Cold sores are caused by a virus called herpes simplex type I. It is an infectious illness that is also contagious and recurrent. Usually is manifested as small blisters on the lip or around the lips. Sometimes, those blisters are filled with a transparent liquid.

Cold sores have 3 stages of development:

• Stage1 – tingling, itching and burning beneath the skin (around the mouth or the nose);
• Stage2 – small red bump begin to blister;
• Stage3 – the blisters fill with fluid, forming a full-scale cold sore.

There are different situations when cold sores are happy to appear. Those special causes are:

• Excessive exposure to sun in the summer and cold wind in the winter;
• Some kind of infectious illness ( like flu or cold);
• Emotional shock or upsets;
• Continuous stress – related with school, work or family;
• Pregnancy;
• Weakness of immune system;

Learning that cold sores are contagious there are some ways to prevent the infection:

• Do not use the same cups or cutlery used by a infected person;
• Do not kiss persons that have cold sores;
• Change your tooth brush as soon as cold sore disappeared;

Some statistics reveal that 70% – 80% of old population have in their system the herpes simplex virus Type I. The first contamination take place in childhood but does not generate symptoms. Sometimes the virus sleeps for years and we see cold sores only once a year or few years. In this case, we can apply a temporary cure for cold sores.