Cold Sore

Cold sores – also called fever blisters – are painful infections caused by the Herpes Simplex virus. The Herpes Simplex virus lives in nerve cells, under the skin and cannot be cured. The virus is not always active. It often remains silent or inactive in these cells, sometimes for many years or even a lifetime. The virus can however become active and cause symptoms. These symptoms can come and go in what is known as outbreaks. During an outbreak, the virus becomes active and causes a chain of events leading to a cluster of small bumps. The virus is transmitted by forms of contact such as kissing an infected person or sharing glasses, towels, or razors. Anyone infected with the virus, can experience outbreaks.

A cold sore outbreak usually goes through 4 phases:

Phase 1: The Tingle phase (days 1-2)

About 70% to 75% of people experience initial symptoms. Usually, the skin tightens in the area where the cold sore is about to develop. As a reaction to the infection, the area becomes red and swollen. Even at this early stage, the infection is contagious.

Phase 2: The Blister phase (days 3-4)

This is the phase where the cold sore blisters appear. The area turns red and painful. Clusters of small blisters are formed, which can grow into one large blister. The blister is fluid and contains millions of virus particles.

Phase 3: The Ulcer phase (days 5-6)

Typically, the most painful, the ulcer stage happens when the blisters burst. This stage is when an open sore is developed. This is the most infectious phase.

Phase 4: The Healing phase (days 7-10)

The blisters dry up and a crust forms that is yellow or brown in color; it forms a scab. As the scab shrinks, painful cracks that can bleed may occur. A series of scabs will form over the sore, each smaller than the previous one, until the cold sore is completely healed.