Wednesday, March 07, 2012

Cold Sore Prevention And Avoiding Infection

By Robert Kennedy


There is no such thing as cold sore prevention because the herpes simplex virus is involved. This virus lives in the body and whenever you get ill, it can flare up and cause cold sores, also known as fever blisters. Without treatment, the sores take between 8 and 10 days to heal.

Many individuals suffer from this virus every year and it usually settles on the mouth and around the lip area. Aside from this illness, there are actually factors that can aggravate or may cause cold sore to appear such as exposure to the sun, stress, fatigue, fever, hormonal imbalance and having a particularly weak immune system.

There are several symptoms that you may experience when having repeated cold sores. Itchiness, swelling, discomfort and redness accompanied by an oozing wound that usually forms yellow scabs are the common signs of being infected by this virus. It can be treated with gels, cream and other topical ointments that are available to ease the discomfort and to accelerate the healing process. Natural therapies like acupuncture and laser-puncture can be helpful as well but there are steps that you can consider to lessen the outbreak.

This type of virus is VERY contagious and can easily be transmitted through sharing of personal things and utensils from a person who is having cold sore symptoms. Therefore, you should avoid skin contact since it can also be the reason of acquiring fever blister.

Avoid kissing anyone with fever blisters. Also, do not kiss that person's close family members. Step up your hygiene practices by washing your hands frequently with an antibacterial soap. If you are the person infected, don't touch your body parts before washing your hands. This will prevent the infection spreading to other areas.

The most effective cold sore prevention is to boost the immune system. All the factors mentioned earlier that cause cold sores have one thing in common, i. E. A weakened immune system. You can do this by getting good quality sleep, eating protein-rich foods, and drinking plenty of water. Avoid coffee, refined sugar, alcohol, cigarettes, and junk food. Lastly, and most importantly, eat lots of fresh, raw fruit and vegetables. They are packed with antioxidants, vitamins, enzymes, minerals, and fiber.

Labels: , ,