Useful Cold Sore Tips To Stop Cold Sores! | Lifestyle

Useful Cold Sore Tips To Stop Cold Sores!

by GrantDougan

Cold sores aren't just cosmetically ugly; they hurt too. As anyone who's ever had one can attest, they can be almost overwhelmingly painful. To help you conquer cold sores, we've gathered some cold sore tips to assist you in relieving the pain of a current cold sore outbreak, and to help you prevent new outbreaks down the road.

Before we begin, let's briefly explain what causes cold sores.

Cold sores, also called fever blisters, are caused by a common virus called the Herpes Simplex Virus I (HSV I). You should not confuse this with genital herpes, which is caused by a different form of the virus.

HSV I is a chronic virus that is easily passed from one person to another. It is so common that it is present in 80% of the population, and most people get HSV I before they turn seven years old. Once you have the virus, you'll have it for life. Most of the time it remains inactive, until something happens to trigger a cold sore outbreak.

When the herpes virus lies dormant, there are no signs or symptoms in a person who has the virus. That is, until the virus is somehow reactivated, resulting in painful and unsightly cold sore blisters around the lips and mouth.

Important Cold Sore Tips for Outbreak Prevention

So, how does the normally inactive HSV I virus become activated? There are a variety of triggers, including:

? Stress ? Poor immune system ? Sickness ? Pregnancy or menstruation ? Injury or irritation of the lips and mouth

Basically, whenever the body's defenses are compromised or the system is overloaded by stress, cold sores can be the result. The simplest way to avoid cold sores is to avoid the triggers that cause them.

Obviously, when it comes to cold sore outbreaks in pregnancy or during a woman's menstrual cycle, some of the hormonal triggers can't be avoided. In these cases, the best prevention is a proactive approach.

There are a range of supplements and over-the-counter products available for use in preventing cold sores. Also, a whole-foods diet designed to support the immune system is important, along with measures to prevent injury and severe drying of the lips. A good natural lip moisturizer can help soothe sore, chapped lips and reduce the incidence of cold sores.

Cold Sore Tips for Effective Treatment

As they say, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, but what happens if you need to soothe the symptoms of a current outbreak?

The cold sore tips below can help you calm the pain of your cold sores:

? Apply a medication directly to the sores to numb the pain. You may want to try one of the many "caine" medications, like lidocaine or benzocaine. Benzoyl alcohol or a phenol-containing preparation can also be effective.

? Use an antibiotic ointment to keep the sores from becoming infected.

? A good lip balm should be applied to avoid cracking and scabbing of the open sores.

? Consider taking zinc and lysine supplements. These compounds may allow for faster healing of cold sores. Zinc is also a known immune system support.

Taking care of yourself with a healthful diet and exercise plan, combined with immune-bolstering supplements is the best way to prevent painful cold sore outbreaks. Be sure to get enough restful sleep, and use stress management techniques to avoid succumbing to stress.

While the best course of action is a good prevention plan, if you do end up with a cold sore breakout, use these simple cold sore tips to help soothe your discomfort and end your breakout faster.

DISCLAIMER: This article is provided as information only and is not to be taken as financial advice.

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