Cold Sores Treatment
Cold sores, also known as fever blisters, are caused by a viral infection. These common fluid-filled blisters often develop in groups. The blisters can burst and form ugly scabs that can last for several days. The talented medical team at Spectrum Dermatology of Atlanta provides cold sores treatment at their clinic in Alpharetta.
Cold sores are contagious and easily spread from person to person through close contact, such as kissing or sex. They are typically caused by two variants of the herpes simplex virus (HSV-1 and HSV-2). Cold sores can be passed to another person even if the sores have not formed. The common stages include:
- Tingling and itching
- Blister outbreak
- Oozing and crusting over into scabs
The first outbreak of cold sores is frequently accompanied by fever, sore throat, painful gums, headaches, and swollen lymph nodes. After the first episode of this herpes infection, the virus lies dormant in your skin’s nerve cells and may remerge as another cold sore in the same location. A reoccurrence can be triggered by fever or viral infection, stress, exposure to sunlight, injury or hormonal changes.
Help for Viral Fever Blisters
Most outbreaks of cold sores, or fever blisters, can be treated at home with OTC topical medications. If your blister outbreak does not show signs of healing after two weeks, and particularly if you experience any eye irritation, you should contact Spectrum Dermatology of Atlanta for treatment. Dr. Emma Murad and Dr. Susan Spitzler, our board certified dermatologists, can provide the help you need to eliminate cold sores and prevent their outbreaks in the future.
Common treatments for viral fever blisters include antibiotics by mouth or topical creams and OTC cold sore remedies that speed the drying up of the sore. Some lifestyle modifications may be suggested to help prevent future outbreaks, such as reducing stress, avoiding close contact, applying medicine with a cotton swab to avoid physically touching the sore.
Contact Spectrum Dermatology of Atlanta by phone or online if you experience troubling outbreaks of cold sores that do not heal in a few weeks. We can provide advanced treatment and help you prevent further outbreaks.