

Your doctor may prescribe an antiviral medication for you to take on a regular basis if you develop cold sores more than nine times a year or if you're at high risk of serious complications.
#Malody definition skin#
People who have a skin condition called atopic dermatitis (eczema) are at higher risk of cold sores spreading all across their bodies. Repeated infections can cause scarring and injury, which may lead to vision problems or loss of vision. The virus can sometimes cause eye infection.

Children who suck their thumbs may transfer the infection from their mouths to their thumbs. This type of infection is often referred to as herpes whitlow. Both HSV-1 and HSV-2 can be spread to the fingers. In some people, the virus that causes cold sores can cause problems in other areas of the body, including:


Shared eating utensils, razors and towels might also spread HSV-1.Ĭold sores are most contagious when you have oozing blisters because the virus easily spreads through contact with infected body fluids. But either type can spread to the face or genitals through close contact, such as kissing or oral sex. HSV-2 is usually responsible for genital herpes. Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic CausesĬold sores are caused by certain strains of the herpes simplex virus (HSV). You have frequent recurrences of cold sores.The cold sores don't heal within two weeks.When to see a doctorĬold sores generally clear up without treatment. Canker sores involve only the mucous membrane and aren't caused by the herpes simplex virus. In a first-time outbreak, you also might experience:Ĭhildren under 5 years old may have cold sores inside their mouths and the lesions are commonly mistaken for canker sores. Recurrences typically appear at the same spot each time and tend to be less severe than the first outbreak. The sores can last several days, and the blisters can take two to three weeks to heal completely. The first time you have a cold sore, symptoms may not start for up to 20 days after you were first exposed to the virus. Signs and symptoms vary, depending on whether this is your first outbreak or a recurrence. The small blisters may merge and then burst, leaving shallow open sores that ooze and crust over. Sometimes they appear around the nose or cheeks or inside the mouth. Small fluid-filled blisters typically erupt along the border of your lips. Many people feel itching, burning or tingling around the lips for a day or so before a small, hard, painful spot appears and blisters erupt. A cold sore usually passes through several stages:
