What are the causes of coldsores?

Question:

Can you be born with them? Or do you have to come into contact with someone who gets them?

Answers:
Cold sores are caused by a virus called herpes simplex. (Herpes simplex viruses also cause genital herpes.) Most adults worldwide have been infected with this virus, usually when we were children and were kissed by someone with a tiny cold sore that they were not aware of. When a child first gets the infection, there may be no symptoms at all, or there may be a fever and a sore mouth that clears up after 2–3 weeks.

After the first infection, the virus often remains. We seem to have difficulty in getting rid of it completely. It travels away from the mouth using the nerves of the face as a pathway. When it reaches the clusters of cells at the end of the nerves (which are called ganglia), it stops. The herpes virus DNA then remains quietly in the ganglia. Fortunately, it does not damage the nerves or interfere with their function.

In some people (about 1 in 12), from time to time, the herpes virus travels back the way it came, along the nerve towards the mouth. This is called activation. But instead of going to the inside of the mouth, it takes a slightly different path and ends up in the skin of the lips or nearby. When it arrives in the skin, it causes a cold sore.

After the cold sore heals, the virus goes back up the nerve to the ganglion again, where it rests. But it can become activated again at any time, and travel down the nerves to the skin to cause another sore. The virus always travels up and down the same or nearby nerve pathways, which explains why cold sores always recur in roughly the same place.

I think you have to come in contact with someone who has the herpes virus. It's not uncommon, I think like 70% of the population gets them.

Herpes simplex virus HSV

Yes, you can acquire the virus during birth. The virus can stay dormant in your system until is activated, usually by stress/ low immunity.

The cause is usually Herpes simplex virus type 1. You usually get them from having contact with someone else who had one. Once you get the virus, you are prone to getting them without contact to someone else.

stress,unhealthy diet,low immune system an herpes virus.

I believe they are caused by a virus and once you have the virus you will always carry it in your body and at certain times the virus will become active and you will develop the cold-sore. I'm sure originally you had to come in contact with someone who had the virus for you to get it.

Cold sores are basically a painful infection caused by the Herpes Simplex Virus. You become infected with the herpes simplex virus by comming in contact with another person who has it.
Cold sores are very contagous when a flare up is present and can even be transmitted before any visable sign of a cold sore is present.
Children can sometimes spread them by rubbing their cold sores and then touching another person.
Usually they are transmitted by kissing or being intimate with a person who has one (yes they can be transmitted to the genitals by O.S.), sharing eating utensils, towels, razors, etc.
If you feel cold sore symptoms comming on, be very cautious if being intimate with someone.

Once a person is infected with the Herpes Simplex Virus the cold sore can reoccur. The causes for reoccurance are things like stress, fever, menstruation, cold, fatigue and sunlight.

If you feel one comming one, there are several home preventives you can try.
Several people swear by taking Lysine.
My husband actually swears by the "ice method". At first sign of a cold sore comming on (the tingling or burning or itching) apply ice and hold there for a long time, as long as you can, basically numbing the area. Do this every 10 minutes for about an hour. Many times this has prevented his from breaking out.

You get them from Herpes Simplex virus. You arn't born with it, but you can get it at an early age. I got it from my own Dad. You can get it from kissing, drinking/eating off same utensil.

Once you have the virus it can lay quiet until stressers cause an outbreak. Mine are acidy foods, too much sun, sick, finals. Anything that stresses the body.

What are the causes of coldsores?

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