Cold sores can be contagious, but it is not like having an flu. You could get one and pass it on to another person, and while they might become more uncomfortable the next day, they will not turn into a full blown cold sore, and they will not leave you with large, painful blisters that stay on for days at a time. Most people who get cold sores, however, find that the sores do not go away after a day or two – rather, they increase in size, their pain becomes more intense, and their discomfort causes them to want to scratch the sores right off of their bodies! While this is definitely a contagious virus, the virus itself cannot cause cold sores to spread throughout the body – the sores must first develop on the skin.

The problem with trying to prevent cold sores from spreading is that this sort of treatment doesn’t address the issue of how to get rid of the virus once they’ve started to grow. To understand how to get rid of cold sores, you need to understand how the immune system works. An immune system that is out of sync will allow the body to become vulnerable to viral infections, including cold sores. The immune system is usually healthy and stable, but sometimes something enters the body and triggers it to function improperly.

For example, someone with a weak immune system might suffer from cold sores for years, but there would be no need for him or her to ever come into contact with the herpes simplex virus that causes the blister to form. Without touching or coming into contact with the blister, the virus wouldn’t have a chance to multiply and cause a breakout. If you have a healthy immune system, then you don’t have to worry about cold sores contagious. However, if you’ve been exposed to the herpes simplex virus, there are a number of things you can do to make the sore less contagious.

Prevention is always better than cure. If you are concerned that one of your friends or family members has cold sores contagious, it’s a good idea to make sure they keep their hands away from their mouth whenever possible. You can spread the virus through skin-to-skin contact, so you’ll want to avoid kissing someone who has a blister on their mouth. Don’t share hats, t-shirts or other items with anyone. Always wear gloves when at work or play, especially in hot weather.

When it comes to preventing cold sores from spreading, you also want to take preventative measures to stop the virus from replicating. There are various medications that you can take, such as steroids or interferon. These types of drugs can actually slow down the replication of the herpes simplex type 1 virus, making it harder for the virus to go around. The main drawback is that you have to take the drugs on a regular basis, which can be quite inconvenient. Fortunately, there are also natural methods you can use to prevent cold sores from spreading.

One thing you can do to make cold sores contagious is to limit your exposure to the sun. The sun stimulates the production of vitamin D. This can make you more susceptible to infection. Stay away from the beach and stay away from the pool when the sun is at its hottest. Wear sunglasses to shade your face and don’t go near the water during the summer. These simple tips can make a big difference in how often you get cold sores, so be sure to keep them in mind the next time you head out to the beach or to the pool.