Knowing how to prevent cold sores or fever blisters can done by understanding the primary cause of this infection and what triggers the occurrence of the painful blisters on the lips and mouth area.
The herpes simplex type 1 virus, which is the main cause of cold sores, may be acquired by from an infected individual through saliva and most often through kissing. Once an individual has the virus, it may not develop directly into cold sores but remain inactive in the nerves. In fact, some people with the herpes simplex type 1 virus do not experience cold sores. Others do not only experience cold sores once but can also have recurring cold sores in a year or even in months. Although the virus may be inactive, it can lead to outbreak of cold sores when it is triggered by some risk factors.
To avoid getting the virus, and eventually the cold sores, you may want to do the following precautionary measures:
- Stress is one of the triggering factors of cold sores and reducing stress is one way on how to prevent cold sores from occurring. Stress can consume a lot of vitamins in your body which in turn weakens your immune system.
- Do not share utensils, toothbrush, cups, glasses, and other items of an infected person.
- Avoid kissing an infected person. Saliva indeed is a powerful medium that can easily spread the virus.
- Avoid oral sex with an infected partner.
- Strengthen your immune system by eating the right kind of food, getting enough sleep and exercising daily.
- Use sunscreen and lip balm with sunscreen
If you already have the blisters in your mouth, you should also be responsible enough on how to prevent cold sores from infecting other people, so avoid spreading the virus further. If your cold sores have been healed and gone, it does not mean you can't be contagious and not prone to another attack. Continue to avoid the triggering factors and make sure you are not spreading the virus to others.
Here are some things that will help you in dealing with your cold sores and preventing recurrence.
- Strengthen your immune system to avoid flu and colds which can trigger your cold sores. Cold sores most likely appear when the immune system is weak as the herpes virus finds this as a more conducive environment to cause infection.
- Frequently wash your hands to avoid spreading the virus to other parts of the body as well as the genitals. It is essential to have clean hands always when you are having cold sores, and do not touch the cold sore as it will possible spread the infection to parts of your body especially those with broken skin. This may be rare but it can also happen.
- There are also foods that may favor the growth of the herpes virus so you may want to avoid them. Chocolate, wheat and oats, nuts and shellfish are among the foods that are high in the amino acid that promotes the growth of the virus. Thus, you may want to avoid these foods.
There are actually two ways on how to prevent cold sores as well as deal with them. Prevent yourself from getting the virus but if you already have the virus in your body, prevent its spread to other parts of your body as well as to other people.
Author Resource:-
Carolyn Anderson is a freelance author who likes to share natural ways to treat common illnesses. To learn more about cold sore cures, check out Banish Cold Sores. Also check out Banish Rosacea, where you can find natural ways to eliminate rosacea.
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