Cold sores are those awful eruptions that are caused by the herpes virus. They always appear at just the least opportune moment, most often during times of stress or illness. Cold sores are also called fever blisters and they first make their impending appearance known by tingling and a hard area under the skin which is soon followed by an eruption of small blisters or fluid filled vesicles. There is no fast way to get rid of a cold sore and no way to cover it up until it heals. You are just stuck with it. However, it is possible hasten the process by applying various topical applications for treatment of cold sores, or by taking a prescription anti-viral medication.

Cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus and they usually appear on the lips but can erupt on the nostrils or fingers as well. Once exposure to the virus has occurred it may take up to twenty days for symptoms to appear. After the vesicles appear they will soon pop and the fluid will form a yellow crust which will slough off as the lesion heals. This process usually takes from seven to ten days during which you can’t really cover it up. Once the cold sore has healed the virus lies dormant in the nerve cells under the skin and then reoccur with exposure to the sun, illness, stress or menstruation. For people that get cold sores frequently, oral anti-viral medications are the best defense against repeated outbreaks. Drugs such as acyclovir are very effective in lessening the severity of the cold sore and speeding up healing time. This medication is taken as soon as cold sore symptoms appear and is continued through at the least five days. By this time the cold sore is almost gone and topical ointments can also be used to dry it up quicker.

If you are someone who gets cold sores frequently, there are a few steps you can take so that you don’t get them as frequently. Keep your hands clean and keep them off your face. If you feel a cold sore coming on don’t touch it, especially if the blisters have opened. This can spread the virus to other areas or to others by touch or by sharing eating utensils or kissing. The virus is most contagious while the cold sore is weeping and can remain so even after the area has healed. Be sure to wear sunscreen when outdoors, limit exposure to the sun and get plenty of rest to prevent an new outbreak. The herpes virus that causes cold sores can also cause genital herpes so oral sex is out of the question with an active lesion. If you need more information on cold sores and the herpes virus, visit the Mayo Clinic at www.mayoclinic.com.

Many women seem to have a difficult time choosing the right make up for themselves. I often see women that have foundations on that are too light or dark for their skin tone. Another mistake women make is with their lips. Many women are uncomfortable with lipstick so they either wear nothing or they put on lip gloss. For many women both options are a mistake.

Lip gloss is something that looks awful when not worn properly. Many women will purchase lip gloss that has a slight tint to it. When they apply it they often smear past the lip area due to the consistency of the gloss. This makes the lips look big and greasy. For the women that wear nothing on their lips the mouth seems to disappear off the face. Women will claim that they choose not to wear lipstick because it runs. This problem can be solved by the use of a liner pencil. The liner pencil should be as close to the shade of lipstick a possible. Simply outline the lips with the pencil and give it a short time to set, and then apply the lipstick. The liner will keep the lipstick color from bleeding off your lip area. It is important to reapply the lipstick color after eating or drinking because the lipstick will wear off faster than the liner.

If the liner and lipstick are not an option that you want to try use a lip gloss that is not tinted. A clear lip gloss will not appear as smeared as the tinted variety. The lips are very sensitive to the sun. This is another reason to wear some type of lip covering. Today most products have a built in sun screen, but it is important to check the label to insure that there is at least a fifteen level sun screen in the product you are using. For the times that you will be spending prolonged periods in the sun it is best to use a lip balm. Balms tend to stay on longer and penetrate deeper into the tissues of the skin. I will often wear a high sunscreen level lip balm under my lipstick if we are going to be boating or doing some other activity for a long period in the sun. By doing this I am assured that my lips will be protected even if my lip stick wears off. As with all sunscreen products it is important to reapply often for the best protection. Most lip gloss products do not include a sun screen. If you insist on having the shiny effect of lip gloss place it on over the balm.

Young teenage girls are the only ones that should wear lip gloss in my opinion. It is a nice option for them because it is lighter in color and it enhances their natural lip color.