Are Cold Sores Contagious?
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Yes. Don?t kiss anyone when you have an outbreak. Avoid sharing eating utensils, toothbrushes, razors and towels.
What Happens the First Time You Get a Cold Sore?
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Generally, people first get it when they are infants or children. Interestingly enough, only about 20% of those carrying the virus ever get symptoms ? that is, break out in actual cold sores. The sores can appear within days or weeks or even years following that first exposure to the virus. The first time symptoms appear they are usually more intense that subsequent outbreaks. For example some people experience more pain at the blister site or even flu-like symptoms including swollen glands, fever or sore throat.
What Are Cold Sores?
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Cold sores are small blisters that form around the mouth that are clear and filled with fluid. Cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus which lives inside nerve tissue. It is estimated that 80% of the population carry the virus and 60 million people have outbreaks once or more per year. Cold sores are also known as fever blisters or Herpes Simplex or HSV1 This is not the same as genital herpes.
Healing Canker Sores
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The standard over-the-counter (OTC) treatments for canker sores are benzocaine and lidocaine. These drugs are esters - which means they are compounds made from an acid - better known as - PABA (para amino benzoic acid) and the alcohol ethanol. Dentists use a related ester - procaine, also called Novocain - as a topical anesthetic during dental work.
Benzocaine and lidocaine are chemically similar to cocaine, another drug with topical anesthetic properties. These drugs interfere with the body’s ability to send electric signals through the nerves. That’s how they numb the pain. According to the drug manufacturers, overdoses of these esters may cause blurred or double vision; confusion; convulsions; dizziness; slow or irregular heartbeat; trouble breathing; anxiety; and unusual fatigue. In addition, people taking cholinesterase inhibitors or sulfonamides should avoid benzocaine and lidocaine.
Natural alternatives for pain relief to the ester-class drugs include menthol and camphor. Although these natural pain relievers may not be quite as strong as the drugs, they can be safer, and may have a reduced risk of side effects. Other natural substances may reduce healing time as well -some of the most promising herbs and vitamins include:
Lysine
An amino acid with healing and anti viral properties
Aloe Vera
Soothing plant used to speed healing.
Menthol
An FDA approved oral analgesic and pain reliever
Myrrh
A traditional remedy for gum and mouth irritations.
Licorice (DGL)
Clinically proven to heal canker sores fast (J Assoc Physicians India. 1989 Oct; 37(10):647.)
Goldenseal
Has astringent properties that help treat wounds and sores.
Echinacea
Native American herb traditionally used to heal open sores.
Tea Tree Oil
Tea Tree Oil is anti-fungal healing oil distilled from the Australian plant Melaleucan alternifolia
Gum Benzoin
A gum resin used in healing skin irritations.
Vitamin B12
Deficiencies of this vitamin are thought to cause canker sores.
Propolis
Plant resins collected by bees for their hives, this is a traditional canker sore treatment.
Calendula
Many herbalists recommend applying calendula to canker sores.
Cajeput Oil
Used as a cooling and healing agent, according to the German “Commission E” Report.
Clove Bud Oil
Helps numb the skin and relieve discomfort.
A revolutionary new approach to Healing canker sores
Canker Cover is small tablet-like patch made from edible ingredients. It sticks to the canker sore within seconds and lasts for up to 8 hours. Shortly after it is placed on the sore, the patch becomes gel-like. It absorbs fluids from the sore as part of the healing process. The patch will stick to the affected area and cover the sore for 6 - 8 hours. Then it dissolves by itself. In most cases, a single patch will eliminate the sore completely, according to a recent study… Canker Cover works in three ways:
The natural ingredients in Canker Cover speed healing. Most canker sores are eliminated with a single patch.
Canker Cover “seals” and isolates the canker sore from contact with the tongue, teeth, and food. No other products protect so thoroughly for eight hours.
Canker Cover provides immediate and long lasting pain relief by steadily releasing pain-numbing menthol, beta-carotene and other natural ingredients onto the sore. To learn more, visit: www.cankercover.com.
How to Prevent Canker Sores
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Recurrent canker sores may be the result of nutritional deficiencies. A patient who has regular problems with canker sores should have blood tests to determine possible vitamin deficiencies, and to determine potential problems with food allergies. It may be helpful to keep a “food diary” to determine potential allergies or food irritants.
Other preventive tactics include:
- Avoiding toothpastes and mouthwashes containing SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate)
- Including yogurt and other cultured, soured dairy products in your diet.
- Avoiding tobacco, chewing gum, and lozenges.
- Avoiding citrus fruits.
- Eating salads and raw onions.
- Avoiding iron supplements unless prescribed by a doctor.
Diet and canker sores. What food allergies or reactions may cause canker sores?
A study conducted in Turkey suggested that wheat, oranges, tomatoes, chocolate, nuts, eggplant, tea and cola may trigger aphthous ulcers. [Oral Surg. 1984:57, pp.504-507] When food triggers are identified and eliminated from the diet, as many as 50% of those suffering from recurrent canker sores notice dramatic improvement.
Anecdotal evidence suggests that diets high in sugar, citrus, and cereal grains may trigger canker sores. By avoiding these foods, the patient can see for himself whether they may be triggers in his case.
Adequate zinc and folic acid intake are essential for rapid healing. In addition, nutrients such as DGL licorice, goldenseal, and pau d’arco tea have a tradition of helping heal aphthous ulcers.
Canker Sore Causes
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Exactly how canker sores form is unclear. However, it appears that they are caused by a person’s own immune response. Canker sores form when a person’s immune system responds to unidentified chemicals. Lymphocytes (a variety of white blood cell) rush to attack the unidentified “invader”.
