts  of  our  face especially the lips, nose, mouth, eyelids and even the cheeks. The sores are also very common and tend to recur in the same area once the virus reactivates.

Cold sores are caused by herpes simplex I virus. The truth about this virus is that an estimated fifty to eighty percent of the world’s population has been exposed to herpes simplex virus… but not all will exhibit outbreaks. Various causes and conditions need to be present for an outbreak to occur and the most common condition is a lowered immune resistance.

Of  all  places  where  cold  sores  can  happen,  a  cold  sore  on  mouth  is  actually  one  of  the  most dreaded conditions—not because it is fatal but because it can affect one’s appearance. How will other people face you without noticing that red and blistery bump on your lip? How will your partner react to this cold sore that you have? These and many other body-image concerns are very common with herpes simplex outbreaks.

Meanwhile,  here  are  several  causes  which  predispose  a  person  in  developing  a  cold  sore  on mouth.

Stress. Stress is known to be the main trigger in getting cold sore on mouth outbreak. Examples of stress triggers for cold sores are diseases and body injuries. Managing one’s stress should be done in order to prevent a cold sore on mouth from appearing without any obvious cause.

Colds and Flu.  Most  often  than  not,  when  we  acquire  cold  or  flu,  cold  sores  may  also  come along  the  way.  Getting  timely  relief  from  cold  and  flu  is  an  excellent  way  of  preventing outbreaks of cold sore on mouth.

Sunlight and UV Rays.  Although  a  small  portion  of  sunlight  is  healthy  for  our  skin  and  body, too much exposure of our lips to the sun can lead to irritation and subsequently, cold sore on mouth will come up. There are many lip balms today which offer UV protection (SPF) so making use of them is an excellent way of protecting the lips. 

Body Acidity. It has been found out that people with a body pH below 7 is at risk for developing cold sores.  To  counter  this cause,  it  is  best  to  keep  our  body  pH  above  7.  This may be done through proper nutrition and preventing intake of foods with acidic pH.

 Low Immune System.  Like  any  other  disease,  especially  infectious  conditions,  cold  sore  on mouth  will  also  most  likely  present  when  our  immune  system  is  depressed.  Keeping our immune system boosted is important. We can have a resistant immune system by eating foods rich in vitamins, taking vitamin C and zinc supplements, etc.

These  are  the  top  5  causes  of  cold  sore  on  mouth.  Making sure you understand and  keep  in mind  all  these  causes  is  not  the  only  important  thing—even  more  so,  we  have  to  make  sure that  these  causes  are  well  avoided  and  that  we  do  our  part  in  avoiding  stress,  infections, exposure to sunlight, low body pH and a low immune system.

Stages of Herpes – Everything You Need to Know!

Herpes is a condition that causes painful sores and blisters. A kind of herpes called herpes simplex causes cold sores around the mouth and around the genital parts. On the other hand, herpes zoster causes shingles and chicken pox.

Genital herpes can be transmitted easily through breaks in the skin as well as the skin of the mouth, vagina, penis, cervix, anus and urinary tract opening. It can be spread any time even when an infected person has no symptoms of herpes.

Usually, genital herpes is transmitted from one individual to another through having sex, which includes oral sex. In addition, herpes can be spread from one part of the body to another such as from genitals to fingers, to eyes and to other parts of the body. Herpes is also possible to be transmitted from a mother to the baby when giving birth.

It is best to see a doctor as soon as you feel that you have herpes. The virus is a lot easier to recognize when there are blisters and sores. This way, you can begin with the treatment as soon as possible to prevent pain due to the infection.

When you are infected with the virus, you will experience different stages of herpes. These stages of herpes include primary, latent, shedding stages of herpes and recurrences of herpes outbreaks.

Primary stages of herpes commonly start two to eight days after the beginning of the infection. Most of the time, the virus infection can cause groups of small and painful blisters with cloudy or clear fluid inside. The areas beneath the blisters are red in color. These blisters open easily, which result to open sores. Aside from having tender sores or blisters in the genital area, difficulty in urinating may be experienced. Fever and other flu-like signs are also symptoms of herpes. Some people can have painful primary stage of herpes while others do not have symptoms, which is why some people may not know they are infected.

