8 CRITICAL COLD SORE STAGES
Copyright 2005 drbodoh
Let's look at the 8 distinct cold sore stages, and what you can
do now to lessen the severity, discomfort and length of your
cold sore event.
Cold sore stages 2-8 are the active stages and are very
contagious during this time. Usually 3 to 4 weeks is the average
life-span of a cold sore. Much depends on your health and choice
of treatments for each of your cold sore stages.
COLD SORE STAGES: #1 - LATENT - Here the cold sore herpes
simplex virus is hiding in the nerve ganglia near the back of
the jaw on the same side as your cold sore usually appears. The
cold sore virus may "sleep" for weeks or years without incident.
Your body's defense "soldiers" keep them in check. When there is
stress in another part of your body, your defenses may drop at
this location. Then the cold sore virus can escape and travel to
the surface to reproduce - beginning the active cold sore stages.
COLD SORE STAGES: # 2 - PRODROME - The cold sore virus
reproductive cycle begins here. The cold sore virus travels down
your nerve fibers to the surface. This movement causes your cold
sore target area to itch or tingle. You may notice a burning or
dryness sensation. This stage could last a few hours to a few
days before entering the more intense cold sore stages.
COLD SORE STAGES: # 3 - INFLAMMATION Your cold sore virus has
now arrived at the surface and begins it's reproductive cycle by
entering the cells at the end of the nerve. This causes a lot of
swelling and redness at the cold sore site as your cells react
to being invaded by the herpes cold sore virus .
COLD SORE STAGES: # 4 - PRE-SORE - Cold sores at this stage are
defined by the appearance of cold sore vesicles. A full blown
cold sore is not one big blister but a grouping of small
blisters called vesicles. You will notice these vesicles as
tiny, hard pimples or red bumps that are painfully sensitive to
the touch.
COLD SORE STAGES: # 5 - OPEN SORE - Your most painful and
contagious of the cold sore stages. All the vesicles break open
and merge to create one big open, weeping sore. Depending on the
severity, you may develop a fever and swollen lymph glands under
the jaw.
The weeping fluid is teaming with newly born cold sore viruses.
Touching this fluid, you could easily spread the cold sore virus
to another part of your own body or to someone else - either by
direct touch or shared objects such as hand towels, telephones,
and faucets.
COLD SORE STAGES: # 6 - CRUSTING - A cold sore will develop a
yellowish crust or scab as it begins to finally start the
healing process. Your cold sore is still painful at this stage.
More painful, however, is the constant cracking of your cold
sore scab when you move or stretch your lips, as in smiling.
COLD SORE STAGES: # 7- HEALING - Cold sores, once scabbed over,
begin healing from the inside out. As new skin forms under the
crust, you will experience continued itching, irritation and
some pain. Your cold sore virus is now retreating back to the
nerve ganglia area where it will sleep until the next
opportunity.
COLD SORE STAGES: # 8 - POST SCAB - Cold sores at this stage no
longer have a visible cold sore scab and your skin has totally
healed. Under your new skin, healing is still taking place as
the destroyed cells are regenerated. This produces a red spot
that may linger for another 2 to 14 days - depending on your
personal healing speed. You are still contagious until this red
spot disappears. This waiting is the most frustrating of the
cold sore stages.
WHAT YOU CAN DO NOW -
Cold sore over-the-counter medications, experts agree, are
primarily comfort treatments for the cold sore stages. Some
contain numbing agents that greatly reduce your pain. Some cold
sore medications contain an anti-bacterial to prevent secondary
infections. None of these cold sore medications have been shown
to actually shorten the life-span of any of your cold sore
stages.
Medical science has been working feverishly on a cure for the
herpes virus but have not, as yet, had any real success in
developing an effective cold sore remedy. Prescription
anti-virals, both the oral versions and the topical salves, have
been a dismal failure for the most part. Vaccines are being
tested but are 3-4 years out yet. New breakthroughs could be
just around the corner however.
But you don't need to wait!
More and more doctors now agree. There are times when natural
science just seems to be the best choice. Often our ONLY choice.
This is certainly true - right now - for herpes cold sores.
Data studies have shown natural science remedies can reduce the
cold sore events by as much as 79%.
Yes! And, in fact, actually prevent your cold sores from taking
place altogether.
The great news - these remedies are available to you today.
If you are a cold sore victim, you would be well advised to look
into these powerful natural remedies without delay for
shortening or preventing your cold sores.