Herpes And Cold Sores Difference

Are Cold Sores Herpes

In short, yes and that’s OK! According to Cedars Sinai, cold sores are small blisters around the mouth caused by the herpes simplex virus. While the herpes simplex virus causes cold sores, an outbreak can be triggered by things like stress, a weak immune system, an illness like a cold, or even weather conditions like hot sun or cold wind.

How Painful Is Herpes Simplex

Some people experience very mild genital herpes symptoms or no symptoms at all. Frequently, people infected with the virus don’t even know they have it. However, when it causes symptoms, it can be described as extremely painful. This is especially true for the first outbreak, which is often the worst. Outbreaks are described as aches or pains in or around the genital area or burning, pain, or difficulty urinating. Some people experience discharge from the or .

Oral herpes lesions usually cause tingling and burning just prior to the breakout of the blisters. The blisters themselves can also be painful.

Herpes Is A Common Infection

Herpes is a super-common infection that stays in your body for life. More than half of Americans have oral herpes, and about 1 out of 6 Americans has genital herpes. So chances are a few people you know are living with herpes.

Theres no cure for herpes, but medication can ease your symptoms and lower your chances of giving the virus to other people. And the good news is, outbreaks usually become less frequent over time, and even though herpes can sometimes be uncomfortable and painful, its not dangerous. People with herpes have relationships, have sex, and live perfectly healthy lives.

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What Is The Difference Between Canker Sores And Cold Sores

Is a canker sore the same as a cold sore? Whatâs the difference?

Cold sores are caused by the herpes virus and are usually found on the outside of the mouth. Canker sores are only found inside the mouth and have a variety of causes, including:

• Injury to the inside of the mouth
• Use of toothpaste or mouthwash that contains sodium lauryl sulfate
• Conditions that affect your immune system like lupus or inflammatory bowel disease
• A reaction to certain foods like nuts, chocolate, or spicy foods

Canker sores are usually round or oval and white or yellow. They typically go away on their own within a week or two. For large or especially painful canker sores, or ones that donât go away within a couple of weeks, talk to a doctor about treatment options.

Will Cold Sores Make Me Ill

Sometimes, when you first catch cold sores, you can have ulcers inside the mouth and throat as well as, or instead of, the usual sores on the lip. You may have a fever and other flu-like symptoms. A painkiller can help: aspirin, ibuprofen or paracetamol always follow the instructions on the packet.

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What Is The Difference Between Cold Sores And Herpes

Jennifer Nelson

Jennifer Nelson

Jennifer is a contributing health writer who has been researching and writing health content with PlushCare for 3 years. She is passionate about bringing accessible healthcare and mental health services to people everywhere.

Ken Cosby M.D.

Ken Cosby M.D.

Dr. Ken Cosby received his medical degree from Howard University College of Medicine and completed his research post-doc work at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health including the National Heart Lung Blood Institute and the National Cancer Institute.

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Can I Be Treated To Prevent Genital Herpes Transmission To My Partner

Yes. A large study showed that if one partner has herpes and the other partner is uninfected, treating the infected partner with suppressive therapy can prevent transmission of symptomatic herpes in over 90% of cases. This is an option for couples who are interested in having unprotected sex or who are planning to become pregnant.

If you are entering into a new relationship and are aware that you have herpes simplex infection, you owe it to your partner to notify them before having sex.

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How To Treat A Fever Blister Or Cold Sore

You dont have to leave your fever blister or cold sore untreated. While there is no cure for fever blisters or cold sores, this is one of the dermatological conditions we treat to help alleviate the symptoms and speed the healing process.

There are two options for treating fever blisters and cold sores: topical treatments and antiviral medications. Topical creams are antiviral treatments that can be applied directly to the affected area. Topical treatments can help relieve burning, itching, and tingling.

Dermatologists can prescribe oral or intravenous medications, or shots, to help quicken the healing process. Commonly prescribed medications include acyclovir, famciclovir, and valacyclovir. Taking these medications daily can decrease the severity and frequency of outbreaks, as well as help prevent the spreading of the cold sores.

How Are Cold Sores Caught And Passed On

You catch cold sores by being kissed by someone who has cold sore virus on their mouth. You might have caught it the other day or maybe when you were a child, perhaps by being kissed by a relative. Oral sex is also a common way of passing on cold sores from one persons genitals to another persons mouth or vice versa.

The virus can be caught on ordinary skin such as the hand/fingers if there is broken skin which can allow entry. It is called a whitlow on the fingers.

Cold sores are only caught by direct skin contact, with the affected area. They are not caught through sharing cups, cutlery, towels, lipstick, etc. . Experts are definite about this, though this fact is sometimes ignored by unreliable sources on the Internet and elsewhere.

You cannot give cold sores to someone who already gets them.

