Cold Sore Relief: Prevention, Home Cures & Faster Healing

Stopping a cold sore from forming involves early intervention with vitamins, ice, or salt. Learn how to reduce fever blister swelling and manage symptoms safely while breastfeeding or dealing with flu-like symptoms.

Causes of Recurring Cold Sores

Published Aug,14 2017 | By Dr. Shavon Jackson-Michel, ND

Cold sores -- those painful, fluid-filled, blister-like lesions that appear on or surrounding the lips -- are caused by the contagious herpes simplex virus, or HSV. Two types of this virus, type 1 and type 2, can both cause cold sore-like lesions, but most cold sores are associated with type 1 infections.