1 in 5 people in the UK get recurring cold sores
I've done some research into this and here are my best ways to get rid of it and prevent it
whilst do my research I came across people recommending products like
witch hazel, distilled vinegar and alcohol to help with cold sores
now I could have find any information to clinically prove that they're effective for this
so I can't really advise on them
but if you've tried them and it helped or they haven't helped leave a comment below and let us know
cold sores are caused by herpes simplex virus, the type 1 strain
and the virus infects through the moist inner layer skin of the mouth
and this is through skin-to-skin contact
after infection the virus settles in a nearby nerve sheath
and remains there for the rest of your life now it's usually inactive and you have no symptoms
but sometimes it activates and travels to your mouth area and causes a cold sore blister
so what we can do at this point is look at the triggers which are activating the virus
and try and avoid the ones that we can
stress! stress can reduce your immune system giving the virus a chance to attack
so breathe deeply, relax and try these great relaxation techniques which i've left in the description below
to reduce your stress
sleep! get more of it so you're not fatigued and if you have difficulty sleeping
I made a video about this a couple of months ago which I've left a link in the description below
so feel free to check it out
wind and sun! the sun is somewhere up there
dry lips can leave you vulnerable to an outbreak so wear lip balm to prevent chapping in the cold
and in the sun wear an SPF 15 lip balm or higher
cold sores can easily be passed on to other people when you have one
so avoid kissing, oral sex and sharing anything that comes in contact with your cold sore
now let's move on to self-care advice
try not to touch or pick the cold sore
because you might damage the blister which can spread the virus everywhere
only ever touch it when you're applying the cream
but remember this cold sores usually go on their own within 10 days
aciclovir cream now it doesn't kill the virus and it doesn't affect existing blisters
but it may prevent it from becoming worse
if you are going to use it I suggest that you use it as soon as you get the first signs of a cold sore coming up
that way it may not last as long or be as severe
when applying the cream wash your hands before and after
also don't rub in the cream dab it on to avoid damaging the blister and the reason for this was explained earlier
there is debate as to how well acyclovir cream actually works but I guess it is an option
and lastly if you have any pain or swelling from your cold sore
then speak to your pharmacist about taking paracetamol and ibuprofen for it
if you have any tips that work for you which help with cold sores
then leave a comment below I'd love to read what works for people all over the world
always check any medication you purchase with your pharmacist or doctor
to make sure it's okay for you to use
please remember to always read the information leaflet comes with your medicines
and if you have any questions don't hesitate to ask your pharmacist
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this is a really hard box to catch, and throw
(LAUGHTER)
okay, cold sores can easily be transmitted to other people when you have