Many people suffer with unsightly and painful blisters on or around their mouths but are not sure what they are. These are known as fever blisters or cold sores. These blisters actually come from the herpes simplex virus. There are certain factors that can trigger a break out of cold sores so it can be very helpful for a person to know these triggers so that they can avoid unwanted breakouts. Once you know the signs of a cold sore, you can then take measure to help the cold sore disappear in no time flat.

Herpes simplex virus is the cause of cold sores. There are a total of two types of herpes and most are not aware that there are two types. The first is called herpes simplex type 1. This type generally hits the body parts that are found on the upper torso or above the belt. This is the main form of herpes that causes cold sores. Then there is herpes simplex virus type 2 which hits the body parts that are on the lower torso or the ones below the belt. This form of herpes is also known as genital herpes. Keep in mind, that while it is not regular for this type to cause cold sores, it can in fact cause them.

Many people think that when they have a bout of cold sores it is due to some virus that they had recently come in contact with. The truth is that it is just a flare up of something you already have in your system, which is a form of herpes. There are things that can irritate it such as stress or even a virus that you have in your body. When you are about to break out with a cold sore you will feel a swollen or puffy spot on or around your lip and you may feel a tingling sensation.

When you feel the sign of a cold sore coming on, you will want to start treatment as soon as possible. By starting the treatment as quickly as possible, you can actually slow down or ward off a cold sore all together. Some of the best treatments that you can do for a cold sore is when during the first signs. You can try such things as icing the tingly area. Many people swear by using ice you can actually stop a cold sore from coming out all the way.

If you find that you suffer from frequent cold sores, then the above information may be very helpful so that you can end the viscous cycle. Moreover you can also go for a cold sores medication, actually they many medications are available for cold sore. There are several cold sore medications to choose from, both over-the-counter options and prescription medications.

Over-the-counter (OTC) cold sore medication includes creams and gels such as Abreva, Anbesol, Orajel, and Zilactin. Be sure that you understand the effect of the medication before applying it-- most cold sore medications do not assist in the healing process, they only treat the pain and discomfort.

If you would like to use an OTC cold sore medicine that will speed up the healing time and slow the growth of the cold sore, Abreva is probably your best option. This creme can be purchased at any drug store, and has been approved by the FDA to speed up the healing process.

Another OTC option is to use the amino acid: L-Lysine. Studies have found that Lysine may assist some people with cold sore recovery. Lysine for cold sores can be bought in a creme from or a supplement form.

If you want to take a prescription cold sore medication, I suggest that you talk to your doctor to determine the best treatment. There are two main prescriptions that are available: Denavir ® and Zovirax ® are the only prescription medications approved by the FDA.

Although there are prescription medications that are available to most people, many choose to instead use a more natural approach to prevent cold sores. There are many home remedy treatments that can be done to decrease the healing time and prevent future outbreaks.