Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Cold Sores and What Durham’s Bee Farm Can Do about It

Cold sores—also commonly known as fever blisters—are often confused with canker sores. But once you look closely at the two, cold sores differ greatly from their inner-mouth neighbors.

First, cold sores occur on or around the mouth and nose, unlike canker sores, which occur in the soft tissues inside the mouth.

The next main difference between cold sores and canker sores is that these fever blisters are contagious, while canker sores are not. Kissing or oral sex can cause the cold sore to easily spread to the other individual. Touching a cold sore on your person and touching another part of your body will often spread the cold sore, too.

More severely, however, when you touch a cold sore and touch your eye, you’re likely going to causing an eye infection or cornea ulceration.

What does a Fever Blister Look and Feel Like?

Cold sores are a form of herpes simplex, a viral infection that attacks the skin and nervous system. Herpes simplex activates the fever blisters that cause tingling on the lip at first.

A small hard spot forms, and within a day or two of initial onset, these hard spots turn into red blisters that burn, tingle or itch. These are small, irritating and often painful fluid-filled blisters. Several small fever blisters will merge to form larger ones or one fever blister will simply enlarge—either way, cold sores typically rupture and leak contagious fluid that crusts over.

Cold sores typically clear up in less than three weeks. Seldom does it cause scarring. They are quite a bit more common than canker sores, too. Perhaps that’s because after the first outbreak of a fever blister, the herpes simplex virus lays dormant under your skin or in your nerve tissue until it is activated again.

What Causes a Fever Blister?

It is unknown what this activation is, but scientists are beginning to suspect it has something to do with overexposure to sunlight, fever, physical or emotional stress, hormonal changes in women—such as pregnancy or menstruation—or certain foods and drugs.

Although herpes simplex sounds serious, it typically presents no serious health risk. In rare cases, it can infect the brain and nervous system and cause meningitis or encephalitis.

How Do You Treat Cold Sores?
There is no cure for herpes simplex, as most mild cold sores will clear up within a few weeks. But over-the-counter and prescription drugs and topical treatments can help reduce irritation.
But Durham’s Bee Farm customers prefer the quick action of Canker-Rid to stop cold sores. Made from a proprietary blend of our Honey Bee Propolis, this product is a home remedy for cold sores as well as canker sores.

Testimonials from around the country indicate how satisfied Canker-Rid customers are. Learn more about Canker-Rid and read customer testimonials here.