Cold Sores: Almost the Entire Planet Has Them!

If you get a cold sore and feel embarrassed, rest assured you are in good company. It is an extremely common and contagious virus that spreads easily through kissing, saliva, or sharing items like glasses and towels. 
Globally, a staggering 3.7 billion people carry this virus. The statistics by region speak for themselves: it affects roughly 60% of people in Europe, 50% in North America, 40% in Latin America, and 25% in Asia.

The virus

It is caused by the Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 (HSV-1 or HHV-1). Spread through contact, it triggers redness, severe itching, and a burning sensation, followed by the outbreak of painful blisters on the lips. 

Once inside the body, the virus never leaves—it stays dormant, ready to flare up at any time.

Recurrences

The virus doesn't stay dormant forever; it reactivates whenever your body is weakened or under strain. The most common triggers are stress, fever (hence the nickname "fever blisters"), and intense sun exposure. 
Before blisters appear, your skin always gives clear warning signs in the exact same spot: you'll feel a tingling sensation (paresthesia), burning, and persistent itching. Shortly after, painful clustered blisters break out, which eventually turn into scabs.

More Than Just a Cosmetic Nuisance!

In most cases, a cold sore is just a temporary inconvenience that heals on its own within one or two weeks. However, if the virus spreads beyond the lips or affects individuals with severely compromised immune systems, it can cause devastating damage. It can infect the eyes (ocular herpes), travel to the brain causing life-threatening infections like meningitis or herpetic encephalitis, trigger long-term nerve pain, or be passed on to newborns (neonatal herpes), for whom it is extremely dangerous.

Research is Essential!

While there is still no cure for this virus, we have succeeded where others couldn't.

These breakthroughs led to the creation of Olio di Filippo—an all-natural dermocosmetic designed to soothe the discomfort of flare-ups.

Created for a child, it has become our most sought-after product.