Cold sores are not caused by common cold as most of us think. They are caused by Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 or simply HSV-1, which is passed on through contact with infected skin or body fluid. A cold sores caused by skin damage as the virus multiplies within the cells it has infected on the lip. It starts with a warning of red, irritated skin and itchy, painful blisters which form, break down and crust over before, healing. This lasts about a week. then after the first infection, the virus enters a nerve cell and travels up until it comes to a collection of nerve cells where it resides quietly in a dormant stage until it's reactivated. It then starts to multiply again and travels down the nerve to skin and causes the cold sores. The factors that reactivate the virus include stress, sunlight, fever, hence the name 'fever blister' and hormonal changes like those that occur around your periods. Cold sores are most contagious when the blisters are present and just afte...
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