Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Cold Sore Symptoms and How To Avoid Cold Sores?

By Denny Bodoh

Are you curious about your cold sore symptoms? Read this valuable article. You will learn what to expect and how to deal with your own cold sore symptoms.

Below I would like to present the most common cold sore symptoms that surface during a herpes attack. You will probably see that yours are very much the same. If not, see a doctor.

Here is a brief explanation of each of the five primary cold sore symptoms.

1. YOUR FIRST INDICATION OF COMING COLD SORES.

Your first sign of developing cold sores often goes unnoticed. The target spot can tingle, itch or feel irritated.

Your target site may even feel dry or chapped.

You are sensing the herpes simplex virus moving to the surface and infecting those skin and nerve cells for the purpose replicating.

You should quickly apply ice at this stage - one of your best cold sore treatment strategies. Ice provides great relief. And it can prevent further damage from cold sores.

2. NOW YOU GET PAINFUL BUMPS AND SWELLING.

When the virus enters the cells, some tiny red bumps will form. You will now get swelling of the area as the cells fill with new virus particles. You should continue to use cold therapy.

It is common now for you to get headaches and possibly a mild fever. Also, your under-jaw lymph glands could painfully swell as your body deals with the virus infection.

3. YOUR COLD SORES APPEAR AS THE CELLS RUPTURE.

Your infected cells rupture under the pressure of new virus. A clear fluid will weep from this sore - your body's way of cleansing the wound.

The herpes virus lives in your nerve fibers and builds oral herpes cold sores on the surface end of them - painfully exposing them.

The weeping fluid contains hoards of new virus particles looking to infect a new site - on you or someone else.

4. YOUR HEALING FINALLY STARTS.

The destruction is done - the speed of your healing will depend greatly on the cold sore treatment options you are using.

No longer use ice therapy. For fast healing you must apply heat. The best way is warm wet tea bags. Tea will help heal your sore quickly.

Your body first covers the wound with a protective scab. If the scab becomes brittle dry, you will suffer painful cracking. This will slow healing.

You should apply olive or oregano oil to the scab to keep it soft. This reduces cracking and encourages faster healing.

5. YOUR COLD SORES NEAR THE END.

Your scab will usually last five to eight days while rebuilding new skin below.

You must use every caution as you are still very contagious.

Your new skin will appear a bit pinkish. Virus activity and healing continues. You can be contagious until the skin again appears normal.

Your final healing phase can seem to take forever and it can be frustrating. You will improve quickly each day but you are still infectious.

This virus is relentless so keep up the cold sore treatment during this time. The cold sore can start a repeat performance very easily.

These are the common cold sore symptoms you are likely to encounter. If your symptoms are much different, then go to your health care consultant.

And the great news is that you do not have to suffer these symptoms at all. There are some amazing cold sore treatment methods now discovered that can prevent cold sore symptoms entirely.

Yes, with a little research and testing, you will discover the cold sore treatment that works best for you. Imagine your life with no more cold sore symptoms.

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