GAIN RELIEF FROM COLD SORES

March 24th, 2009

These small skin blisters anywhere around the mouth are caused by the herpes simplex virus. The strain of the virus which usually causes cold sores is herpes simplex virus 1. Experts say that 9 out of 10 people worldwide have, at sometime in their lives, been infected by HSV1.

You can usually tell when you’re about to get a cold sore by a familiar tingling in the lips. The blisters are small at first but soon enlarge for the whole world to see. They sometimes cause itching, irritation, soreness, and a dull social life. If you’re lucky, a cold sore will disappear within one week. Here are several expert tips on how to deal with cold sores:

1) Don’t pick at it— as long as the cold sore isn’t much of a problem, you’re better off just leaving it alone. Keep it as clean and dry as possible, but otherwise, don’t mess with it.

2) Get another toothbrush— your toothbrush can shelter the herpes virus for several days. This could lead to reinfection after your present cold sore heals. The best way to prevent that from happening is to throw your old toothbrush away and get a new one.

3) Apply a lubricant— to protect your cold sore, you can apply some petroleum jelly over the entire sore area. It is best to use a fresh cotton swab each time you dip into the petroleum jelly.

4) Turn to zinc— some recent studies suggest that a zinc and water solution, applied as soon as you suspect a cold sore is developing, might help to heal the subsequent cold sore faster. Zinc is available at health food stores.

5) Don’t eat foods containing lots of arginine— experts say that the herpes virus needs arginine as a vital amino acid for its metabolism. That means you should avoid arginine-rich foods such as chocolate, peas, grain cereals, peas, peanuts, cashews, and beer.

6) Don’t discount witch hazel— some people have experienced success with witch hazel. These people say breaking a sore and using witch hazel to dry it up can be quite effective.