Thursday, June 11, 2009

Cold Sore Symptoms - What You Can Expect With Cold Sores

By Denny Bodoh

Puzzled about cold sore symptoms? If you want to know the truth, read this wonderful article and discover what to expect from your cold sore symptoms.

Here are the most often experienced cold sore symptoms you can expect. Yours should be quite similar - if not you may want to see a health care professional.

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

1. EARLY WARNING OF DEVELOPING COLD SORES.

Your first notification of possible cold sores is very mild and often missed. This symptom might include a slight tingling and itching feeling.

You might even experience a dryness causing you to use lip balm.

You are now aware something is occuring beneath the skin. The herpes simplex virus is traveling to the surface along a nerve fiber. It will enter the nerve cells at the surface.

An amazing cold sore treatment method at this stage is a cold application like ice. This will provide excellent comfort. But the main benefit is discouraging - or even stopping - the virus from continuing its damage.

2. PAINFUL BUMPS AND SWELLING.

Once the virus enters the cells, some painful, tiny, red bumps will form. The affected cells now will enlarge with the new virus particles causing swelling of the area. Continue to apply ice often.

Usually you will get flu-like symptoms during this time, such as fever and headaches. Also, the under-jaw lymph glands will become swollen and sore - as the battle rages.

3. YOUR COLD SORES NOW BLOSSOM OPEN.

Your infected cells explode open spilling out hoards of new virus. Many destroyed cells cause the open crater. Your body creates a thick liquid to cleanse the sore of virus particles.

This can be your most painful period. Nerve endings are damaged and exposed because all oral herpes cold sores and fever blisters form on the end of a nerve fiber.

Cold sores are contagious but this stage is, by far, the most contagious period. Your cold sores and the weeping fluid are teaming with herpes virus looking for a new site or victim.

4. DAMAGE IS DONE - NOW HEALING CAN BEGIN.

When the sore breaks open, the damage is finally done. The healing can now begin. You will see and feel blessed improvement every day now.

At this point, stop using ice. For fast healing apply heat. The best way is warm wet tea bags. Tea is a strong anti-virus and will help heal your sore quickly.

Your body will form a crust over the sore within hours. This protects the sore while your system replaces the destroyed cells. The crust can become dry and split. This really slows healing - and it hurts a lot.

You can help keep the crust soft and flexible by applying olive, garlic or oregano oil. This will reduce cracking, keep the virus at bay and speed the healing process.

5. END STAGE OF HEALING COLD SORES.

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

But please continue to be very careful.

You will see a redness to the area. This is because there is still healing activity below the skin. The herpes simplex virus is often still lurking. You are contagious until the redness totally disappears.

Your final healing period may feel to be taking forever. Yes, it is frustrating because you feel fine. But take care because you still can re-infect yourself or newly infect someone else.

Be vigilant. Cold sores can easily rekindle. It is very discouraging when this happens.

These are the main cold sore symptoms you will probably experience. There may be slight variations. If your symptoms are quite a bit different, see a good health professional.

Don't stop your research on cold sores. There truly are some amazing cold sore treatment options now to prevent these cold sore symptoms completely.

Preventing cold sore symptoms is as simple as preventing the actual cold sores. You can do it with a little trial and error to uncover the right cold sore treatment for you.

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