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Indeed there are six cold sore stages, however most books and guides discuss the five cold sore stages only. Never demonstrating signs or symptoms including any pain, stage 6 is in reality the first one.

At this point in time a cold sore is present however not visible, and is consequently in the latent stage. The herpes virus that results in cold sores is inactive at this point and concealed in the nerve ganglia. A third of those who contract the virus show no signs of it progressing to another stage. A latent cold sore’s ability to stay dormant for so long makes it necessary to conduct a blood test to see if some individuals have it. If you are in this stage of cold sore development, you need not do anything about it, not even take any drugs, for the virus remains latent.

The first obvious stage of cold sores is known as Prodome. The dormant virus wakes up and moves to the exterior of your face by way of the nerve endings. This happens in the start stage of a cold sore. If you have the active virus, the first symptom you may experience is a tingling or burning feeling that is often combined with a nagging itching and dryness. This will last for up to two days before it moves on to stage two.

After the first stage of cold sores comes the second which is called inflammation or a “pre-sore.” This takes place when the virus gets into the cells of the nerves and leads to redness and discomfort. Small painful groups of blisters resembling pimples will form on the skin and this is typically the first sign. Another common clue at this point is the onset of both headaches and fevers.

Things have progressed into the third stage when you have developed an open sore or ulcer within your cold sore as the small pimples will begin to burst. The pain can in fact be so bad during this phase that people take to their beds. This is also the most contagious stage of a cold sore, since the sore is discharging the virus. It can infect any other part of your body that is touched or it will infect anybody that comes in touch with it.

Formation of the scab happens in the 4th stage of cold sore development. This stage has a significant amount of discomfort, particularly with movement, as the scab starts to crack. When the pus is seeping from the sore it is still in a very transmittable stage. The scab may fall off 3 or 4 times at this point. Next you’ll almost certainly feel discomfort from the new skin developing under the scab and this can become quite itchy.

The cold sore is near healing when the scab falls off and new skin is exposed. The healing process is almost complete now, as the new skin will form and strengthen; however further healing is still going on beneath the exterior with new cells that have been damaged being replaced. Thankfully the patient will not need to actually feel this process, and the soreness of the new skin should go away within two weeks.

There are a number of really effective ways to help cure cold sores, right in your own home. From salt to resveratrol for cold sore relief, there’s something that should work for you. Learn more at Home Remedies for Cold Sores.