Cold Sores

Cold Sores

In today's modern world the pace of life has significantly accelerated, causing many of us to experience our daily lives 'on-the-go' with very little time for rest and leisure. The more we move away from ourselves the more risks there are to the adverse effects of stress in our bodies, with one of those being a cold sore outbreak. Natures Healthbox offer a wide range of natural remedies, designed to ease the annoying and irritating affects of cold sores.

What can trigger a cold sore?

Cold Sores are painful and unsightly lesions that appear around the mouth, usually on the lips and chin. They are caused by the highly contagious herpes simplex virus, and when the body's Immune System becomes run down, cold sores tend to re-emerge, causing discomfort. Though it is easier said than done, reducing ones levels of Stress (a common trigger of cold sores along with menstruation) may help a person to reduce the number of cold sore outbreaks he or she usually has over the course of a year. 

Should you pop cold sores?

No! You may worsen the condition of your cold sore if you choose to pop it, as this will release the infectious fluid from the heart of the cold sore blister. This fluid may encourage more cold sores to surface, a further infection or scarring. If you feel a cold sore coming on increasing your Vitamin intake may prove benefical. In particular, Vitamin C boosts the body's defending white blood cells, while Vitamin E has been found to relieve the related pain and irritation of cold sores, when applied topically.

Does toothpaste work on cold sores?

Many medical experts believe that a dab of Toothpaste on the affected area will help to dry out a cold sore and may encourage faster healing time.

How you get rid of cold sores fast?

Though there is no known cure for the cold sore virus, there are many preventative measures that can be taken to lessen the duration and appearance of these bothersome blisters. For example, Lysine (an Amino Acid), Peppermint oil and Vanilla extract have all been used directly upon the skin to treat cold sores for many years, while Lemon balm is thought to help speed up the healing time of a blister. Licorice Root contains the active ingredient glycyrhizic acid, which has anti-inflammatory and anti-viral properties believed to halt the virus cells from spreading and subsequently counteract the symptoms of a cold sore.