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Many people get confused about whether they have a cold sore or a canker sore. But that confusion is easily cleared up. Cold sores, also called fever blisters, are caused by the herpes simplex virus type 1, which is usually acquired in childhood through contact with infected saliva. The type 1 virus is believed to lie dormant in certain nerve cells of the body until it is activated by stress, anxiety, a cold, or excessive exposure to the sun and causes sores on your external lip or near your mouth or nose that last anywhere from 7 to 14 days.

Cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus. In all likelihood, some relative of yours infected you when you were a child by kissing you at a time when his herpes simplex was infectious.

Lysine is one of the most important things to use when you have a mouth sore. The amino acid fights the virus and can be taken in any form, but not for more than six months at a time.

Pressing or rubbing ice on a sore is possibly the best-known home remedy for cold sores. There are several benefits to this remedy. If the ice is applied early in the development of the cold sore, it can slow down the metabolism of the area around the cold sore, greatly slowing its growth. It is good to hold the ice to the sore for a few minutes every ten minutes for a few hours. The ice will also make the sore smaller and keep the virus from moving or spreading.

When you feel it starting to come out take a Q-tip and soak an end in mouthwash. Next apply the soaked end to it and hold for several minutes. I use this all the time and find it works best.

Generally signs and symptoms of cold sores are seen after twenty days of exposure to the virus. Small, painful and fluid-filled red or brown blisters could be seen on the skin. Blisters may burst and ooze. Tingling precedes blisters after one or two days. Once infected by the virus you may experience head ache, irritability and fever. There may be problem in swallowing any food stuff or liquid. Itching and swelling of lips are common. Lymph nodes on the neck may swell. Drooling may be seen among small children. Symptoms may last from seven to ten days.

Apply a tea bag for few minutes on the blisters, repeat this every hour. One can also consider pressing a warm tea bag on the blisters for approximately 30 minutes.

Use Echinacea and goldenseal extract mixture. Echinacea is an immune system booster that can also prevent a cold sore outbreak. Take one dropper-full a day for no more than 3 days. Also put a few drops on a cotton ball and place on the affected area for a few minutes several times a day.

Vitamin B complex is very important for healing and immune system functions. Take 100 mg of each major B vitamin twice a day.