Cold Sores

It never fails. Every time you have a big meeting coming up or an important presentation to give, you develop an unsightly cold sore on your lip. You wake up with a small cluster of tiny, harmless-looking, white blisters, which quickly explode into a painful sore the size of Rhode Island.
True cold sores, the ones that occur on the lips, are caused by the herpes simplex virus.
Herpes viruses presumably lie dormant in certain nerve cells pf the body lifelong, until something like stress, strain, a cold, or excessive exposure to the sun causes them to manifest. In case of herpes simplex virus I, it happens to be on the lip.
Although many use the terms “cold sore” interchangeably, they are different.

6 WAYS TO FOIL COLD SORES

COVER IT WITH A PROTECTIVE PETROLEUM-BASED PRODUCT.
This will protect it from infection and help it to heal a little quicker.

REACH FOR ASPIRIN, ECETAMINOPHEN, OR IBUPROFEN.
These sores can be quite painful because they are in an area that tents to be easily and continually irritated. An over-the-counter painkiller can greatly reduce this discomfort.

AVOID SALTY OR ACIDIC FOODS.
Things like potato chips or citrus fruits can further irritate cold sores and add to the pain.

APPLY AN OVER –THE-COUNTER ANESTHETIC.
Putting a local anesthetic ointment containing benzocaine on the cold sore can help numb the pain temporarily.

PROTECT YOUR LIPS FROM THE SUN.
Applying sunscreen to your lips may help prevent sun-induced recurrences of cold sores. Look for a sunscreen, designed especially for the lips, that has an SPF of 15 or higher. Some colored lipsticks now also contain sunscreen.

KEEP IT TO YOURSELF.
One important thing to keep in mind with cold sores is that they are extremely contagious. While you have a cold sore, avoid kissing and sharing cups, towels, or other such items. And wash your hands frequently.