Main Causes of Cold Sores and F Fever Blisters

There are many different causes of cold sores and the list goes on. The biggest cause of cold sore outbreaks is often an over production of certain chemicals in the body. One of the more popular causes of cold sores occurring on lips would be sun exposure. This is primarily because when the skin is overexposed to sunlight, especially as is often the case during the summer months, it triggers a natural chemical reaction in the body's cells which causes them to develop a bluish color. While this may seem like a simple explanation to someone who has never had a cold sore before, there are other reasons why it happens.

Other causes include certain foods, medications, hormones, and illnesses. One of the more popular reasons is the fact that people who have allergies are particularly prone to developing cold sore outbreaks. When you are allergic to certain foods or even certain medications, your body releases chemicals that act as a defense mechanism. These chemicals may be in the form of antibodies, or they can be in the form of chemicals such as Vitamin C and E. While these are good for your health, they can actually cause you to produce more of a certain type of immune molecule known as immunoglobulin E (IgE), which blocks the painful swelling of your cold sore.

You may also find that some foods cause you to develop cold sores. For example, if you are a smoker, smoking can cause you to develop mouth inflammations that may eventually turn into cold sores. Also, when your body is exposed to certain foods over time, it can lower the pH level of your system, which in turn can lead to an increase in acid levels in your stomach. When acid levels rise, your body will produce more pro-biotic bacteria, thus causing more inflammation and pain. Some of these foods include milk, cheese and yogurt.

One of the main causes of cold sores that often go overlooked is sun exposure. Most people only think about the sun's rays when they are out in direct sunlight, but this is one of the most powerful causes. Not only does direct sunlight expose the skin to damaging UVA and UVB rays, but it also causes the skin to become dry and over exposed. Dry skin can lead to irritation and itching, while exposed skin will develop blisters and open sores. People who rarely get sun exposure are at the highest risk to developing this condition.

Not all types of sunlight exposure can lead to cold sores though. Even when you are indoors, your exposure can increase your risk for developing the herpes simplex virus. The herpes simplex virus is the virus that causes cold sores. When you are exposed to the sun, you run the risk of coming into contact with the sun's harmful ultraviolet rays. This virus is active on the skin when you are outdoors so even if you are inside, it can be in your skin.

If you have developed cold sores and been to see a doctor, the doctor may have recommended that you stay away from the sun and avoid all types of physical activity, including tanning beds and sunlamps. However, the virus is always active on the skin. Even when you are not exposed to the sun, your body is constantly making it more available by producing fever blisters. These fever blisters may feel similar to mosquito bites and can lead to painful outbreaks of these painful sores.