It starts with a little tingle under the skin that itches and irritates you as the tiny bump begins to emerge. Whether brought on by fever, sickness or weather, getting rid of cold sores can be a chore. You can reduce the appearance of cold sores and prevent them from spreading. Unfortunately, because cold sores are a viral infection, you can't get rid of them forever, but you can take precautions against them that will greatly reduce the number of cold sores you get.
Instructions
1. Boost your immune system with a daily multivitamin. Cold sores are often the result of oncoming illness, so keeping your immune system strong will help keep at bay. Vitamins with zinc, magnesium and calcium create an alkaline environment in your bloodstream that keep cold sores under control.
2. Pay attention to symptoms that a cold sore is coming on and begin treatment before it reaches the surface of your skin. Apply prescription strength or over-the-counter cold sore ointment the minute you feel the symptoms, and continue to apply it as directed by your doctor. Hitting the area before the cold sore appears will nip a cold sore in the bud before it ever even crops up.
3. Begin a daily treatment regimen of a product like Herpaflor or Zenmed, which are designed to not only battle inflammation and soothe discomfort, but will also prevent future breakouts.
4. Monitor the triggers that cause you to experience an outbreak. Illness, stress, anxiety, menstruation and extreme weather conditions are just a few likely triggers. Battle these triggers before an outbreak occurs. Reduce stress and anxiety through meditation and deep breathing. If PMS and menstruation tend to be difficult, you may want to talk to your doctor about methods you can take to cut down on the amount of stress experienced during that time of the month.
5. Avoid foods high in acid and salt. Acidic, salty foods can often bring on cold sore outbreaks, so eliminating them from your diet will also eliminate the number of outbreaks you experience.
Tags: cold sore, cold sores, cold sores, immune system, keep cold