Cold sores are fluid-filled lesions that typically form around the mouth. Pain, tingling and redness of the skin around the cold sore commonly occur. In some instances cold sores appear in the mouth, nostrils or on fingers. It may take from one week to 20 days before symptoms of a cold sore appear after the initial exposure. Several myths exist about the cause of cold sores, how they are contracted and conditions that look like cold sores but are not initiated by the same source.
Cold Sores are Canker Sores
Cold sores and canker sores are often mistaken as the same thing. MayoClinic.com distinguishes the difference primarily from cause. Canker sores are small ulcers inside the mouth, usually developing on the soft tissue at the base of the gums. Canker sores are not contagious and do not stem from herpes viral infection. Cold sores however, are caused by the herpes simplex virus type 1 and in rare cases type 2. Cold sores are contagious after exposure to an active lesion of the herpes virus. Canker sores normally only occur in the mouth whereas cold sores rarely occur inside the mouth.
Oral Sex Cannot Cause Cold Sores
The International Herpes Resource Center and MayoClinic.com stress that oral-genital sex with a person who has a cold sore will cause genital herpes. Genital herpes is commonly associated with herpes simplex virus type 2. In the event of an active lesion, however, the virus is spread from mouth to genitals no matter the herpes type. Most type 1 genital herpes is spread through unprotected oral sex. Decreasing the chance of transmission after sexual interaction is minimized by washing with soap and water but this does not necessarily prevent infection. Additional protection such as use of dental dam barriers during oral sex is suggested.
Cold Sores are Curable
Once the herpes virus is contracted in the form of cold sores it is always in the body. There is no cure for herpes. The Children, Youth and Women's Health Service explains that after the first infection, the virus can lay dormant in the nerves of the skin and reappear at any time. The virus is spread through the saliva of someone with an unhealed cold sore or even when no sore exists. Precautions are important to prevent spreading the underlying virus. Although no cure exists, treatment for an outbreak consists of antiviral creams to decrease the duration of outbreak.
Cold Sores Have No Symptoms
Symptoms do exist for cold sores prior to outbreak. Often the symptoms are hard to distinguish, however. MayoClinic.com notes that pain or tingling in the skin precedes the appearance of blisters from a cold sore by two days. Applying antiviral topical cream to the infection during early symptoms or breakout can decrease the amount of time the cold sore lingers. Additional precautions include preventing sunburn, as this may trigger an outbreak, and not applying alcohol to the sore because it may slow down the healing process.
