Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

There exist cremes that prevent breakouts if you use them during the tingle stage. One can be contagious without blister outbreaks, so I suspect you should medicate.

Information from dentest.net:

Quote:

Q: How common are cold sores, fever blisters?

By adulthood, over 90% of people in the United States are exposed to one or more of the viruses in the family that includes the cold sore virus. Scientists do not know why, but not everyone who is exposed to the virus develops recurring cold sores. About 40% of people exposed to the cold sore virus experience one or more lesions per year.

Some people may get a cold sore 4 or more times per year. Some will get only one or two per year. Still others may have them only once in their lifetime. Many people are infected and don't even know it. They are a significant reason there is a burgeoning epidemic of HSV infection around the world, as these people unknowingly spread the disease to uninfected people.

Q: What is a Cold Sore, Fever Blister?

Many people are not aware that Fever Blisters and Cold Sores both refer to the same thing, an infection on the lips caused by the human herpes simplex virus, usually type 1 (HSV-1). The medical term is known as oral herpes. A cold sore typically begins as an itch, tingle, or tenderness to the touch (prodrome), and progresses on to become a skin eruption. As the disease progresses, small fluid filled vesicles may form and join together.

These eventually break due to disease progression and form ulcers. The ulcers may weep fluid when they are open. They are very contagious at this time. The ulcers then scab over and heal spontaneously without complications in 7-14 days.

Cold sores / fever blisters usually occur on or very near the lips. Some people may get more than one cold sore at a time. Some people may get them under the nose and in surrounding areas. Oral herpes can also occur inside the mouth occurring on the roof of the mouth and the gum adjacent to the teeth only (non movable tissue only) This need to be distinguished from canker sores which occurs only on the movable tissues of the mouth.

Less frequently other parts of the body (arm, finger, leg, eye) can become infected, as well. Cold sores can be very embarrassing for some people. Fear of embarrassment can lead some to compromise their work or school responsibilities.

[...]

Q: What can be done to prevent Cold Sores from spreading?

The cold sore virus (HSV-1) is very sensitive to soap and warm water. If you have a lesion, the best way to help prevent spread of the virus is frequent hand washing with soap and warm water. To prevent infecting others, kissing and intimate contact should be avoided while any symptoms of an active cold sore lesion are present. Take care to avoid touching the sores and spreading the virus to new sites (auto-inoculation) or socially touching others. Another important way to help prevent the spread of cold sores is to treat the cold sore with a cold sore medicine in order to shorten the time that it is contagious. Some literature recommends when fever blisters erupt, each cluster of blisters should be popped, dried and be kept clean to prevent bacterial infections. A soft, bland diet is recommended to avoid irritation and allow the ulcers to heal.

[...]

Q: What can be done to prevent Cold Sores from spreading?

The cold sore virus (HSV-1) is very sensitive to soap and warm water. If you have a lesion, the best way to help prevent spread of the virus is frequent hand washing with soap and warm water. To prevent infecting others, kissing and intimate contact should be avoided while any symptoms of an active cold sore lesion are present. Take care to avoid touching the sores and spreading the virus to new sites (auto-inoculation) or socially touching others. Another important way to help prevent the spread of cold sores is to treat the cold sore with a cold sore medicine in order to shorten the time that it is contagious. Some literature recommends when fever blisters erupt, each cluster of blisters should be popped, dried and be kept clean to prevent bacterial infections. A soft, bland diet is recommended to avoid irritation and allow the ulcers to heal.

[...]

http://www.dentist.net/oral-herpes.asp
http://www.dentist.net/fever-blister.asp