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3 Tips for Preventing a Cold Sore Outbreak

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Despite the name, cold sores are not caused by catching a cold or being outside when it's freezing. It's caused by the herpes simplex-1 virus. Unfortunately, there is no cure for this condition, but you can prevent cold sore outbreaks by understanding what causes them and making the relevant changes in your life. Here are three tips for stop a cold sore from ruining your day.

Avoid Trigger Foods

Most people know that certain foods can aggravate a cold sore when the lesion makes its presence known, but some foods can also trigger these bumps into appearing in the first place. Specifically, foods that are high in the amino acid arginine can actually activate the virus and result in a sore popping up when you least expect or want it.

Avoiding arginine can be tough, because it's found in many foods, including turkey, pork, chicken, soybeans, pumpkin seeds, peanuts, cheese, and lentils. Thus, you may have to experiment with your diet to determine how much arginine is too much for you. It's also a good idea to speak to a healthcare provider to get an idea of the recommended daily amount of arginine you need and stick to the doctor's orders.

Use Sunscreen

Excess sunlight can also trigger a cold sore outbreak. This is because too much sun weakens your immune system, making it less effective at keeping the virus in check. Additionally, the ultraviolet radiation in the sun's ray damage the skin, making it more susceptible to infection.

Where lip balm or lipstick that contains SPF 30 sunblock whenever you go outside. Since SPF does wear off over time, you should also wear a hat that will cover a good portion of your face to provide direct cover from the sun's harmful effects.

Avoid Aggressive Facials

Laser hair removal, facial peels, and microdermabrasion can make your face look and feel great. Unfortunately, these cosmetic procedures can also damage the skin and cause a cold sore outbreak. There are many other and gentler ways you can achieve the same effect without using these methods, though it may take a little more time.

If you are dead set on having one of these procedures done for a special occasion, talk to the dermatologist about being temporarily prescribed a medication that may help prevent an outbreak from occurring.

Despite your best efforts, you may still experience cold sores every once in a while. Use a product like Lippease at the first sign of an outbreak to minimize the amount of time you have to suffer with the cold sore.


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