Do you have a sore on your lip that won't heal? It may be the so-called cold sore. Health is, today and increasingly, one of the biggest concerns of today's society. The fact of having an adequate state of health makes our quality of life much better, so that we can enjoy our day to day without discomfort or symptoms that limit us when we do our activities.
In everything that is intimately related to health, there are no less serious problems for the patient. Even in minor pathologies or illnesses, for the person who suffers from it, it is a problem that must be resolved since it can condition their lifestyle and generate continuous discomfort, apart from the fact that, although it may seem like a mild pathology, it may lead to another. more serious.
What is lipstick fire
Cold sore is one of many names for cold sores, which is also known as cold sores, cold sores, or fever pimples on the lip. Herpes or cold sore is a viral infection that appears in or around the lip area.
It can be easily distinguished and differentiated from other possible alterations such as pimples or the so-called “shingles” (burning sensation and redness in the parts near the lips, which is also called herpes zoster ) because it occurs in the form of one or more blisters. Before its appearance, the most normal thing is that you notice that itching sensation one or two days before the blisters appear. That is why you will distinguish it from a shingles or a simple pimple.
The most common transmission is by the oral route , as simple as eating with a fork or drinking from the glass that a person who has it has used.
Symptoms of cold sore
Among the main symptoms of labial fire, the following stand out:
- Tingling and itching : although herpes simplex 1 often does not cause discomfort, there are people who feel itching and tingling around the lips for the first few days, before the scabs or blisters appear. Arguably, tingling and itching is often the first symptom of a cold sore.
- Blisters or rashes : this is one of the most notable symptoms. These blisters are filled with fluid and usually appear on the outer edge of the lips, although they can also spread across the nose or cheeks.
- Oozing and crusting : A few days later, the blisters eventually burst and ooze fluid, which leads to crusting. In this way, we could say that, after a few days, herpes causes sores on the lips. But after curing them correctly, the cold sore will disappear.
We recommend that you be patient, because the herpes simplex 1 process can take up to 30 or 40 days . It is also likely that if you have previously suffered from a cold sore, it could return at other times throughout your life, even though it was cured correctly the first time.
Other symptoms of cold sore
However, during the first outbreaks, you can also experience symptoms such as:
- Fever
- Headache
- Throat pain
- Muscle pains
- General discomfort
- sore gums
- eroded gums
- swollen lymph nodes
Causes of cold sore
Cold sores have one main cause: the herpes simplex virus . As explained by the World Health Organization (WHO) [1] , herpes or cold sore is caused by the herpes simplex virus type 1, which is the one that generates this type of symptoms, although it can also cause those blisters or vesicles in the genital area, as does the herpes simplex virus type 2, which exclusively causes genital herpes . This type of virus, once infected, remains in our body throughout life , but can remain inactive and asymptomatic and appear only at certain times, such as the following:
- Stress
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Hormonal changes
- Exposure to sun or wind
- Viral infection
According to the World Health Organization, the figures that indicate the amount of the world's population that suffers from this problem are very high. In 2012 it was estimated that almost 4,000 million people under the age of 50 could suffer from it.
In general, you will have a higher risk of cold sores if you are at a time when your immune system is weaker or due to hormonal variations (such as during ovulation or menstruation).
Home remedies to cure cold sores in the mouth
Before explaining some home remedies to combat the symptoms of cold sore, we remind you that they are complementary to any medication (probably some antibiotic ointment for lips or an antiviral product) that your doctor has prescribed, therefore, these natural tips are only for relieve discomfort . It is also important that you know that you should not break the blisters, but wait for them to burst by themselves and that you should take care of the area every day, keeping it clean and washing your hands every time you touch it so as not to increase the risk of contagion. Here are some natural solutions to combat discomfort:
- Ice : it's very simple, you just have to take a small ice cube, wrap it in a cloth or napkin and place it on the reddened area to relieve the burning sensation. Always remember to wrap it so as not to burn the area.
- Lemon – I'm sure you've heard that lemon has antiseptic properties. Take advantage of them by squeezing half a lemon in a glass and carefully applying a few drops to the affected part.
- Garlic : this food has antibiotic and antiviral capabilities, so we advise you to take a piece of garlic, crush it into a paste and carefully cover the area. Let it act for two minutes and wash it off. You can repeat it once a day. For more information, we leave you this other article on How to cure cold sores with garlic .
- Milk : did you know that an amino acid called arginine favors the appearance of cold sores? Lysine is another amino acid that inhibits the effect of arginine, and milk contains lysine, so you can soak a cotton ball in this food and apply it to the area.
- Aloe vera – Aloe vera is great for relieving cold sore pain. You can apply it directly on the lip, removing the crust first. If you want more information, you can read this other article on What are the benefits of aloe vera .
- Tea Tree Oil – It has great antiseptic properties, which helps fight cold sores. However, tea tree oil is very powerful, so it tends to dry out the area to which it is applied quite a bit, also causing discomfort. In this way, it is advisable to mix it with a little olive or chamomile oil, since both products regenerate and moisturize the skin. Of course, if you notice that you are in the initial phase of cold sores, we advise you to put tea tree oil directly on the area to stop the evolution of herpes, and then apply a little olive or chamomile oil to moisturize and regenerate the skin.