During the latent stages of herpes, there will be no sores, blisters and other symptoms. The latent stage is when the virus travels from the skin to the nerves close to the spine.

Shedding stages of herpes is when the virus multiplies in the nerves, where it can get into the body fluids including saliva, vaginal fluids or semen. During this stage, there are no symptoms involved but herpes virus can easily spread at this time.

Most people may experience sores and blisters that can come back after the initial herpes attack disappears. This is known as the recurrence of herpes, where the symptoms are not as bad as the signs during the initial attack.

The feeling of being tired or being sick and stressed is the beginning of a recurrence. Having a menstrual period or being in the sun can cause recurrence. A person may know when a recurrence is going to happen when a feeling of tingling, pain or itching is experienced in the parts of the body that are infected first.

During the first outbreak of herpes, you the doctor may recommend certain medications to be taken for extended time especially if the symptoms are severe.

What are the odds?

A breakdown of nine common STDs:

Human Papillomavirus (HPV): 50 per cent of all Americans will get HPV at some point

Herpes: One in six. 16 per cent of Americans have herpes, and 90 per cent are unaware they have it

Chlamydia: 409 in 100,000. There are three to four million new cases of Chlamydia each year

Gonorrhea: 99.1 per 100,000. Gonorrhea has dropped steadily since 1997

Syphilis: 14.7 per 100,000. Syphillis has been dropping as health officials continue to eradicate it

Hepatitis A: 2 per 100,000. Herpatitis A cases are steadily dropping

Trichomoniasis: 1 per 100,000. Compromises the immune system, which can assist in the spread of AIDS

HIV/AIDS: 1 per 100,000. One million people are struggling with AIDS in America alone

Crabs: 1 per 100million

Genital Herpes – An Active Sex Life is Still Possible

When hearing the diagnosis of herpes simplex 2, genital herpes you may feel shock, anger, and depression.  Sooner or later you will realize that your sex life will never by the same again.  But no, you do not have to live like a monk and enter a monastery.  Sex can still be fulfilling and pleasurable as long as you can follow a few guidelines’.

Herpes Symptoms                                                              

The first symptom may be a tingling, burning or numbness of the genital area.  This will be followed with blisters, which after breaking open, will excrete a fluid.  Although usually found on the genital these can also appear on the anus, buttocks inner thighs and penis. Woman may also have problems with her urinary system.  The possibility of frequent urinary infections is a secondary problem with those women having chronic and frequent herpes infections.

Types of Treatment

There are medications that are effective if taken immediately upon onset. Ignoring the symptoms will only make the outbreak more severe and set you up for further episodes of genital herpes. The first infection is usually the most virulent and painful.  Over the counter pain medications are advised. There are a few excellent remedies available on line, natural products that work well.

Sex and Living with Your Infection

Be selective with your sexual partners, and be honest.  As you still can infect a partner between outbreaks the use of condoms during all outbreaks is rule number one.  While condoms are not 100% effective they are still the best and only protection we have at the present time.

When Not to Have Sex

Never have intercourse during an active episode.  During these times there are other means of mutual satisfaction.  Masturbation, either together or on each other, may be found to be pleasurable. Sex toys, such as vibrators can be used as a substitute to intercourse.  There are as many agreeable scenarios’ as your imagination will allow. Always wash handswith soap and hot water after participating in any type of sex. Genital herpes does not herald the end of your sex life.

Factors That Increase Infections

There are some situations that make it more likely that one will develop contracting genital herpes.  Frequent, multiple partners without the protection of a condom come first.  Woman for some reason contract genital herpes more easily than men and often have a more difficult time with the disease.

An outbreak of genital herpes can be triggered by a number of situations.  Stress of any kind can set you up for an outbreak. Having the disease is stressful enough.  Professional counseling and joining a support group may help you handle the overwhelming feelings you may be having.

