Common Skin Conditions -- Cold Sores

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Cold sores are painful lesions that can appear on and around the lips and the nostrils, as well as inside the mouth on the hard palate or gums. They typically last 7 to 10 days.

A type of herpes simplex virus causes cold sores. The virus is highly contagious and most people acquire it during adolescence. Once a person acquires the virus, he or she always has it. As a result, people with herpes simplex virus may experience an occasional recurrence of cold sores, often precipitated by stress, sun exposure, illness, or other factors.