June 7, 2011. Paul Hixon
Cold sores on lips may be at times mistaken for acne. However, each of these maladies is caused by something different.
Knowing the causes of cold sores on lips is important so that you understand how to treat them. The common cold sore is actually a manifestation of the Herpes Simplex virus and will remain in one’s body for the rest of his life. They typically occur on the lips, sometimes forming in large clusters, but they are occasionally found on surrounding skin such as the chin, cheeks or nostrils. Once a person has a cold sore, it will continue to come out of dormancy when his immune system is low or when he is exposed to too much sun. Treatment for a cold sore is as follows.
- Wash the area daily with warm soapy water.
- Apply over the counter creams such as Blistex or Abreva to the area.
- Other than these two instances, the cold sore should never be touched because it is highly contagious.
- Do not break the blister prematurely or pick at or pull off the scab since this can release many virus particles and may cause scarring.
- Keep the immune system strong by eating healthy foods, exercising regularly and getting sufficient sleep each night.
On the other hand, knowing how to get rid of acne is a completely different scenario. Acne is caused by pores that are clogged with excess sebum or with dead skin cells. Occasionally, bacteria may be trapped inside the pores causing whiteheads and large outbreaks. Compounds containing zinc seem to work quite well on these outbreaks. Also, there are a few home remedies that can be used. Honey mixed with lemon juice or baking soda mixed with lemon juice creates a wonderful acidic wash that produces a hostile environment for bacteria to grow.
Cold sores on lips as well as acne are both embarrassing to have. However, since they are a normal part of life, the best option is to find ways to allow them to heal as quickly as possible. Using these methods will greatly aid in this task.
Updated June 7, 2011. Published February 23, 2011. Paul Hixon
