How do fever blisters spread

Mayo Clinic. Can Cold Sores Be Prevented?. National Center for Biotechnology Information. By clicking the link s above, you will be taken to an external website that is independently operated and not managed by GSK. GSK assumes no responsibility for the content on the website. If you do not wish to leave this website, do not click on the links above. You are now leaving the Abreva. GSK assumes no responsibility for the site. Search Search. How Are Cold Sores Spread? Is a Cold Sore Contagious?

When Are Cold Sores Contagious? Sharing lip balms, lipsticks or other items that have come into contact with the saliva of someone who has a cold sore. Oral sex with someone who has an outbreak of genital herpes. Touching your cold sore and then touching broken skin, eyes or genitals. Can Cold Sores Be Serious? However, cold sores can be serious when they affect: vii Your eyes — If the infection reaches the inner layers of your cornea — the transparent layer at the front of your eye — and remains untreated, it can be sight-threatening.

People with weakened immunity — As with babies, the infection may spread to vital organs. People at risk include those undergoing chemotherapy for cancer or anyone with a condition affecting their immunity such as diabetes or HIV. Follow a few simple steps to help stop cold sores from spreading.

Wash Your Hands You should do this after touching your cold sore and before touching your eyes, contact lenses, genitals or any area of broken skin. Avoid Oral Sex Abstain from engaging in oral sex when you have symptoms of a cold sore, as you can pass on the HSV-1 virus, giving your partner an infection in their genital area.

Dinulos JGH. Warts, herpes simplex, and other viral infections. In: Habif's Clinical Dermatology. Elsevier; Accessed April 7, Herpes simplex.

American Academy of Dermatology. Ferri FF, et al. Kermott CA, et al. Canker sores. Time; Cold sores. Gibson LE expert opinion. Mayo Clinic. April 6, Lemon balm. Natural Medicines. Accessed April 8, Bauer BA, ed. Making wellness the focus of care. Klein RS. Treatment of herpes simplex virus type 1 infection in immunocompetent patients. Hargitai IA. Painful oral lesions.

Dental Clinics of North America. Related Cold sore Video: 3 things you didn't know about cold sores. Mayo Clinic Press Check out these best-sellers and special offers on books and newsletters from Mayo Clinic. Cold sores most often go away on their own without treatment. These medications work best when started at the first sign of a cold sore. Being mindful of your actions when a cold sore pops up will help you keep from passing it on to friends or family.

Learn more about the herpes simplex virus and other infections at UPMC. We employ 4, physicians, and we are leaders in clinical care, groundbreaking research, and treatment breakthroughs.

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