Put a Stop to Cold Sores Infection

Cold sores also known as fever blisters are very common infections that people of all ages can get. These infections are caused by Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 or HSV-1 and some even do not know that they are infected by the virus until symptoms come out. The infection has the tendency to return over and over again and it is important to know the best ways to stop this cycle and put a stop to cold sores infection.

Fever blisters usually start with the feeling of itching or burning before small red bumps or blisters appears. After a few days, the blisters will dry up forming yellowish crust. When the crust falls off, the redness goes away but in most cases the virus is still there hiding in the nerve endings and remains dormant for a long time until triggered to flare-up again. Fever blisters usually appear outside the mouth, on the lips, cheeks, chin and nostrils but there are cases that the sores do appear on the roof of the mouth and on the gums.  Cold sores are contagious and people may avoid you if they learned you are infected by the virus. The infection can spread from one person to another through contact with the blister or through saliva. To free yourself from recurring cold sores, it is important to know how to break the cycle and totally put a stop to cold sores infection. The following tips can be very helpful to get rid of cold sores.

Seek medical attention. Although cold sores can go away on its own, it is best to see your doctor for proper diagnosis and treatment especially when your fever blisters are more than two weeks and you have blisters around the eye area. Herpes virus can infect the eyes and can lead to blindness if corneal scarring occurs. Medications are usually most effective on the early stage of the infection so if you want to put a stop to cold sores infection and put an end to your sufferings it is best to see your doctor at first sign of infection

 Manage your stress. Emotional, mental and physical stress may trigger cold sores flare-up and to put a stop to cold sores infection, you need to learn to manage your stress. In our everyday life, stress is inevitable and if you will allow it to take its toll on you, your health will greatly suffer. Some people experience cold sores outbreak many times in a year because they have a very stressful life. Stress though inevitable can be managed to avoid it from controlling your life and your health. You cannot totally eliminate stress but you have the power to control your response to stress. Give yourself time to relax and recuperate if your life is getting stressful. If situations at work are giving you stress, ask help, delegate, do not accept work that are impossible to accomplish on a given date or walk away for a while and give yourself time to breath and relax. If things at home are giving you stress, talk to you spouse, compromise and look for better solutions to make your home life less stressful. Make it a habit to engage in activities that could help you relieve stress like yoga, meditation and scheduled vacation.

Eat the right foods. The foods that you eat affect the healing and recurrence of cold sores. Cold drinks or frozen treats like Popsicle, ice water and milkshakes can be very helpful to decrease swelling and speed-up healing. However, acidic or citrus juices and drinks must be avoided as they worsen the symptoms of fever blisters. Lysine which can be found in most vegetables, fruits, legumes, fish, chicken and eggs can fight the virus causing cold sores. Foods rich in arginine however, encourage the propagation of herpes simplex virus so cut down your intake of foods rich in arginine like beer, grapes, chocolates, oats, wheat, pork, cheese, onion, garlic, beans, peas and nuts which is the worst offender. Stay away from salty and spicy foods to avoid irritating the infected area. With the right foods, you can put a stop to cold sores infection.

Home care.  Although cold sores usually go away on its own without treatment, it is still best to know how to deal with fever blisters at home to avoid aggravating your condition and to prevent spreading the virus. Wash the infected area with water and antiseptic soap and keep it clean and dry to avoid bacterial infections. Avoid irritating the infected area to speed-up healing. Do not squeeze the blisters. Application of ice on the infected area can help lessen the pain.

Cold sores are very common and they often occur during crucial times like before a wedding or other special occasions. It can be really frustrating to suffer from unsightly cold sores when you need to look your best. Fortunately you can get rid of cold sores naturally, to know how visit  Cold Sore Free Forever