Coldsores

themark2

I kissed this girl on the cheek a couple of times last night only to find out she had some coldsores. So now I'm worried I'll end up with some. Wht are the chances I will? she didn't kiss me, but like I said I kissed her a few times. Not on the mouth though, just around the face.

tech_hunter

Great now you got cancer! No just kidding most coldsores are caused by a strain of herpies. Here is what the mayo clinic has to say about it

Cold sores — also called fever blisters — are quite different from canker sores, a condition people sometimes associate them with. Cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus, and they're contagious. Canker sores, which aren't contagious, are ulcers that occur in the soft tissues inside your mouth, places where cold sores don't occur.

Cold sores are common. Though you can't cure or prevent cold sores, you can take steps to reduce their frequency and to limit the duration of an occurrence.

Signs and symptoms may not start for as long as 20 days after exposure to the herpes simplex virus, and usually last seven to 10 days. The blisters form, break and ooze. Then a yellow crust forms and finally sloughs off to uncover pinkish skin that heals without a scar.

Certain strains of the herpes virus cause cold sores. Herpes simplex virus type 1 usually causes cold sores. Herpes simplex virus type 2 is usually responsible for genital herpes. However, either type of the virus can cause sores in the facial area or on the genitals. You get cold sores from another person who has an active lesion. Shared eating utensils, razors and towels may spread this infection.

Once you've had an episode of cold sores, the virus lies dormant in the nerve cells in your skin and may emerge again as an active infection at or near the original site. You may experience an itch or heightened sensitivity at the site preceding each attack. Fever, menstruation, stress and exposure to the sun may trigger a recurrence.

Cold sores generally clear up on their own without treatment. However, see your doctor if:

You have a pre-existing health condition that has compromised your immune system
The cold sores don't heal within one to two weeks on their own
Symptoms are severe
You have frequent recurrences of cold sores
You experience irritation in your eyes

So if you avoided comming in contact with the sores themselves you should be ok. If not just hope she had simplex 1

themark2

Cool, thanks. Yeah I didn't come into contact with the sores so should be ok then.

So I assume you can't catch them from someone when they don't actually have any visible even if they've got the virus? or are they always infectious even when they don't have any?

Tinuz

If you have them, it's not as bad as it sounds (but avoid it if you can ;-) ). I have type 1, but it only breaks out very rarely (last time was almost a year ago, counting prevented break out) and lasts very short if you are careful (don't pick it and try to prevent the scab from tearing by not stretching your lips), usually 1 week. After the first time, you can feel it coming half a day in advance, if so use some kind of cream (like 'zovirax' (dutch/European brand)) to stop it from breaking out.

If you are unfortunate enough to have contracted it, just consider it an extra motivation to live healthy.

EDIT: the coldsores are only infectious when they are visible and oozing.

tech_hunter

Cold sores yes you are only infectious when there are visible sores, however if you have Herpies Simplex 2 you can be infectious even without symptoms.