Are Cold Sores Hereditary?

Cold  sores  can seem a lot like pimples; always appearing right before something important. Unlike pimples, there is a reason for the appearance of the former…stress. Stress is one of the top reasons you can succumb to the painful, ugly, blister-like rash on the lips or in your mouth. These  sores  are not heredity, but they are contagious.

Herpes simplex is the name of this virus, but it is not an STD. Technically, you can catch it from someone if you are kissing them, but that is not likely to happen. It would hurt to much. Like many viruses, it is droplet spread and very contagious, so if someone around you has one, you may want to use hand sanitizer and wash your hands frequently.

There are a few things you need to know about this problem, and some things you can do to heal it. One of the most important things involves your toothbrush. Once you develop one, you need to change to a new toothbrush. After it goes away, throw that one out and get a third. Otherwise, you may keep re-infecting yourself. This virus can live on your toothbrush quite a while.

Never pick at or otherwise touch a cold  sore , especially with your hands. Doing so can have three results. One, it could make your outbreak worse, two it could cause a secondary infection and three you may give it to the next person you touch. You can dab on some treatments with a cotton ball or ice it, but otherwise leave it alone.

There are some home remedies for this problem. One of them is milk. If it’s inside your mouth, you’ll want to drink it to get the best benefits, but if it’s on your lips you may use a cotton ball. It doesn’t seem to matter whether it’s whole milk or skim.

Licorice is another topical treatment. In this, the active principle is a type of sugar found in the root. You can dab on the powder or eat a piece of licorice candy. You’ll have to read the ingredients list carefully, as most candy sold as licorice is actually made from anise.

If you are diabetic, talk to your doctor before using licorice, as it is very high in sugar and could affect your levels. If you have high blood pressure, avoid licorice as it can cause it to skyrocket.

As with any health problem, it’s a good idea to check with your doctor before beginning a new supplement, even a temporary problem such as a cold  sore . Make sure the doctor knows of any other health problems you have and any medications or supplements you use. This can help prevent dangerous side effects and drug/herb interactions.