Myths About Cold Sores
There aren’t many people that know all that much about the virus herpes and cold sores in general and because of that a lot of myths easily arise. I have made a list of different myths that are common amongst people that don’t know any better and what the real fact of the matter is.
Myth 1 – When you catch a cold sore, you can’t do anything to make it go away
Its true that when you start feeling the symptoms of an outbreak you can’t make it dissapear, but there certainly are many measures one can take to be able to hinder the virus and speed the healing process significantly. As long as one knows what do to and are prepared for when the outbreak comes (this requires the person to know the symptoms of an outbreak), there is plenty of actions that can be taken to prevent the cold sore from erupting.
Myth 2 – With a cold comes a cold sore
Not an unreasonable thought given the name cold sore, but the fact is that those two are mostly not related. There are many other causes that trigger the outbreaks. Factors like stress, fatigue, weather, menstruation, exposure to the sun, even the food can be the cause of an outbreak. Which factors that causes the trigger for an virus are different from person to person. It would be a good idea when you start getting the symptoms for an outbreak to think back at what you have done lately. Are the work stressful? Have I been in the sun much lately? After a couple of times you might find a factor that are recurring and when you start avoiding it, you may never see the cold sore again.
Myth 3 – You can only get a cold sore if you kiss another person who carries it
Its true that cold sores are very contagious and its really easy to be infected. But a person that has the virus can only infect another person when they have an outbreak. This does not only include kissing, but also contact with the bacteria in some other way (i.e. one scratches on the blister and then touch another persons mouth). The blister is also only contagious during the outbreak. After it has settled and the sore has started the healing process its no longer contagious, but its generally better to be safe than sorry though.
Myth 4 – You can’t spread the cold sore to other parts of the body
When you have an outbreak, its imperative that you do not touch it. Its filled with bacterias and are extremely prone to infect whatever it gets near. Its best to leave the sore alone and if you have been touching it, its wise to wash your hands thoroughly. If you touch the sore and transfer the bacteria to your eyes, it may infect the eyes which can cause you to go blind in worst case scenarios. So being extra careful of ones hygiene during a cold sore outbreak is wanted, both for your own sake and those around you.
As weve seen are there many myths regarding cold sores and the treatment of it. People draw conclusions before they have gotten first hand experience with it or before they have asked proffesionals on the issue, which can lead to spreading of the virus. Being properly informed will not only keep the cold sores from spreading, but may also help people heal them faster and maybe even keep them from reappearing. To learn more about how one can treat these cold sores and to get more information regarding them, have a look at Cold Sore Freedom in 3 Days which is written by Mike Ramsey. He has helped several thousands get rid of their cold sore problems, and some havent gotten any outbreaks since then!
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