Top Articles. Why Are Cold Sores Contagious? How to Stop Cold Sores From Spreading By practicing good hygiene and avoiding close contact, you can prevent your cold sore from infecting those you love. Just follow these steps: Keep hands-off. The only time you should touch a cold sore is when you apply a cream, no matter what stage the blister is. If you do touch it — accidentally or on purpose — immediately wash your hands.
Don't kiss. The cold sore should not contact anyone, so no kissing, not even on the cheek. Also, abstain from oral sex because you can pass the HSV-1 virus and infect your partner's genitals. Don't share personal items.
Avoid sharing utensils, cups, food, lip balms, creams, or anything else that might have come in contact with your cold sore. Change your toothbrush. Because the virus can live on your toothbrush for days and cause your lips to become reinfected, replace your toothbrush after the sore heals.
Treat quickly. Take steps to heal your cold sore fast. Prescription medications can shorten the healing time, reducing the time when the cold sore is the most contagious. Was this article helpful? Like Neutral. You also might like. Coupons Shop Now Our Mission. People can transmit it to another person by kissing or sharing utensils, towels, or other personal care items. The virus can then enter the body through a small cut in the skin. Once a person has HSV-1 in their system, it is there for life, as there is currently no cure.
The virus can remain dormant for long periods but may reactivate at any point. In some cases, however, the virus may never become active. Many people with the virus do not develop cold sores.
A person can transmit HSV-1 to others when the virus is inactive. However, a person is much more likely to pass on HSV-1 when cold sores are present. People who develop cold sores may experience them less frequently as they age. Reactivation also tends to be more common in the first year after the initial outbreak. Symptoms typically last for up to 2 weeks , though some people may not develop any symptoms at all.
Many people experience a burning, itching, or tingling sensation on or around the lips 1—2 days before a cold sore appears. This is called the prodrome stage. During the next stage, fluid filled blisters will develop. Around a third of people experience cold sores at the same location each time. Within 48 hours , the blisters tend to burst and leak fluid. This stage can be painful and may last for around 3 days. This is when the cold sores may be most contagious. In the final stage, a scab forms over the wound.
The scab may crack or bleed until it finally clears up. Once the skin is clear of the cold sore, it is no longer possible to transmit it to someone else. Most cold sore outbreaks do not require a visit to the doctor. They typically clear up on their own within 7—12 days. Trying home treatments during this time can reduce discomfort. They can also prevent transmission to other parts of the body and other people.
People should see their doctor if cold sores are severe or persist beyond 15 days. A doctor may recommend:. People who experience regular outbreaks may need to take prescription medication to keep their symptoms under control. You need to wait until all your cold sore symptoms have cleared — including the blister and any scabbing — to reach the point when cold sores are not contagious anymore. Skin-to-skin contact is how cold sores are spread in most cases.
While normal skin is resistant to the virus, it can get into your body through broken skin and mucous membranes such as the moist inner skin that lines your mouth, eyes or your genitals. Once this happens, the virus multiplies and travels down the nerve sheath, causing a cold sore. In most cases, cold sores are just unsightly and painful but clear up within 15 days.
However, cold sores can be serious when they affect: vii. Touching is how cold sores are spread. You should do this after touching your cold sore and before touching your eyes, contact lenses, genitals or any area of broken skin. This means any sort of kiss, even on the cheek. Most people get HSV-1 as a child through an affectionate kiss from an infected adult. Abstain from engaging in oral sex when you have symptoms of a cold sore, as you can pass on the HSV-1 virus, giving your partner an infection in their genital area.
This covers food, eating utensils, straws, cups, glasses, lipsticks, lip balm, cold sore cream and anything else that has come into contact with your saliva or cold sore.
The virus can lurk in the bristles of your toothbrush so treat yourself to a new one after the blister has formed and again after the attack has cleared up. Fewer outbreaks mean a lower risk of spreading the infection. The virus tends to stay inactive until something triggers it.
Common triggers include: viii. It also contains the only non-prescription cold sore ingredient the FDA has approved to shorten healing time. Apply your cold sore cream five times a day, first removing any cosmetics. You can use clean fingers or a cotton swab, gently dabbing it in, then wash your hands thoroughly.
HSV-1 is a form of the herpes simplex virus that usually affects the lips or mouth, but can spread to the eyes or genitals. This does not mean you have genital herpes as this is caused by the other form of the virus, HSV Cold sores are contagious from the first tingle until completely healed.
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