<p>I am about to do a paper on cold sores and was surprised to find that it seems that the only cause to it is Herpes (type 1). I was even more surprised to learn that 80% of the American population has it (according to one site anyway).</p>
<p>80% is a BIG portion. But I guess I shouldn't be too surprised since cold sores (and therefore also herpes itself?) are contagious.</p>
<p>No one in my family has herpes/gets cold sores, but I am concerned for my sister. She's starting to see a guy who does have cold sores.</p>
<p>Anyone have any experiences in dealing with relationships involving cold sores? I know it sounds like a silly question, but if 80% of America has it, I'm pretty sure that that 80% of America isn't abstaining from kissing, etc. So how do you deal with someone who has a cold sore? Only kiss when they don't have one? (seems ridiculous)</p>
<p>Well Herpes, as a virus, never really "goes away." Sure, you might not see the cold sores, but you could still get the virus I'd be willing to wager. Best bet? Kill all who have herpes and/or cold sores.</p>
<p>one of my best friends has herpes, but it's because her parents have it too - herpes gets really negative press - suggesting that those with herpes are sleazy or sluty - when in fact anyone who get's cold sores genetically has herpes too</p>
<p>pretty sure, it's an STD isnt it? kinda funnny, i spent the summer doing research on the herpes simplex virus. my mom was soooo afraid i would get herpes by accident. lol</p>
<p>As i remember from AP Bio, herpes and cold sores, while caused by the same TYPE of virus, are not actually the same. Having cold sores doesn't mean you can have that thing morph into the STD version. And I seem to remember hearing that it is something you are pretty much born with, that it becomes a part of your DNA (don't remember what those things are called-- they meld themselves into your DNA and leave it at will). So yeah, that's all I know. Sorry I don't have a ton of details :S</p>
<p>ilovetocamp-- sarcasm, my dear. Of course I wouldn't want to kill all those infected. Like you said, that could be upwards of 80% of the population (a number that is probably grossly inflated considering your only source is a website). In all honesty, I could see how herpes/cold sores could effect social dating and/or kissing but I think when it comes down to it, when you find that one and only someone, herpes will be the least of your cares.</p>
<p>It's not like you'll get genital herpes from kissing someone with oral herpes. The only way that'll happen is by oral sex. Otherwise, you'll just get cold sores along with whomever you've been kissing, and they're really not a big deal.</p>
<p>there is a difference between genital herpes and cold sores. sure cold sores are caused by herpes but its is a different type of the the virus. cold sores are also labelled fever blisters. they unlike genital herpes have little effect(99.9999 no effect whatsoever) on a persons health. </p>
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HSV-1 by kissing a person with a cold sore or sharing a drinking glass or utensils, so it's easy to see why there are so many cold sores around.
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</p>
<p>personally i would feel weird kissing someone when something is on their lip. it would feel weird feelling the coldsore or any other abnormal lip things. i would just wait till it went away.</p>
<p>
[quote]
If you've had cold sores before, it can be hard to tell what might make them come back. For some kids, too much stress, too much time in the sun, or getting sick can cause cold sores to reappear.
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whenever its really cold and my lips are really chapped that's when i get a cold sore. since i have discovered carmex for chapped lips i have not gotten a cold sore cause my lips are now smooth and soft. yay carmex</p>
<p>but i personally would never associate cold sores with genital herpes. for me the only connection is that they are both caused by a similar virus but actually two different types of the virus. having a cold sore (herpes simplex virus one) is NOT an STD.</p>