Cold sores are fluid-filled blisters that occur around the mouth, chin or on the lips. These blisters are caused due to the reactivation of the herpes simplex virus Type 1 and should not be confused with the herpes simplex virus Type II that causes genital herpes. (See Reference 1)

Once the virus enters the body, it tends to become dormant. There is no method of eliminating the virus from the body after it enters. However, at times, due to certain triggers, the herpes virus reactivates and travels along the nerves to the skin around the mouth. This causes the blisters to form. Initially, the person will have some symptoms like burning or tingling sensation and thereafter, within 1 or 2 day the blisters appear around the mouth or on the lips. In another few days time, the blisters erupt and begin to ooze. Soon the blisters scab over and then after another few days they begin to heal. Generally, the entire process takes anywhere from 10 days to 14 days. (See Reference 1)

Unfortunately, most people get infected by the virus during their childhood and experience their first outbreak before they are 7 years old. Hence, many people do not know that they are carriers of the virus. The possibility of having another outbreak in the future is there once the first outbreak occurs. (See Reference 1) Also, having the virus in the body does not necessarily mean that the person will develop cold sores. It has also been notices that most of the people do not even realize that they are having an outbreak when they develop the blisters. Hence, the chances of infecting others are quite high.

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