Cold Sores 8 Critical Stages

Cold Sores 8 Critical Stages

Cold Sores: 8 Critical Stages that Reflect Severity

While these sores appear mild on some individuals, it seems more critical in others. The primary reason is that cold sore herpes, the virus responsible for the health condition, are usually at different stages in various affected individuals. From research, cold sore occurs in eight distinct stages. The various stages are classed into two major categories: Latent and Active. When the cold sore herpes is at the sleeping stage within the cells, it is at the first stage. The active category includes the remaining seven stages in which the virus moves around and develops. 

Once the virus becomes active, it can be transmitted to another person. Ideally, the average life-span of cold sore herpes is three to four weeks. This can change depending on the patient’s health and adopted treatment. Recognizing each cold sore stage helps determine the duration and the severity of a patient’s cold sore. If you would like to know what stage an existing cold sore is and possible solutions, this article is written for you.

Stage 1: Latent

Is he first one of the cold sores 8 critical stages. As suggested earlier, during the first stage, the cold sore is inactive as the herpes simplex virus hides in the nerve ganglia close to the jaw’s back. This is usually the area where a cold sore appears first. Considering that the human body’s defense can keep the virus in check, they often remain latent for weeks or years. However, a stressed body system may give cold sore herpes a chance to become active. Once the body defense gets busier with other stuff, the virus can escape and move to a surface that supports their reproduction – this marks the beginning of active cold sore stages.

Stage 2: Prodrome

Here is the first active stage of herpes virus for cold sore in the body. At this point, the virus will begin its reproductive cycle by traveling through the nerve fibers to a habitable surface. As the virus moves, you’ll start feeling tingles or itches around the cold sore area. In some cases, feelings may include dryness or burning sensation. The prodrome stage often lasts from a few hours to a few days.

Stage 3: Inflammation

At this stage, the sensation becomes more intense as the virus arrived at the surface. Upon reaching its designated location, it will enter the cells at the nerve’s end to start its reproductive cycle. Consequently, the surface will start swelling with redness. This happens because the cells are reacting to invading herpes cold sore virus.

Stage 4: Pre-sore

This stage is characterized by the appearance of cold sore vesicles, otherwise known as a group of small blisters. Patients will notice tiny, hard pimples on the surface or painful red bumps. This is not a full-blown cold sore but minor blisters.

Stage 5: Open sore

At this point, the cold sore is highly contagious and painful. The vesicles open and combine to develop into a sizeable drooping sore. Affected individuals may experience swollen lymph glands beneath the jaw and fever, depending on the cold sore’s severity. As the drooping fluid meets, they help develop new cold sore viruses. By touching the fluid and using the hand to touch another body part or person, you’ll be spreading herpes. Also, cold sore herpes is transmittable by sharing materials such as hand towels or faucets.

Stage 6: Crusting

Here is the stage where cold sores mature into a yellowish crust or scab, which is actually the beginning of the healing stage. However, you’ll still feel pains, especially when you stretch your lips while smiling and scabs fall off.

Stage 7: Healing

When the scabs start falling off, the healing is ongoing from inside towards outside. Patients experience continuous itching, lesser pain, and irritation as new skin forms beneath the crust. At this stage, the cold sore virus is heading back to the nerve ganglia to sleep until the next possible chance to become active.

Stage 8: Post-scab

This is the final stage of the cold sore condition, characterized by the disappearance of the cold sore scab. The skin gets healed, although the healing will continue inside as the damaged cells regenerate. As a result, a red spot may remain for about two to fourteen days, depending on a patient’s healing power. Until the red spot disappears completely, patients can still transmit the cold sore herpes to another host. For this reason, the post-scab stage is considered the most frustrating level.

Possible Solutions to Remedy the Situation

As a patient, you can get some over-the-counter medications to lessen the pain and improve your comfort. Some medicines come with anti-bacterial agents, which help prevent secondary infections. Bear in mind that the existing medications do not reduce the life-span of cold sore herpes; they only reduce the pain.

Presently, medical researchers and experts are working to find a cure for the herpes virus. So far, there is no definite treatment plan for the cold sore virus. The anti-virals prescription for herpes virus has been found to be largely ineffective, whether taken orally or topically. As for vaccines, it will take about three to four years to have a reliable result. However, don’t be surprised if we manage to pull off an excellent vaccine sooner than expected. 

Cold Sores 8 Critical Stages – What works?

In recent years, more medical experts agree that natural science is the way forward concerning cold sore herpes treatment. According to data reports, natural science delivers a 79% remedy effectiveness for cold sores. More importantly, it helps prevent cold sores from emerging. So, endeavor to check out the available natural remedies to shorten your cold sore herpes’s life span or prevent the painful condition.

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