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Cold Sore Lip Contagious
If you have a cold sore on your lip, does this mean you have full fledged infectious Herpes?
Does it certainly mean you have the contagious Herpes infection, or just a bacteria buildup?
Yes, it means you have herpes, and it is infectious.
Cold sores are caused in 95-97% of cases by the virus hsv-1. They are not bacterial. About 3-5% are caused by herpes hsv-2 - the virus most connect with genital herpes.
People always say oral herpes is 'not the same as' genital herpes, but it is. The only difference is in the likelihood of which virus is causing it and the location.
The virus that causes most codl sores, hsv-1, also causes about 50-70% of new genital herpes infections - and it is usually transferred to the genitals from the mouth.
Just as with genital herpes, if you suffer from cold sores, there is always a risk of giving your partner genital herpes when you give them oral sex, even when you don't have a cold sore.
Oral hsv-1 is actually the most infectious form of herpes you can have - it is infectious about 18%of the time, while genital hsv-2 is infectious about 15% of the time and genital hsv-1 about 3-4% of the time.
I caught genital herpes from receiving oral sex from a partner with a history of cold sores - when he had no symptoms.
However remember it is just your mouth that is infectious and your genitals are not.
Your First Cold Sore:Lip Blister Questions And Answers About Herpes Simplex Virus I
Getting your first cold sore can be unsettling because it isn't just the seven to ten day duration that is difficult but knowing it can recur in the future on the lip. Just as the chicken pox virus can recur in future as shingles, so the herpes simplex virus 1 can be re-activated. It remais in the nerve sheaths and when the immune system is low, you are run down or during hormonal changes it can surface again.
Be sure to have a good diet, get enough sleep and use a sun protection factor sunscreen on your lip when you are outdoors. You'll notice the stages of first having a tingle or itch. This isn't always caught. After that there will be a small red bump on the lip which can grow. It isn't a pimple and you can tell it's different. It can get quite inflamed. The blister may bleed a little as it starts to heal and it gets stimulated due to eating. It needs to scab and finally it will resolve. After it heals the skin on lip area may seem slightly pinker but this will go away.
During this process don't touch the cold sore. It is tempting to constantly gauge if it's growing or shrinking but it's too easy to then touch another part of your body or lip and possibly spread it. We don't always remember to wash our hands when we have cold sore symptoms. Be careful about any part of your skin that are vulnerable already such as eczema outbreaks, acne, insect bites or broken areas. Be careful around others to not spread the virus via sharing forks, kissing or touch.
Antivirals can be prescribed by your doctor and you can also use lysine, vitamins and other supplements to build up your immune system. Do not let your self-consciousness stop you from enjoying each day and know that this sore will resolve.
About the Author
Frustrated by cold sore? Stop by Cold Sore Lip Tips to learn ways to treat cold sore blisters at http://www.itchyskinrash.net/cold-sore-lip.html
