What are Cold Sores (Herpetic Lesions)?
Cold sores, sometimes called fever blisters, are groups of small blisters on the lip and around the mouth that are caused by the herpes simplex virus. This virus usually enters the body through a break in the skin around or inside the mouth. They can be spread when a person touches a cold sore or contacts the infected fluid from sharing eating utensils or razors, or through kissing or touching that person’s saliva.
What are the symptoms of a Cold Sore?
The symptoms (warning signs) of cold sores may include a tingling, itching or pain around your mouth and on your lips, a fever, a sore throat, or swollen glands in your neck or other parts of the body. After the blisters appear, the cold sores usually break open, leak a clear fluid, and then crust over and disappear after several days to 2 weeks. For some people, cold sores can be very painful.
How are Cold Sores treated?
Cold sores will usually start to heal on their own within a few days and then disappear within a couple of weeks. However, if they cause pain or make you feel self-conscious, they can be treated.
Treatment may include skin creams, ointments, or pills. This type of treatment may only get rid of the cold sores only 1 to 2 days faster, but it can lessen the uncomfortable symptoms. Laser Therapy is a more effective way to treat cold sores.
The key is to treat the lesion with laser treatment which prevents the cold sore from breaking out. As soon as you feel that tingling sensation that warns you of an on-coming sore, call the office and schedule an appointment for a laser treatment. If you already have a full blown sore, the laser will take away the discomfort and help it to dry up and heal much faster.
The herpes simplex virus that causes cold sores cannot be cured. After you get infected, the virus stays in your body for the rest of your life. If you get cold sores often, treatment can reduce the number of cold sores you get and how severe they are. Often, people will get cold sores in the same spot. After multiple Laser Treatments often there is a good chance that sore won’t appear again in that spot.
What are the benefits of using a laser in treating cold sores?
- Laser energy destroys the virus that causes the sore
- Relief is immediate and profound
- Help prevent sores if treated once the lip starts tingling
- Arrests the progression of the lesion after treatment
- Faster healing
- Treatment takes just a few minutes and without anesthesia
- After treatment, patients report that their sores reoccur with less intensity and frequency at the same location
- It is high tech, yet affordable