What You Can Do to Lesson Outbreaks

Your immune system has been compromised by the very fact that you now carry a chronic disease. If you want to limit the number of genital herpes attacks you will take care of yourself.  Get plenty of rest, eat a balanced diet and get yourself a regular exercise problem.  You never envisioned herpes as part of your life, but now that you do have it, there is a way of living with it successfully and having a fulfilling life. 

Emotional Affects of Herpes

Newly being diagnosed with herpes can have a wide range of negative emotional affects.  Most people will at first feel angry, depressed, ashamed, and embarrassed.  Over time, these emotions do tend to fade, and studies show that as little as six months can have a big impact on adjusting to having herpes.

Even though herpes is one of the most common viruses, it carries with it a lot of shame and social stigma.  This is most likely because it is a sexually transmitted disease, and the belief that those who have contracted it have done something wrong.  Another aspect is that a lot of people think of health and having herpes as mutually exclusive; that someone who happens to have a chronic infection is no longer healthy.  The fact is, that many people who live with this chronic infection, lead completely normal lives and are otherwise healthy.

The first step is to understand that herpes is a manageable, extremely common virus and not a punishment of judgement.  The next step is to realize that you too can lead a normal life that is otherwise healthy.  Having herpes does not mean that your health has been destroyed.  Understanding these tow facts can help to lessen the negative emotional affects of living with herpes.

Another source of negative emotional affects can come from wondering how other people in your life may feel about having herpes.  You might question who you can tell about it and who you can’t.  This can cause a wide range of emotions, especially in the face of new relationship that could become sexual.

There are a few things that you can keep in mind that may aid the speed at which you adjust to your diagnosis of herpes:

• Feeling stressed about the diagnosis is completely normal and you may need some time to adjust
• Remember that herpes is a viral infection and you have managed other viral infections in the past.  You can manage this one too
• If you are feeling isolate it might be a good idea to talk to someone you trust.  There may also be support groups in your area, or you could talk to a counsellor
• Having herpes does not sentence you to a life of solitude.  There are millions of couples who live with  and manage having herpes

Keeping these few points in mind can have a huge impact on reducing the negative emotional affects of a herpes diagnosis.

Teens and STDs: Common Myths

Do you know if you can get an STD the first time you have sex? Have you heard that you can catch one by sitting on a toilet seat? Does having sex in a hot tub protect against STDs?

WebMD asked Gail Bolan, MD, director of the CDC's Division of STD Prevention, to clear up some common myths about STDs. She also has some important advice to help teens protect themselves every time they have sex.

Only trashy or slutty people get STDs

No. These infections are equal opportunity. If you're having sexual activity and you're not using condoms consistently and correctly, everyone's at risk for these infections. And you cannot have any way to tell who's infected or who's not infected. The only way you really can know is by having everybody go in and get checked by a health care provider and tested to see if they're infected.

Only adults get STDs

The myth is actually the opposite. Younger people, especially young girls…are at higher risk for STDs and they've got the most to lose, because they’re the ones who have their reproductive years ahead of them. There are some biological factors that actually put young people, especially young women, at a much higher risk of acquiring some of these STDs….which can lead to infertility and other serious upper reproductive tract problems for girls.

I can't catch an STD from having oral or anal sex

A lot of teenage girls…think that if you're not having vaginal sex that you're not really at risk for these infections. But if you're exposed to any kind of body fluid, you can transmit these infections.

The skin inside the mouth and rectum are not as tough as the skin on the outside of our body. So it's much easier for infections to be transmitted. We know that the transmission rate of these infections is just as high for oral and anal sex as it is for vaginal sex.

You can get an STD from a toilet seat

That's another myth that I still, to this day hear people saying is true. But it's not. In general, these organisms don't survive outside of the human body for very long. We do not believe that toilet seats are harboring viruses or bacteria--that when you sit down you can acquire these kinds of infections.

