Treatment- Can We Heal Cold Sores?
Cold sores normally begin as an irritating, burning and scratching “tingle” felt beneath the skin at the point of the eventual outbreak. 
After the blisters develop, cold sores usually break open, weep clear fluid and then crust over and disappear after 7 to 10 days. They generally clear up without treatment but you cannot heal cold sores. If symptoms are severe, you can try treating a cold sore with antiviral medications, which can alleviate the problem and dry up the blisters. Experts strongly advise against using any kind of topical cortisone-type cream on cold sores though, as this can suppress the local immunity and may worsen your outbreaks significantly. Also, if they aren’t taken care of properly, cold sores can cause bacterial skin infections. Massive cold sores can be a sign that another disease, pneumonia or HIV for example, has weakened the body’s defences.
Over time, periods of remission generally increase in length, and the duration of cold sores decrease, until the person rarely has active disease.
The 8 stages of a cold sore are:
Stage 1 - Prodrome
The area gets warm and painful; tingling is usually linked with this first stage.
Stage 2 - Macule
The area becomes red because of a type of allergic reaction that occurs in response to the virus.
Stage 3 - Papule
Small red lumps form which are often accompanied by a throbbing pain.
Stage 4 - Vesicle
Colorless, fluid-filled blisters start to develop.
Stage 5 - Postule
The clear liquid becomes a yellow color and pus starts to form.
Stage 6 - Crust
A yellowish crust forms on the affected area.
Stage 7 - Scab
The area becomes a reddish color, becomes dry and starts to itch.
Stage 8 - Healing
The pain disappears and the scab falls off.
Cold Sores
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