It’s estimated that 85 per cent of the population suffers with cold sores with many of us recognising the signs that they are linked to stress or being run down. But how many people are aware of the potential life threatening risk to a baby? A cold sore in a toddler or child is treatable. The cold sore virus in a baby is potentially life threatening as their immune system is still developing.
Tim Verhaeghe, skin care expert for Herpatch Serum explains: “Cold sore blisters are caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV), and can be life threatening for babies because of their poor immunity.”
Typically lasting up to two weeks, cold sore lesions are notoriously difficult to treat and are highly contagious. Cold sore blisters are caused by the herpes simplex virus, which lies dormant in certain nerve cells until it is activated by stress, anxiety, a cold, or excessive exposure to the sun.
It is especially important for those with babies, young children or who work in hospitals, or the hospitality industry to keep any cold sore outbreak covered to reduce the risk of transferring the virus. Easily passed from person to person, all it takes is a simple kiss or close contact with a baby to transfer and the virus is more virulent when the skin is broken. The virus if not visible, can be hard to detect in babies but can cause drowsiness, floppiness, unusual crying, stress, fever and colds and as it hides in nerve cells, can periodically wake up and trigger cold sores.
Anyone who thinks that their baby has the symptoms of a cold sore, should call their doctor straightaway.
The best way to prevent a baby getting a cold sore is to stop contact with anyone who has an active sore, but there is another way to prevent the spread of the virus and speed up the healing process in the event of an outbreak with Herpatch Serum +. Activated on application, Herpatch Serum + is a clever white serum which forms a thin, transparent film over the cold sore lesion to protect and isolate the affected skin; simultaneously helping to prevent the spread of the virus and accelerate the healing process.
We have 15 packs of Herpatch Prevention and Herpatch Serum to be won.
To be in with a chance of winning, just answer this question:
What causes cold sores?
Please write Herpatch in the subject line of you email and include your full contact details.
This competition is now closed.
Winners will be the senders of the first 15 correct emails opened at random after 1pm on Monday 7 December, 2015. Only one entry per household. Multiple entries to this competition will be disqualified.
Herpatch Serum+ (£7.99) and Herpatch Prevent (£4.99) are available from Boots stores and online.