Tips To Prevent Cold Sore!

Fatigue
Fatigue can weaken your body's immune system thus can increase your potential for a cold sore episode. Make sleep, rest and relaxation a part of your day, every day.

Stress
Stress can weaken your immune system, allowing the dormant cold sore virus to come to the surface. Become more conscious of your physical health during stressful times and try to get plenty of rest, eat the right foods and participate in relaxing activities.

Cold Weather
Exposure to extremely cold weather and wind can dry out your lips and the sensitive area around your mouth. This exposure can trigger a cold sore. In extreme cold weather cover and protect your face and mouth - both with moisturizers and a scarf. Apart from that use gentle extra-moisturizing cleansers and hydrating masks to keep your skin moist and drink lots of water to keep your body hydrated.

Sun Exposure
Sure they're called cold sores, but they're often triggered by the sun. Sunlight and ultraviolet (UV) rays can damage skin and trigger cold sores. Where possible apply sunscreen and lip moisturizer - with UV-A and UV-B protection (SPF 15 or higher) and take note of reflection of sunlight from water and snow.

Hormones
Hormonal changes due to menstruation can trigger cold sores. It may be that these hormonal changes can weaken your body's immune system. And while we can't control these changes, keep your body healthy by following a good eating habits and diet. Make sure your body is getting enough vitamins and minerals through your diet or supplements

Fever, Cold or Flu
A fever, a cold or the flu can weaken your body's immune system. Keep your immune system strong by eating healthy, taking vitamins and getting plenty of rest.

What Causes Cold Sores?

Cold sore can be triggered by trauma, fatigue, fever, cold/flu, hormones, sun exposure, cold weather or stress. A cold sore is the result of a compromised immune system. There is no real cure for a cold sore. All we can do is to make the best effort at making ourselves comfortable and reasonably well. Cold sores generally heal on their own without treatment within 8-10 days. But medications may slightly reduce the duration of cold sores and sometimes prevent a future outbreak.

For treatment of cold sores, the following medications may reduce the severity and duration of the outbreak.

• Topical creams or ointments, which are available with or without a prescription, can reduce pain, itching, and healing time.
• Oral antiviral medications, which are available by prescription, may be used when the first symptoms (such as burning or itching) develop. These medications have little effect once the sore develops.

No complementary medicines have been proved through scientific studies to be effective in the treatment or prevention of cold sores. But several complementary treatments are available if you wish to try an alternative way to ease your symptoms. Vitamin C, lysine supplements, and lemon balm are examples of complementary treatments that may provide some relief during a cold sore outbreak.

Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) is a perennial herb in the mint family. It grows to 70-150 cm tall and its leaves have a gentle lemon scent.

What Is a Cold Sore?

Cold sores are caused by a viral infection named herpes simplex virus that attacks the skin and nervous system. Cold sores are small, painful, fluid-filled blisters usually on the mouth and last a week or 2. Although they're called cold sores, you don't need to have a cold to get one. Some people call them fever blisters, but you don't have to have a fever to have one, either. There are two types of herpes simplex infection: herpes simplex virus one (called HSV-1 for short) and herpes simplex virus two (called HSV-2 for short). Although both can cause cold sores around a person's mouth, most are caused by HSV-1