Herpes cold sores pictures

Cold sores, also known as fever blisters are most commonly caused by herpes simplex virus. They usually appear on the lips. They are highly contagious but not dangerous. Approximately 60% of the population have suffered of cold sores at some point in life.

The virus that causes cold sores is herpes simplex type I, a cousin of herpes simplex type II, the origin of genital disease well known. Nearly 80% of the population in North America carries the herpes virus type I sleeping (inactive) lives under the skin at all times, but the body's immune system is normally able to keep him inactive. However, when an infected person is exposed to a "trigger", or if his immune system is weakened, the virus multiplies rapidly, usually on the lips. This is reflected by vesicles or blisters characteristics.

Check out the herpes cold sores pictures we have gathered bellow for better understanding of this disease:

Canker sore	Cold Sore inside mouth	Teeth sore herpes
Herpes canker sores	Girl with herpes cold sore	Herpes inside mouth

You can catch the virus if you come into direct contact with the sores or the fluid inside them, which contains a large number of viruses. Once the blisters have stopped oozing or have crusted over, the person is no longer contagious.

People with cold sores may feel some unusual sensations around the lips in the 24 hours before the blisters appear, resulting in tingling, burning, pain or numbness. Rashes first appear on the skin before blisters form. They ooze a clear liquid for a few days that dries to form a yellow crust. The phenomenon is usually accompanied by some pain during the first days after the onset of cold sores, but usually disappear once the crust has formed. Complete healing takes from 10 to 14 days.

Other parts of the human body may also be affected, such as mouth, eyes or genitals. The lesions may spread the virus to other parts of your body, especially if you touch yourself with frequency. Cold sores inside the mouth can cause problems especially when you want to talk or eat. If the virus infects the eye, it can damage the surface. It may also, but much more rarely, infect the brain and cause viral meningitis.