Cold sores increase in summer: what it is, symptoms, how it is infected and cures

First days of vacation, sun and…. a cold sore.

How do you come into contact with the herpes virus?

“The first contact with the culprit of this infection, which in most cases is the herpes simplex virus 1 (Hsv1), occurs at a young age.. Young children are infected by adults who kiss them, unaware that they are about to have cold sores or recovering from a recent relapse,” explains Stefano Veraldi, professor of the Clinical Dermatology course at the University of Milan Bicocca.

“After primary infection, generally asymptomatic in children, the virus “retreats” to the nerve ganglia closest to the site of infection, where it remains latent.. Occasionally, it can reappear and give rise to relapses that manifest in the so-called “fever of the lips”, that is, cold sores,” adds Veraldi..

Is it contagious?

“The time frame in which the virus can be transmitted is short because, once the vesicles appear, the virus immediately returns to the nerve ganglia,” says Professor Veraldi, “contagion can only occur when the virus is replicating active, through direct contact with the serum of the vesicles on the skin or mucous membranes. In addition, it is only possible to infect individuals who have not yet had contact with the virus, generally children, especially the youngest, between 3 months and 3 years of age'.

What favors relapses

“A small deficit in the immune defenses is enough for the virus to reactivate. It can occur in moments of stress, for example after a trip, a flu, and at this time especially after excessive exposure to sunlight”, says the professor.

How it manifests itself: symptoms

“Almost everyone has been in contact with the herpes simplex virus 1, but only a few people get cold sores, which appear mostly on or around the lips,” explains Veraldi..

“The first warning sign is a sensation of tingling and discomfort in the lips. In general, if they are not touched and inadequate creams are not applied, in a few days these two lesions tend to dry out with the formation of scabs.. When they fall off, the skin goes back to the way it was before, without marks or scars,” he adds..

“As for children, although the primary infection does not usually give striking symptoms, sometimes a herpetic stomatitis can appear, with small ulcers, especially on the gums, which can be accompanied by fever, swollen gums, irritability, increased lymph node size and loss of appetite,” he says.

cold sore treatment

“Cold sores usually heal on their own a week after the appearance of the blisters,” explains the expert.

“To speed up healing, products that help dry out the lesions are sometimes used, such as astringent gels or antiviral creams, which are only useful if they are used at the first symptoms.. Healing times can be prolonged if inappropriate creams or home remedies are used, making the situation worse. People who often have recurrences are sometimes offered preventive treatment with antivirals. A rare complication is bacterial superinfection of the blisters, which requires specific antibiotic treatment,” he concludes.