You can't get an STD if you only have sex once

If you have sex once with a partner who's got chlamydia, gonorrhea, or syphilis, you've got about a 30% chance you're going to pick up the infection that one time. That’s a very high infection rate. The consequences, particularly for young girls, are so significant that it’s important that everyone understands that once is definitely enough to transmit STDs.

If you have sex in a hot tub or pool, the chlorine or heat will kill any STD you might catch

We don't think the temperature of the water or the dilution of the chlorine is likely to kill sperm or STDs. Again, we really recommend that if they're worried about acquiring infections, even if they're having sex in a hot tub, that they should be using condoms consistently and correctly.

Two condoms are better than one

I think generally our society believes two is better than one. The problem is that the way condoms are designed, using two condoms at the same time could actually do more harm than good. It could cause some friction between the condoms that…could actually cause more breakage and leakage. So we like to let everyone know, especially teens, to keep it simple. Just use one condom each and every time you have sex.

Viruses can get through some of the natural skin condoms, so they don't protect against all sexually transmitted infections. We recommend the latex--or polyurethane, which tend to be more expensive but need to be used by people who have latex allergies.

It's important that teens recognize that the condom needs to be put on as soon as there’s an erection. Not waiting until there's been a little foreplay, because there's ejaculate that can be released that can cause both STDs and unplanned pregnancies.

Even though it's so important to use a condom consistently and correctly, many teens don't know how. Health care providers, teen clinics, and educational materials can provide information on how to use a condom properly.

You can only get the same STD once

For the viral STDs like HIV and herpes, once you're infected you're infected for life. But we do know that you can get other strains of the same virus if you're continuing to have unprotected sex.

It’s very important for people to know, once they've had chlamydia, gonorrhea, or syphilis and they have been treated and cured, they are now susceptible again. Especially in young girls, the second time you have chlamydia there's more damage to your reproductive tract. Once they've been treated they need to practice safe sex so that they don't get infected again.

You can only catch herpes when the other person is having an outbreak

We used to say, it's only when you have that sore that you need to worry about transferring the herpes virus. We now have a number of studies that have shown that people still are shedding the herpes virus after the sore clears, so they can still transmit it to a partner. We also know that there are people who have never had symptoms of herpes that carry herpes. They can be shedding virus and transmitting it to a partner.

If I have an STD, I'll just take antibiotics and it will go away

For the bacterial STDs, it is true that antibiotics are highly effective. About 95% or 98% of the time when you take the antibiotic your infection will go away. But sometimes damage has already been done if you've already had the infection for a while before you got treated.

Viral STDs are harder to treat. We use antiviral medication…but they don't cure the infections. They just make the symptoms less and make the virus less transmissible. Once you are off your medication for herpes and sometimes for HIV, your virus can increase and you can be more likely to transmit it to a partner.

We've seen declines in both mortality [death] and the complications of AIDS because we have much better treatments now. But the AIDS drugs do have a lot of side effects. For many people, they need to be taken for long periods of time. AIDS is complicated and we still believe that the best treatment for HIV is to prevent becoming infected to begin with.

How to Live With Genital Herpes

Herpes simplex type 1, or HSV-1, and herpes simplex type 2, or HSV-2, both cause genital herpes. Herpes lies dormant in the body between outbreaks. HSV-1 can spread from mouth to genitals through oral sex. HSV-2 can spread via genital-to-genital contact. Learn to live with genital herpes with these steps.

Instructions

• 1
  Take a warm salt bath to soothe a painful genital herpes outbreak. Put a handful of salt or sea salt into a tub of warm water and soak yourself.
• 2
  Relax. Stress can bring herpes out of remission. Live a healthy lifestyle and take the time to relax as much as possible.
• 3
  Purchase the amino acid lysine, available in tablets, to reduce outbreaks or shorten them. Eat a balanced diet and take a multivitamin daily.
• 4
  Ask your doctor for an antiviral prescription, if you suffer from frequent outbreaks. This lessens the frequency and severity of outbreaks.
• 5
  Abstain from sexual relations during an outbreak or during the prodromal, or "tingling," stage when you feel there is an outbreak is coming. Herpes is very contagious during the prodromal stage.
• 6
  Inform your partner that you have herpes before you have sex. Herpes can be spread by viral shedding between an outbreak. Your partner needs to know this.