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What Are The Different Types Of Herpes

There are two types of herpes simplex virus: HSV I and HSV II. HSV I commonly causes oral herpes, or cold sores. This virus can show up as an upper respiratory tract infection during early childhood. HSV II is the cause of most cases of genital herpes. However, it is possible for HSV I to cause genital herpes and HSV II to cause oral herpes.

Clinicians cannot tell the difference between the two types by physical examination alone, but there are differences between the two viruses. For example, genital herpes caused by HSV II is much more likely to recur. This diagnosis can be helpful in establishing a health care plan.

Herpes And Cold Sore Prevention

If you do not currently have herpes, you can help to prevent it by using the following tips:

• Avoid intimate contact, including kissing, with anyone who has a cold sore.
• Avoid performing oral sex on someone who has genital sores.
• Dont share any of the following items with someone who has a cold sore:

If you have a herpes infection and want to avoid future outbreaks, use these tips for preventing cold sores:

• Protect your lips with an SPF lip balm and wear sunscreen.
• Get enough rest to avoid fatigue.
• Try to stay healthy and avoid stress.

Be sure to wash your hands frequently and avoid intimate contact if youre currently experiencing an outbreak to prevent the spread of the virus to others.

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What Causes A Cold Sore And Herpes

A cold sore is caused by the herpes simplex virus.

HSV-1 and HSV-2 can be transmitted in a few different ways.

You can develop cold sores if you:

• Kiss someone infected with HSV-1.
• Perform oral sex on someone who has HSV-2 on their genitals.

You can develop genital herpes if you:

• Receive oral sex from a person infected with HSV-1.
• Have unprotected vaginal sex with a person who has HSV-2.

In rare cases, a mother can transmit the herpes virus to her child during childbirth.

How Are Cold Sores And Herpes Diagnosed

There is no single test that can definitively diagnose cold sores or genital herpes. Instead, doctors typically rely on a combination of physical examination and medical history.

For example, a doctor may ask about any recent episodes of fever or flu-like symptoms. They will also usually examine the affected area for signs of blister formation. In some cases, a skin culture or PCR test may also be conducted in order to confirm the presence of the virus.

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Where Does The Herpes Virus Live In The Body

The herpes simplex viruses are latent, meaning they can live in the body without causing symptoms. After the initial infection, the virus gets into the nerve roots and spreads to the sensory nerve ganglia, the junctions where nerves from different parts of the body come together. For the genital area, the ganglia are adjacent to the spinal cord in the lower back. For orofacial herpes , the ganglia are located behind the cheek bone.

What The Statistics Say

According to medical studies, the shedding rates for cold sores and herpes also vary. On average, a person who is suffering from cold sores that are in and around their mouth can shed at rates of up to 33 percent, but as low as 6 percent. Herpes does not typically shed from the mouth and less than 1 percent of patients who have been tested have been shown to shed from the mouth.

As you might expect from the low number of herpes who have shed from the mouth, the number of people who have been found to shed cold sores from their genitalia is also low. Less than 5 percent of patients who are diagnosed with cold sores shed from their genitals, while patients who have herpes shed from their genitals at a rate of at least three to five times as much as a patient who is suffering from cold sores.

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How Do You Get Herpes

The skin on your genitals, mouth, and eyes can be infected easily. Other areas of skin may get infected if theres a way for the herpes virus to get in, like through a cut, burn, rash, or other sores. You dont have to have sex to get herpes. Sometimes herpes can be passed in non-sexual ways, like if a parent with a cold sore gives you a peck on the lips. Most people with oral herpes got it when they were kids. A mother can pass genital herpes to a baby during vaginal childbirth, but thats pretty rare.

You can spread herpes to other parts of your body if you touch a herpes sore and then touch your mouth, genitals, or eyes without washing your hands first. You can also pass herpes to someone else this way.

Herpes is most contagious when sores are open and wet, because fluid from herpes blisters easily spreads the virus. But herpes can also shed and get passed to others when there are no sores and your skin looks totally normal.

Most people get herpes from someone who doesnt have any sores. It may live in your body for years without causing any symptoms, so its really hard to know for sure when and how you got it. Thats why so many people have herpes its a pretty sneaky infection.

Because the virus dies quickly outside the body, you cant get herpes from hugging, holding hands, coughing, sneezing, or sitting on toilet seats.

How Do You Get Rid Of A Cold Sore

While there is no cure, and they usually go away on their own within a few weeks, cold sore treatment is available which can help shorten the length of time you need to deal with the cold sore. Here are a few ways you may be able to get rid of a cold sore faster:

• Creams and ointments like penciclovir and docosanol are applied several times a day and can control pain and promote healing.
• Oral antiviral medications like famciclovir , valacyclovir , and acyclovir are available by prescription only and can be useful in helping to treat and prevent frequent cold sore outbreaks.
• Home remedies may provide some relief. Options include ice, lip balm with lemon extract, aloe vera gel, witch hazel, petroleum jelly, and lysine supplements.

