Cold Sores & Herpes

What Triggers Cold Sores? How can we reduce the impact of these painful lesions?

Cold sores are usually caused by the herpes simplex virus type 1

(HSV-1). The HSV-1 virus is part of the same virus family that causes chickenpox (varicella-zoster), shingles (herpes zoster), and genital herpes (herpes simplex virus type 2). Once the HSV-1 virus is in the body, it stays there in the nerves and never completely goes away.

HSV-1 infections are extremely common - it is estimated that 80% to 90% of population age 50 years and older has been infected with the virus. HSV-1 is very contagious and can spread through physical contact, such as kissing. .

 The virus usually stays dormant in your body until something "triggers" it to the surface in the form of a cold sore.  Some of these triggers may include being run down, tiredness, stress, fever, colds or flu, sun or wind burnt lips, hormonal changes or trauma to the lips. If you can avoid your triggers then you are halfway to beating cold sores.

Cold sores go through several stages  from dormancy to that tingling feeling you get just before a cold sore erupts on your nose or lips. The small red bump stage changes  into blisters filled with clear fluid. Over time these dry up and form a yellow crust which eventually falls off leaving a red tender area that gradually heals to new skin.  Attacks can last from 7 days to several weeks.

A person is infectious from the moment the tingling is felt to the time the skin is healed.  The skin, blister fluid and crust is filled with active virus.  Just touching the cold sore transfers the virus to your fingers.  Where ever your fingers are then placed can be a potential infection site for further cold sores. 

How can we treat cold sores?

There are some over the counter cold sore treatments that can be very effective if applied early enough in the cold sore cycle. A tube of Zovirax cream or similar (active ingredient Acyclovir)  kept on hand and applied at the sign of those first tingles can help avert a full blown herpes attack.   Unfortunately once the blisters develop Zovirax does not appear to be quite as effective.  A more natural approach is to harness the incredible power of essential oils, many of which have strong antiviral properties.  Whilst we would never advocate the application of pure essential oil to the skin it has been found that diluted applications of  Tea Tree Oil has proved effective in the treatment of various herpes infections.

We have received a  lot of feedback from our clients that Moon-Haven’s Universal Herbal Ointment has been very helpful in shortening the pain and length of cold sore attacks. This may be because this amazing ointment contains high percentages of known antiviral essential oils of teat tree, peppermint, eucalyptus, spike lavender and lemon. We recommend that the ointment is applied as soon as possible to help stop the virus replicating.  Once the blisters appear, people tell us that the ointment helps with reducing pain levels and accelerates the healing process. Universal Herbal Ointment is not just great for cold sores though… mosquito and insect bites, cuts, grazes, fungal infections...the list goes on.