Talking about cold sores may not be polite dinner conversation, but becoming educated about this condition is the most effective way to avoid it and to prevent it from spreading. Although there is no cure for the herpes simplex virus that causes cold sores to develop, millions of Americans keep theirs under control with good oral habits and complete information.

Also called fever blisters, cold sores are small fluid-filled sores that appear recurrently on the lips or surrounding skin. While they are extremely contagious, especially at the onset, each outbreak typically disappears within 7-10 days.

What Are the Symptoms?

In many cases, your first indication of a cold sore may be a painful or tingling sensation on or around your lips. The actual sores appear as small clusters of blisters, and may be surrounded by red or inflamed skin. It is normal for these sores to “weep” clear fluid in the first few days before eventually drying and forming a temporary scab.

What Triggers an Outbreak?

The herpes simplex virus remains in your body between occurrences, but you can help keep it under control by understanding what triggers an outbreak.

Common causes include:

- Stress or extreme emotions
- Cold, flu or other illness
- Physical strain or fatigue
- Prolonged exposure to sunlight
- Chapped or cut lips

How to Avoid Spreading Cold Sores

The fact that cold sores are so contagious means it’s important to avoid skin to skin contact whenever blisters are present. In addition, care should be taken not to share towels, drinks, utensils or any item that is likely to touch your mouth or lips. Finally, keeping your hands clean and refraining from touching your face as much as possible can help prevent sores from being spread to other parts of your face or body.

Different From Canker Sores

Cold sores are sometimes confused with canker sores, but the two are actually quite different -- canker sores appear on the soft tissues inside your mouth rather than on the lips and face. They are usually caused by minor injuries, such as biting your cheek, and typically heal within one or two weeks. Most importantly, unlike cold sores, canker sores are not associated with the herpes virus and are therefore neither contagious nor permanent.

Getting Treatment and Relief

Because cold sores clear up on their own, medical care is not typically needed. However, your doctor may prescribe an antiviral medication that can shorten their duration by a few days. Most other “remedies” are actually designed to relieve pain rather than eliminate the blisters and in most cases, over the counter pain relievers are just as effective.

Although they may be inconvenient, the best way help cold sores heal is to simply leave them alone and let them naturally run their course. Talk to your doctor if you have experienced an outbreak or think you may have come in contact with the virus.

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