The canker sore is the result of our own antibodies ravaging the tender tissues of the gums and cheeks. Several “triggers” may precipitate such attacks:
Toothpastes and mouthwashes that contain SLS.
Research suggests that products containing sodium lauryl sulfate (”SLS”), a foaming agent in toothpastes and mouthwashes, may increase the recurrence rate of canker sores. SLS dries oral tissues, making them vulnerable to irritants.
Several studies show that participants who brush with an SLS-free toothpaste reduce the frequency of canker sore recurrence, in one study by as much as 81%. In this same study some of the participants reported that using SLS-free toothpaste also reduced canker sore severity.
Injury
Injury, often from a self-inflicted bite or irritation caused by braces, often precipitates canker sores. 38% of the participants of one study felt that their canker sores were precipitated by trauma.
Stress
Many people who suffer from canker sores often report that the ulcers coincide with periods of stress.
Nutritional Deficiencies
Some people (although not all) who suffer from canker sores may have a nutritional deficiency. Some of the nutritional deficiencies correlated with the presence of canker sores are:
Vitamins: B1, B2, B6, B12, C
Other nutrients: zinc, folic acid, iron, selenium, calcium
Allergies
Since canker sores are caused by our bodies’ immune response, it makes sense that they can be triggered by food allergies. Any substance that contacts the oral tissues may lead to an overzealous immune response.
Some potential food triggers for canker sore outbreaks are:
Cereal grains: buckwheat, wheat, oats, rye, barley, the gluten protein found in grains
Sugar: Chewing gum and lozenges are especially bad.
Fruits and vegetables: lemons, oranges, pineapples, apples, figs, tomatoes, strawberries
Other foods: nuts, chocolate, shellfish, soy, vinegar, French mustard
Drugs
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), beta blockers, and chemotherapy may increase the frequency of canker sores
Genetics
One study found that 35% of those persons who get canker sores have at least one parent who suffers from them. Another study found that 91% of identical twins both suffered from canker sores while only 57% of fraternal twins did.
Medical Conditions
Behcet’s disease, neutrophil dysfunction diseases, inflammatory bowel diseases (celiac and Cohn’s), HIV-AIDS, and some other conditions may be correlated with canker sores.
Reference: Quantum Health Products, 2007
What are Canker Sores?
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Canker sores are shallow, painful sores on the inside of the lips, the inside of the cheeks, or on the gums. They begin as small, reddish swellings. Then they burst, and the ruptured sores are covered with a white or yellow membrane. The edges of the sores are still red, and look like a painful red halo. Without treatment, canker sores (medically: aphthous ulcers) heal in 2 to 3 weeks.
Canker sores can be as large as a nickel, or as small as the head of a pin. They appear suddenly, and often disappear just as suddenly. There are several types of aphthous ulcers: technically, canker sores are “recurrent aphthous ulcers” or “recurrent aphthous stomitis”. “Aphthous” is derived from the Greek word “aptha” - which means “ulcer”. “Canker” has a Latin root - from the word “cancer”. Canker sores, however, are not cancerous.
Recurrent canker sores afflict 20% of us. That means 56 million Americans suffer from these small but painful ulcers. Anyone can get canker sores, but teenagers and young adults get them most often, and women are afflicted more frequently than men. The sores may run in families, and experts are uncertain whether they are contagious.
Most people who suffer from canker sores first develop the sores between the ages of 10 and 20. Children as young as 2, however, may get aphthous ulcers. The frequency of canker sore recurrences varies considerably. Although many people have only one or two episodes a year, others may have a continuous series of canker sores.
Cold Sore Symptoms Occur in Stages
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The first cold sore symptoms a person typically notices are tingling or itching sensations in the area from which the blister will eventually emerge–this is referred to as the “prodrome,” or tingling stage. Left untreated, the blister will usually form on the second or third day. There may only be one fluid-filled blister, or there could be a cluster of smaller blisters that are raw and painful. Eventually, the blister will crack open and the fluid will drain. This weeping stage typically occurs on the fourth day of the outbreak, and is followed by the crusting stage during days five through eight, when an unsightly yellow or brown crust can covers the area. During the ninth through twelfth days of the outbreak, a series of scabs grow over the area and are shed as it progresses through the healing. This happens continuously until the blister totally heals.
What are the stages of a cold sore?
Cold sores, untreated, can last up 14 days. Beginning treatment at the first sign of tingling can reduce the time to as little as 2-4 days. Beginning treatment after the blister appears can also significantly reduce the time and degree of pain.
Day 1: Prodrome (tingle) stage - Before a blister appears, one usually feels a tingling, itching or burning sensation beneath the skin, usually around the mouth or the base of the nose. This is the best time to start treatment. (1)
Days 2 to 3: The blister(s) appear.
Day 4: Ulcer or weeping stage. This is when the blister opens up revealing a reddish area. One is most contagious and in the most pain. (2)
Days 5 to 8: Crusting stage. The blisters dry up and a crust forms which is yellow or brown in color. Do not pick at this crust. (3)
Days 9 to 14: Healing stage. A series scabs will form over the sore, each smaller than the previous one until the cold sore is completely healed.
Cold Sore Symptoms
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A cold sore is a blister. Its symptoms are extremely trying, especially when the cold sore is located in a sensitive area, such as the corner of your mouth or right under your nose. Often, a cold sore accompanies a cold or the flu, which means that when the blister is located around the nose area, it is constantly being aggravated every time the person blows their nose. The pain of a cold sore symptom alone is challenging, but when you take into consideration external factors, it can be even worse. If the sore is inside your mouth, then it may be a canker sore.
