Coldsores, also called fever blisters and oral herpes, are a global epidemic - or pandemic.

Coldsores are the visible symptom of an active herpes virus infestation. More specifically, coldsores are the result of the reproduction process of the herpes virus.

The World Health Organization estimates 85% to 91% of the world population currently carries the herpes simplex virus type 1 or 2 (HSV-1 and HSV-2). For all practical purposes, that means just about everybody is infected with the coldsores virus. Recorded history shows that this has been true since about 500 years prior to the Roman Empire.

HSV-1 is responsible for about 80% of reoccurring coldsores. The other 20% of coldsores are caused by HSV-2.

Of those infected with the herpes virus, 76% will have one or several coldsores within the next 12 months. The other 24% often go a lifetime without experiencing any symptom of coldsores.

The herpes virus most of the time is latent, or in hibernation, in the nerve ganglia nearest to the site of your coldsores. In the case of facial coldsores, this would be in an area behind the jawbone, near the brain stem.

When the coldsores virus becomes active, they travel up the nerve fibers to the surface where they replicate and create those painful coldsores right on the end of the nerves.

Coldsores normally occur on the face, appearing on the edge of the lip, called the vermilion border. The nostril is also a common site for coldsores.

What most people don't know, however, is coldsores can appear anywhere from the waist up. For example: fingertip coldsores do occur. They're often a much more painful event because of the constant use of the fingers in our daily routine.

Coldsores are extremely contagious. The coldsores virus spreads externally, not internally. Kissing is the primary way coldsores are transmitted to others - especially from adults to children. Most people are infected before they're a dozen years old.

The lips, mouth and nose are not protected by skin and are an easy target. Coldsores can also spread to anywhere on the body where the virus can find an opening - like a cut on the finger.

Although coldsores are not life threatening, coldsores can cause a lot of grief and damage if spread to the eyes with contaminated fingers. This can cause loss of sight. Also, with oral sex, the coldsores can be spread to the vagina or penis, creating the dreaded genital herpes.

Coldsores are contagious from the first itching stage to the disappearance of the final red spot. They are most contagious during the open weeping and crust stages. The crust cracks frequently when you move your mouth, as in smiling.

The fluid from these coldsores is absolutely teaming with the coldsores virus.

Extreme caution must be taken with active coldsores. Coldsores itch and hurt a lot, so we tend to touch them frequently. Then the virus sheds to our fingers - and is easily transmitted to another location or person.

Self-control is imperative. Each time you touch your coldsores, you must wash your hands.

Keep little bottles of hand sterilizing soap or baby-wipes on hand. Baby-wipes have a sterilizing ingredient and are particularly handy and useful. You can dab the coldsores with them instead of your fingers. This also speeds healing of coldsores.

Coldsores are brought on primarily by physical stress. Keep in mind even mental stress will manifest itself physically. Colds (thus the term coldsores), fever (thus the term fever blisters), pregnancy, injury, and nearly any physical trauma can easily bring the virus out of hibernation and cause coldsores.

Fact is, upcoming weddings, according to the mail I get, are one of the biggest causes of coldsores.

There are a huge variety of treatments for coldsores. These include over-the-counter medications, prescription anti-viral pills and salves, and many natural remedies.

You'll find over-the-counter products are mainly comfort medications. None of them have ever proven to shorten your coldsores. One exception to this - some have antibacterial agents. This prevents secondary bacterial infections. If you do get a bacterial infection, and this is common, it will greatly lengthen the healing times and discomfort of your coldsores.

Much of the benefit of over-the-counters is a numbing agent to reduce pain. Some contain oils that help keep the scab softer so it doesn't crack.

Prescription medications for coldsores, up to this point, have been dismal failures. There are several brand names but the generic name for the active ingredient is acyclovir. The antiviral salve will take, maybe, one or two days off your 3-week coldsores. The antiviral pills helped reduce the number of coldsores for only 47% of the people tested. This was a very short study so it wasn't very accurate.

Please note this medication is not to be taken if you're pregnant or going to be pregnant soon. Also, there is some concern for liver damage.

Your best option, in fact your ONLY option for coldsores right now, is the variety of known natural remedies for coldsores. In real life studies, natural remedies have shortened the duration of coldsores by as much as 85%. Among these are honey, DMSO, tea tree oil, zinc, lysine, aloe vera, certain herbs and a few others in certain forms and combinations.

Coldsores can literally be a real pain. But you can easily, like many thousands of others have, discover the right combination of remedies for yourself and enjoy a lifetime of freedom from coldsores.