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What Causes Cold Sores And Herpes

Cold sores are caused by HSV-1, which is usually passed on through contact with infected salivae, such as kissing someone who has a cold sore or sharing utensils, cups, or lip balm with someone who has HSV-1.

You can get HSV-1 or HSV-2 without having any symptoms. The viruses stay in your body for life and can become active again at any time. When the viruses reactivate, they cause sores to erupt around your mouth or genitals.

Is Cold Sore And Herpes The Same Thing

Herpes Myth: Only certain sorts of people get herpes.

Fact about herpes: No, it is very common and anyone who has ever had sex can get genital herpes. Its not about being clean, dirty, good or bad its about being normal and sexually active.

Herpes Myth: Herpes isnt that common, and I am unlikely to get it.

Fact about herpes: Herpes is very common and may be caused by both herpes simplex type 1 and herpes simplex type 2 . HSV-1 causes cold sores on the mouth, and up to 80% of the population has this virus. However, it may also be transmitted to the genitals through oral-genital sex and about 40% of genital herpes is caused by HSV-1. Up to 22% of sexually active adults have genital herpes caused by HSV-2. Most people with herpes will not have symptoms and therefore will not be aware they have it. 75% of people who have genital herpes get it from partners who are entirely unaware that they have it themselves.

Herpes Myth: Herpes cold sores on the mouth are not the same as genital herpes.

Fact about herpes: Cold sores on the mouth or face are caused by HSV-1 and are commonly transmitted to the genitals through oral-to-genital sex. Up to 40% of genital herpes is caused by HSV-1.

Herpes Myth: Herpes can only affect the genital area.

Herpes Myth: People always know if they have genital herpes.

Fact about herpes: No, 80% of those with genital herpes do not know they have it, as they may have no or very mild symptoms.

Herpes Myth: People with herpes are always infectious.

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The Difference Between Canker Sores & Cold Sores

Cold sores or fever blisters are caused by the herpes simplex virus and are usually relatively easy to identify. To view pictures of the herpes virus visit our Herpes Pictures page.

There is another condition which can cause ulcers inside the mouth known as Canker sores. Canker sores are not a form of herpes, however, they are often confused and mistaken for cold sores.

Canker sores are ulcerations, especially of the lip or oral mucosa and can be caused by acute stress, trauma to the area in your mouth, allergies, or by a reaction to a particular bacteria.

Canker sores are not considered to be contagious. Cold sores and mouth herpes on the other hand are caused by the herpes simplex virus and can be very contagious.

If you are experiencing ulcerations on or inside of your mouth please visit your health care provider for a professional diagnosis. These two conditions can appear very similar and should not be self-diagnosed.

If The Cold Sores Are Frequent Use A Treatment To Help Reduce Viral Activity

The right management of your cold sores can make a difference, especially those which help to prevent the cold sore virus from becoming active in the first place.

Once a cold sore appears there are different treatments that you can use to shorten the duration of the outbreak and heal the symptoms more quickly. Visit the Cold Sore Treatments page to read through different products that may be able to help.

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Fever Blister Vs Cold Sore

What is a fever blister exactly? The answer might surprise you its simply a cold sore. A fever blister and a cold sore are one and the same. If youve ever had a blister on your lip, chances are its a result of the herpes simplex virus and your fever blister was in fact a cold sore.

So why the confusion? Cold sores have been called fever blisters in the past because they often appeared when someone had a fever. But fever blisters are caused by the exact same virus as cold sores, because they are the same thing.

Discover how to treat and prevent fever blisters with our top lip care tips.

Symptoms Of Cold Sores

Many people who have HSV-1 never experience any symptoms. If you do have symptoms, they may include:

• Fluid-filled blisters on the outside of the mouth around the lips
• An itchy or tingling sensation in the area shortly before the blisters appear
• Fever and swelling of the lymph nodes, similar to other viral infections

The blisters may be confined to one area only or appear in several areas at a time. They typically last from seven to 10 days, during which time they will break open, ooze fluid, and form a crust before healing.

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What Can I Do To Prevent Cold Sores

Healthy Living

By taking good care of yourself you can help your body defend against the cold sore virus, reducing the possibility of an occurrence. Good rest, low amounts of stress, moderate exercise and fresh fruit and vegetable juices will assist in boosting the immune system .

Be Sun Smart

Exposure to sunlight and ultraviolet rays can trigger a breakout of cold sores. To help protect yourself wear a hat when you are outside in the sun and use a lip balm that contains sunscreen .

Moisturize

Damage to your lips can bring on an episode of cold sores, so it is important to keep your lips protected from chapping and wind burn. A moisturizing lip balm can help here.