There are people who suffer from cold sores outbreak several times a
year and if this is happening to you, it is important to know how to
break the cycle and stop cold sores outbreaks
once and for all. Cold sores also known as fever blisters are caused by
herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), a very contagious virus. Before
the actual appearance of sores, the infected person will experience
tingling and burning sensation on the effected area. Herpes simplex
virus can live in one’s body for years and remain dormant until it
flares up again as mouth sores when something triggers it. Common
triggers of outbreaks are stress, sun exposure, windy weather, hormonal
change like menstruation and illnesses like fever and flu. The following
tips can be very helpful if you want to stop cold sores outbreaks.
Anti-viral medicines. At the first sign of cold sores, application of
antiviral medicines can be very helpful. There are over-the counter
medicines and doctor-prescribed medicines. While you can access
over-the-counter medicines anytime, it is still best to seek
professional help and follow the advice of your doctor regarding
medications if you really want to stop cold sores outbreaks.
Your doctor can give recommendations for the best anti-viral medicines
that will work for you especially if you have cold sores that don’t go
away for more than two weeks.
Self-care. Repeated cold sores outbreak can be prevented if you know
the proper cold sore self-care. Apply ice on the affected area or sucked
on ice or frozen popsicle. To avoid irritating the sores, stay away
from spicy, sour and acidic foods. It is important to keep your hands
clean and do not touch the infected area because the virus could spread
in other parts of the body like the eyes if you have the habit of
touching your face and eye area. Too much exposure under that sun can
aggravate your condition, so protect yourself when outdoors by wearing a
hat and use sunscreen on your lips with at least SPF15. The use of lip
balm can be very helpful especially on windy weather.
Manage stress. To stop cold sores outbreaks, you need to avoid its triggers. One common trigger is stress and if you want to stop cold sores outbreaks,
learn to cope with stress. Stress can be harmful to one’s health and
when a person is under severe stress; his or her health may suffer.
Fever blister outbreaks are more likely to occur when a person is under
stress and if this is happening to you, it is a sign that stress is
affecting your health. Learn healthy ways to cope with stress like
engaging in relaxation techniques (yoga, meditation, etc.), get enough
sleep and exercise regularly. One healthy way of dealing with stress is
sharing your feelings and do not let your negative emotions bottled up
inside you., Do not be hard on yourself, learn to accept things you
cannot change and set realistic goals. Minimize your exposure to
distressful things and surround yourself with people with positive
attitude. You will be healthier if you know how to properly manage
stress.
It can be really hard to stop cold sores outbreaks if you do
not know how. If the above mentioned tips are not enough, natural
remedies are options that can be explored. To know more visit Cold Sore Free Forever
