What are cold sores and fever blisters?
Both “cold sore” and “fever blister” refer to the lip blisters caused by infections of the Herpes Simplex I virus (not to be confused with Herpes Simplex II, which is generally associated with genital herpes). Cold Sores are viral infections which cause recurrent groups of irritating, even painful blisters on the lips. The Herpes Simplex I virus affects more than half of the adult population, and over 50 million people in the US experience at least one cold sore outbreak per year. It is second only to the common cold in frequency. Once a person contracts the virus, it may exist in a latent or dormant state throughout his or her lifetime. After a cold sore first appears, it has a tendency to recur frequently in the same spot. A cold sore sufferer usually feels a sensation of heat, tingling, irritation or itching about 24 hours before a blister appears. The fluid-filled blister frequently breaks in the first few days, while total healing usually takes 4-10 days. Cold sores are contagious
