As we all head back at work or school, the weather is on the turn and cold and flu season is just around the corner - it’s an alert zone for cold sore outbreaks if you’re in the 50% of people who suffer from cold sores.
Cold sores triggers for outbreaks are increased sun exposure from summer holidays, stress and a lowered immune system from colds and flu.
Which means the post-summer holiday back to work period is a likley time for a cold sore outbreak.
Here’s 6 tips on how to make sure your lips remain cold sore-free as you head back to the work after a summer holiday.
Tip 1 - Fake it don’t bake it
A summer tan is what many of us see a sign of a good summer holiday. And heading to a tanning bed to top up that holiday tan is a common habit.
But think twice before using tanning beds if you suffer from cold sores.
The main trigger for cold sore outbreaks is UV light. UV light damages the immune system in the skin, which is why it often triggers a cold sore outbreak.
So a sun bed can trigger a cold sore.
To get your sun kissed summer holiday complexion to last longer, it’s safer all round and especially if you suffer from cold sores to go for a fake tan product than a sun bed or sun bathing.
Tip 2 - Leave out lip fillers
Having lip filler injections significantly raises the risk of triggering a cold sore.
Research shows that lip fillers have a high chance of triggering the cold sore virus that lies dormant in the skin around the lips.
If you do want lip fillers but are prone to cold sores, you can ask your doctor to prescribe a prophylaxis anti-viral medication for a few days before having the lip fillers which can reduce your risk of triggering a cold sore.
However, the risk is still raised by having lip fillers so they are best avoided in the post-summer holiday period.
Tip 3 - No to nuts
The cold sore virus requires arginine (amino acid) to replicate and thrive in your body. Depriving the virus of arginine can help reduce the duration and severity of a cold sores.
Nuts and seeds are one of the richest sources of arginine so to ensure you reduce your risk of a cold sore outbreak, skip the muesli and step away from the bar nuts on those back to work Friday drinks.
Tip 4 - Cut out crusty snacks
Any trauma to the lips can trigger a cold sore outbreak and aside from chapping from dehydrated lips, abrasive foods such as crusty bread and crisps, are the easiest way to damage lips and risk a cold sore outbreak.
Even tiny micro cuts from crusty breads, crackers and crisps to the lips and corners of the mouth raise the risk of triggering a cold sore.
Stick to soft bread and avoid crisps in post-summer period to ensure your vulnerable lips stay free of any damage.
Tip 5 – Don’t meddle with matt lips
Anything that dries out the lips in a hazard to lips prone to cold sores and matt lipsticks and long-stay lipsticks are particular culprits.
The very ‘mattness’ of matt lipsticks relies on drawing moisture out of the lips for the colour to stay put for longer and for there to be no shine.
Avoid matt lipsticks and long stay lipsticks as you head back to work. Stick to moisturising lip balms instead.
Tip 6 – Apply liquorice to lips
Liquorice extract has been found in studies to have a cold sore prevention action. The key cold sore fighting ingredient in liquorice is glycyrrhizic acid (GA). GA specifically targets the genes that are required to maintain the virus in its latent state by interfering with the production of special proteins that feed the infected cells.
Lip Q Liquorice Balm, a natural lip balm containing a highly concentrated extract of glycyrrhizic acid, has been shown to reduce the severity and duration of cold sore outbreaks as well as increase the time between outbreaks according to a study carried out by the Herpes Virus Association.
