Many people suffer from herpetic lesions, commonly known as “cold sores” or “fever blisters”. These sores are bothersome, painful, and often a source of self-consciousness. In the past, patients had to wait for the sores to resolve on their own, however with today’s advanced laser treatments, you no longer have to wait for relief as we can not only shorten the healing time, but also prevent the outbreak from even happening at all!
Cold sores are the result of the very common herpes simplex virus, usually contracted as a child, which lies dormant in the body for many years. There may be a trigger such as trauma, sunlight, dietary factors, stress, hormonal and immune system changes which can cause the virus to suddenly “wake up” and travel along the affected nerve to the surface of the skin. For those patients who regularly suffer from outbreaks of this virus, they often report a pre-outbreak or “prodromal” sensation that may include itching, numbness, or intense tingling at the site of the future sore. If not caught in time, a blister will appear which then breaks open leaving a discharge that can be contagious. The lesions typically appear on the lips, but can also show up anywhere on the face and inside the mouth. These sores are usually self limiting and last from 10 days to two weeks.
Herpes simplex virus is contagious and can be contracted through oral or any skin contact during an outbreak. It can even be passed along from mother to baby during pregnancy.
While there is no cure for the virus, there are ways to treat it. There are oral and topical medications to lessen the severity and duration of the outbreak, however laser treatment is the newest and fastest way to inactivate the virus and if caught in time, it can actually prevent the lesion from breaking out altogether! As soon as you feel that prodromal itching or tingling sensation starting to warn you of an oncoming outbreak, call us immediately for a laser treatment! If you already have a full blown blister, the laser will take away the discomfort usually by the end of the first visit and help it to dry up and heal much faster.
Laser treatment of cold sores is not as complex or scary as it might sound. The laser does not actually touch your skin, and the procedure is painless. By shining the laser light on the skin, the virus is inactivated and the lesion is either prevented or if already erupted, greatly diminished in symptoms. You will most likely feel a soothing warming sensation over the area and immediate relief of symptoms.
We use a precision laser to kill the virus located within the sore, avoiding unnecessary aggravation of healthy tissue and thus allowing your body to heal faster. It is even possible for us to stop the cold sore before it develops fully. If you get a tingly sensation in the lips and the sense that a cold sore is coming on, call us for an appointment. We can treat the area before the outbreak happens.
The Laser Treatment of Cold Sores:
