As we all head back to the office or back to school and the season for colds and flu kicks in, Autumn is a danger zone for cold sore outbreaks.
Approximately half the population carries the herpes simplex virus that’s responsible for cold sore outbreaks, with approximately 25-30% of carriers experiencing regular cold sore outbreaks.
Triggers for cold sores outbreaks include sun, stress, a lowered immune system from colds and flu, chapped lips from cold weather, any trauma to the lips and hormonal fluctuations.
Follow these tips to help prolong the period of time between cold sore outbreaks as well as reduce their severity.
Tip 1 – Throw out your toothbrush
If you have been using a toothbrush during a live cold sore outbreak you should throw it away as soon as the cold sore has gone. Toothbrushes are ideal vessels for carrying the cold sore virus and can easily re infect you again after a cold sore has gone.
Tip 2 – Boost your immunity
Taking zinc and vitamin c supplements to boost your immunity over the winter months can help prevent you getting a cold which in turn is likely to reduce your risk of getting a cold sore outbreak.
Tip 3 – Wash your hands
After touching your lips to apply cold sore remedies, even if the cold sore has not broken out yet, always wash your hands afterwards.
Tip 4 – Apply Lip Balms with a cotton bud
If and when applying lips balms, always use a clean finger to get some balm and never put your finger into the balm pot again after applying to your lips without washing your Finger. Alternatively use a clean cotton bud to remove a bit of lip balm from the pot and then rub in with your fingers once on your lips.
This helps not to spread the virus from your lips back into the lip balm pot.
Tip 5 - Wear an SPF
In sunnier weather or when your lips are exposed to increased sun such as on winter holidays, always wear SPF lip protection. Be aware that many SPF lip products dry out the lips so apply a balm under the SPF and remove it as soon as you are out of the sun and apply more lips balm to re moisturise lips.
Tip 6 – Treat the tingle not just the sore
At the first sign of a cold sore, which is usually a tingle on the lip where the cold sore will eventually break out, begin preventative treatment immediately.
Tip 7 – Drink Liquorice Tea
Liquorice exact has anti-viral properties in it that are particularly effective against the cold sore virus. Drinking liquorice tea daily can help protect against cold sores. Yogi Tea do a good high potency liquorice tea.
Tip 8 – Don’t sip hot stuff
Avoiding sipping very hot tea or coffee. This can cause small blisters on the lips which can then develop into cold sores. Any trauma to the lips, in the form of cuts, chaffing, blisters or dryness can make the skin on the lips weaker which allows the cold sore virus to re-surface and take hold.
Preventative remedies for cold sores - Lip Q Liquorice Balm
Unfortunately. there are limited products to treat cold sores once they appear and even fewer to use in between outbreaks to try and help prevent them. Most medicated cold sore treatments can only be used once a sore appears.
Lip Q Liquorice Balm is one treatment that can be worn in between outbreaks and is a natural but highly effective treatment to help prevent cold sores appearing as frequently and reduce their severity.
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. Research published in the US Journal of Clinical Investigation has shown that liquorice has the ability to weaken the cold sore virus which lies dormant in the skin between outbreaks.(1)
Lip Q liquorice lip balm was found to be effective in a double-blind trial, carried out by the Herpes Viruses Association. It reduced the severity and duration of outbreaks for over 73% of subjects tested and, furthermore, 83% of subjects using the liquorice balm reported experiencing less outbreaks than when using their conventional treatments. While using the liquorice lip balm, testers reported that on average their outbreaks were only half their normal length and the time between outbreaks was much longer.
Unlike conventional treatments, due to its naturally derived ingredients, the balm can be worn at all times without any negative side-effects, meaning that it could be used before and during festivals to prevent cold sore outbreaks.
Marian Nicholson from the Herpes Viruses Association says;
"We were aware of the research on liquorice and were interested in carrying out an in vivo trial. Quite often results which look impressive in a test tube are not as effective in real life testers. However, Skin Shop’s Liquorice Balm has performed well with respondents showing a marked reduction in severity and duration of their cold sore outbreaks. In light of this research we are happy to recommend this treatment to our members."
Liquorice Balm is 100% natural and is FREE from parabens, perfumes, MI and SLS.
