When you see blisters forming on or around your lips, and they’re filled with a clear or yellowish fluid, it means that you’ve contracted one of the most contagious sexually transmitted diseases.

It also means that you can easily spread the virus, and your loved ones are in danger of getting infected too. Cold sores, considered the most recognizable symptom of oral herpes, are actually caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). Learn more about cold sores here.

Stages of a Cold Sore Outbreak

Not everyone who has oral herpes actually goes through cold sore outbreaks. In fact, there are a lot of people who are HSV-positive who rarely experience cold sore flareups. However, if you’re one of those who frequently have cold sore outbreaks, you might already be familiar with the different stages of an outbreak.

Your first-ever cold sore outbreak may last for several days up to two weeks. Over time, however, your cold sore outbreaks may become shorter in duration. The period in between outbreaks may also become longer as the frequency of your recurring outbreaks gets reduced.

• Tingling Stage

When you get infected with herpes, chances are high that you will experience your first ever cold sore outbreak within a week or two after exposure to the virus. You’ll first experience an itching or tingling feeling near your mouth.

The tingling stage is actually the first phase of a cold sore outbreak. This phase usually lasts for a day or two, and it can cause you a lot of discomforts. However, if you take antiviral medications during the tingling stage, you can reduce the amount of time your cold sores heal.

• Blistering Stage

This is the second phase of a cold sore outbreak. At this time, you’ll notice a sore or a cluster of sores forming in the area where you felt the tingling sensation. At first, the blisters will appear reddish, and then they will begin to be filled with a clear fluid.

• Ulcer Stage

This is the time when the herpes blisters break open and the fluid inside the blisters seeps out. You will most likely experience some itchiness and pain at this stage. After the fluid inside the blisters oozes out, the blisters will look like shallow ulcers.

• Scabbing Stage

The herpes blisters will begin to dry out. After that, a brownish crust will form over the blisters. They may continue to feel itchy.

• Healing Stage

At this time, the scab will flake away as your blisters heal. Cold sores usually don’t leave scars when they are already completely healed.

When are Cold Sores Most Contagious?

The tingling sensation that you feel at the onset of a cold sore outbreak is a signal that the herpes virus is already active. At this point in time, you can already consider yourself contagious. As soon as you feel that itching sensation, you should already refrain from kissing other people because you may end up spreading the disease by doing so.

When you’re going through a cold sore flareup, the risks of transmitting the virus are the highest during the ulcer stage. The fluid that was inside your herpes sores actually contains the virus. So if anyone comes into direct skin contact with your cold sores at this time, that person will most likely become infected with the herpes virus.

If you’re wondering when it would be safe to engage in intimacy again, it would be best to wait for your cold sores to heal completely. Once the cold sores are gone and your skin looks normal again, the likelihood of spreading the virus becomes significantly lower.

This doesn’t mean, however, that you’re no longer spreading the virus. The herpes simplex virus is still inside your body, hiding in your nerve cells. Although the virus is dormant at this point, it’s still possible for you to transmit the virus through your saliva.

In addition, you can also transmit the virus through asymptomatic viral shedding. This means that your body is releasing the virus into the environment, despite the fact that you don’t have any visible herpes blisters.

How to Avoid Transmitting the Virus

Here are several things you should keep in mind whenever you have cold sores.

Avoid close contact with other people

Since the herpes virus is transmitted through skin-to-skin contact, any intimate or close contact with other people can spread the virus. Hence, you should abstain from giving oral sex or kissing your partner whenever you have an outbreak of cold sores.

Wash your hands frequently

Good hygiene is one way to prevent the herpes virus from spreading. Cold sores can be very itchy and painful, and you may inadvertently touch your cold sores from time to time. Hence, you should wash your hands often, especially after applying medication on your cold sores.

Avoid sharing your food or drinks

Since the herpes virus may be present in your saliva, you shouldn’t share your drinks, food, or eating utensils with other people.

Avoid contact with newborns and people whose immune system is weakened

The immune system of newborn babies is not yet fully developed, so they’re vulnerable to all sorts of diseases and infections. Those suffering from cancer and HIV are also susceptible to herpes infections.

When Can You Have Sex Again?

You can actually engage in sexual activities even when you’re going through a cold sore flareup. If you need help with your performance, you can just take Male UltraCore for sexual performance enhancement. However, if you do have sex, you will need to be extra careful so as to avoid passing the virus on to your partner.

For instance, you shouldn’t kiss your partner or touch your lips to your partner’s skin. You should also refrain from giving your partner oral sex since this can cause your partner to contract genital herpes.

If you really feel like having sex when you’re suffering from a cold sore outbreak, try to use protective barriers. You can use a condom, and both you and your partner can wear masks to cover your mouth. Although these will not completely prevent the transmission of the virus, they would at least help lower the risks of transmission.

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