“I protect others from the cold sore virus by protecting myself.”
You probably already know that HSV-1 is as easy to spread as it is tough to fight.
So it goes without saying: keep the virus to yourself.
Because it’s contagious,it can be spread through skin-to-skin contact. If the cold sore gets passed to you
from someone with the virus, it sneaks into your body through a mucous membrane
in your mouth or damaged skin. Then it remains dormant in a nerve in your cheek
until a cold sore trigger awakens it.
As you’re reaching for your Abreva®, you should also be following these safeguards:
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- No Kissing
- Cold sores are spread by getting up-close and personal. At any stage of an outbreak,
when you kiss your loved ones, especially on the mouth, you’re very likely to pass
on the virus. And remember, though not as common, cold sores can spread to other
parts of the body, too.
- No Sharing Food and Utensils
- Even though you’re not directly making skin-to-skin contact when you share food
and utensils, it is still not a good idea to share anything you put your mouth on.
That goes for straws, cups and glasses.
- Do Not Touch!
- If you find yourself touching your cold sore: stop! But if you just can’t, remember
to wash your hands right away. Your cold sore is contagious throughout its entire
cycle and super-contagious during the blister stage. When it’s weeping or seeping,
stand clear!
And follow these tips:
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- Recognize the Signs of an Outbreak
- Don’t be fooled by a sneaky cold sore that’s contagious even before you even see
it. When you feel that tingling, itching, or burning on or around your lips, it’s
go time. Take the same precautions you would as if there was actually a visible
cold sore.
- Avoid Your Triggers
- Try to limit cold sore flare-ups by knowing your triggers. Then take action to avoid
them. Fewer outbreaks mean a lower risk of infecting others, simple as that.
- Protect Young Kids
- Kids get cold sores, too. Because the HSV-1 virus is often first contracted during
childhood, take the same precautions with children as you do with other adults.
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