How to Date With Genital Herpes

To date someone with genital herpes is not hard as long as some precautions are taken. When dating, always take care of the body and take any medications that are prescribed by a doctor. Taking any non-prescribed drugs may not offer enough protection for a partner nor will they help lessen the outbreaks. Being honest about what you do to prevent spreading the disease is the only way to date with genital herpes.

Instructions

• 1
  Express honesty with a partner whom sexual contact could result. Explain the situation and give details about how you are taking every precaution to protect a partner when having sexual contact. Explain any medications being taken and the precaution that both partners can take to prevent spreading genital herpes.
• 2
  Intimate relations should be avoided when a partner has an outbreak of genital herpes. Using condoms during this time, does not offer the needed protection. Intercourse can spread genital herpes to a partner and other areas surrounding the outbreak.
• 3
  Intercourse when a genital herpes outbreak is not present will require using a condom. The condom offers some protection to the immediate area. Foreplay should be limited when dating someone with genital herpes.
• 4
  Show affection in other ways such as kissing, hugging and cuddling when intimacy is not allowed. All contact with the genital area should be avoided. A person is not free of genital herpes and possible risks of spreading the virus until all symptoms have disappeared for a few weeks.
• 5
  Partners with genital herpes should take medication to keep the virus under control. This helps to protect partners even when an outbreak is not present. Any sexual contact without proper medication being used could infect a partner.

What Is Herpes Cold Sore?

Herpes cold sore is a disaster! Whether you are at school, work, going out with some friends, or even simply going out to do some groceries and shopping—a herpes cold sore will leave you without any face to present to the public, most especially if this herpes cold sore is so obvious to a person a few feet away!

Herpes cold sore is also referred to as fever blisters. These are caused by herpes simplex I virus. The worst thing about this type of herpes infection is that it can happen time and again. What happens with exposure to herpes virus is that it hides in our nerve endings. When instances like stress, low immune system, preexisting conditions occur, herpes simplex I virus may reactivate and lead to herpes cold sore. People who carry herpes may be unaware of this fact, and also, they can spread herpes to other people unknowingly.

Cause of Herpes Cold Sore

Type I Herpes Simplex is the usual cause of herpes cold sore. This type of herpes is a different strain from the type of herpes which causes sexually transmitted infections. The STI causing herpes simplex virus is the Type II. However, both types of viruses can affect the genital and the oral cavity.

Herpes Simplex I virus is usually caused by means of contact like kissing, sexual contact. Sharing of personal linen like towels, etc as well as utensils can also lead to herpes cold sore. It is important to put in mind is that herpes can affect other people even without the presence of herpes cold sore outbreak.

Treatment for Herpes Cold Sore

Drug treatment is a primary means of treating herpes cold sores. Oral antiviral medications like Acyclovir (Zovirax) is commonly used. This drug is taken by mouth for a number of times daily, depending on the physician’s prescription. There is also a topical form of Acyclovir which can hasten the recovery of skin outbreaks.

During initial attacks or infection of herpes simplex I virus, oral acyclovir can be prescribed for at least a week. For exacerbations of the disease, the drug can be taken once you feel numbness, tingling or itchiness of the lip area. Acyclovir must not be taken by pregnant and lactating women since these may cause abnormalities in the unborn or nursing child.

Mild soap can also be used to wash the affected area. Keeping it moisturized and preventing the lips from drying and cracking can be effective in clearing herpes cold sore.

Herpes can be contagious to other people whether or not you are showing the signs and symptoms of herpes outbreak. Making use of protection while having sexual contact and avoiding multiple sexual partners can help lessen the spread of this condition.

Herpes cold sore cannot be treated fully—however, there are also ways by which we can control the outburst, spread and reactivation of the said disease. Make sure you understand the course of this disease and the easy but important steps on how this disease could be controlled.