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Top 5 Proven Ways to Prevent Cold Sores

Cold Sores are oral lesions caused by herpes simplex virus 1 or 2. When the herpes virus is transmitted through kissing and oral sex it immediately invades the mucosa of an open tissue. The virus takes about 3-7 days to mature and manifests itself as oral lesions within 14- 28 days. These lesions can appear in singles or in clusters depending on the severity of the condition. The lesions can affect areas around the mouth, the tongue, and the inner cheeks. Blisters can either be filled with clear or whitish fluid inside and may rupture when touched. When blisters are fresh; it is the time that herpes is highly contagious which means it can infect anyone through mouth-mouth and genital-mouth contact. Cold Sores are very painful and since it’s an infection by a virus; it results to swollen lymph nodes around the neck and the ears as well.
           

There are no known cures for herpes simplex virus (HSV) and if you’re infected with one the only thing you can do is to treat the symptoms it manifests or at least prevents it from recurring. And when it comes to treating HSV your best bet is to avoid any form of contact or abstain from sex entirely. On the other hand, if you are already suffering from HSV you may find relief in these simple Cold Sores prevention:

  1. Nutrition – the recurrence of Cold Sores is directly associated with the health of your immune system. And if you are infected with HSV, recurrence is the least thing you’d want to have. A good diet which can control the recurrence of oral lesions is nutrition high in lysine and arginine and the acid-alkaline diet as well. Vitamins and minerals like zinc, vitamin C and vitamin B group needed to be included in your diet as well because individuals with herpes has such a low immune system that you need to supplement your diet all throughout in order to keep yourself healthy.
  2. Hygiene – lesions should be washed with water and soap. A good oral hygiene should also be practiced.
  3. Lifestyle Changes – the appearance of blisters can be very painful, smoking and intake of alcoholic beverages should either be eliminated or at least at the minimum. Lifestyle changes should also include abstinence from any form of sexual contact.
  4. Contraceptive Use – If sexual contact cannot be prevented, your partner needs to wear condoms or dental dams to protect yourselves from transference and possibly infecting your partner with the virus. However, the use of contraceptive to prevent Cold Sores provides minimal protection since there will still be parts of the skin that’s exposed to the virus. 
  5. Antiviral Treatment – oral lesions or Cold Sores can only be treated through the use of topical antiviral agents which will dry out the sores and temporarily relieve you from the pain. Antiviral medicine is applied topically to affected areas of the mouth depending on the number of times it needs to be applied. The antiviral you need also depends on the virus which caused the recurrence of your oral lesions and this can be tested true culture and sensitivity once you consult the condition to your doctor.