What causes cold sores? In this article, you will discover what causes cold sores in the majority of folks already infected with the herpes virus. The short answer to what causes cold sores is the herpes simplex virus.

About 33% of those infected will never get a cold sore as the virus will remain dormant. The other 66% will get at least a couple outbreaks a year. If the herpes virus wakens, it will move through the nerve fiber to the surface. The virus enters nerve and skin cells and forces them to replicate new virus particles.

Once the cells are full of new virus, they burst open and the virus spills out. The annihilation of all these cells creates the ulcer-like wound.

Yes – the herpes simplex virus is the common cause of all cold sores. But, if you want to prevent them, you must know what causes cold sores in some infected folks but not others.

Here are three main conditions that trigger herpes replication and your cold sore events – triggers that you can easily avoid.

Your immune system is too weak

A vigorous immune response requires strong antibodies. Certain materials must be on hand for your body to build potent antibodies.

Your body needs optimal intake of vitamins and minerals from food and supplementation to create robust antibodies.

Cold sores are a warning your immune system is not strong enough to protect you properly. Eat more raw vegetables for the high quality nutrients needed to strengthen your immunity.

Also, you really should begin a high-quality daily vitamin supplement plan. But don’t waste your money on worthless one-a-day pills.

If you do not buy a high quality vitamin supplement, you will not get good results. You want high vitamin B and C content. These vitamins help reduce stress.

High arginine to lysine ratio

There is much news about arginine and lysine in relation to cold sore herpes activity. They are common amino acids important for good health.

Arginine offers many cardiac benefits. But it also is the primary protein used to create new herpes simplex virus. Without sufficient arginine, a cold sore will not happen.

Herpes virus cannot be built using lysine. Your cells store both these amino acids in the same area. The more of one means less of the other.

Saturating your cells with lysine will reduce the stored arginine. Eating high lysine food, such as dairy, works but lysine capsules are easy, cheap and effective cold sore prevention.

Your pH balance is too acid

You are at peak health when your pH level is alkaline. The pH scale measures 1 through 14 with 7 being neutral. Above 7 is alkaline and below 7 is acid.

Your body works hard to maintain pH levels around 7.4. When you drop below 6.5, you are inviting illness – and creating the right conditions for another cold sore.

The more acidic, the lower your oxygen levels. This creates the perfect breeding ground for the herpes simplex virus. Soda pop and white sugar are acid causing foods to be avoided.

Cold sore outbreaks are most frequent during winter because of the many acid-causing factors. These include cold temperatures, spending more time indoors and drinks like coffee and cocoa.

Keeping your pH level in the alkaline range is easy. Eat calcium-rich green vegetables, preferably cabbage and asparagus. Health stores have alkaline-raising kits that work very well too.

If you want to know what causes cold sores, there is much more we could talk about if we had the time and space here.

Hopefully, however, this short article will help you in finding an answer to the question of what causes cold sores for your particular situation and give you the knowledge to defeat the cold sore in your life.

What Causes Cold Sores – Preventing Cold Sore Outbreaks is from Good Health Weekly

This skin condition should not be confused with impetigo which shows up between the nose and upper lip. The impetigo discharge is usually cloudy and looks like honey. Canker sores are a type of ulcers that do not spread and which grow in the soft tissues of the mouth where you do not get to see the sores.

As prophylactic step for the management of cold sore, always wash your hands well. Acyclovir (Zovirax) is a drug effective in reducing the duration of stay of this skin condition. However, treatment may include topical creams or ointments or sometimes antiviral medicines (such as acyclovir or famciclovir).

If you have to manage accompanying pain, take paracetamol or take the help of witch hazel and apply on the sores. This local application medicine is a good anesthetic too.

It is important to have a hearty yet balanced diet which is in no way deficit in vitamins A, C, E, zinc and iron, as this helps in boosting your immune system and combating this skin condition. You also need to do away with overtly salty, spicy or acidic foods and drinks which could harm the sores.

To prevent this skin condition, make your diet plan without salty or spicy foods. Some of the foods where you need to have only limited quantities include chocolates, peanuts, grains, peas, seeds, oatmeal and whole-wheat rich in arginine. Do completely without tea and coffee and make your diet vitamin-rich.

Rubbing ice on the infected skin for few minutes, repeated this every hour, is a very good home remedy for this skin condition. Alternatively you can apply a tea bag for few minutes on the blisters, repeating this every hour. A warm tea bag compress on the blisters for about half an hour could also be another option.

Applying witch hazel on this skin condition has a miraculous relief effect. Take cover from sun-related cold sores by using sunscreen on the lips and arrest its recurrence.

For guaranteed results mix 100ml of coconut oil, 2ml of disinfectant, and 3ml of carbolic acid Apply twice daily directly on your cold sore – some people say this formula also works on other skin conditions such as boils and mosquito bites.

One acknowledged home remedy for this skin condition is found in tea tree oil, when it is consumed as a drink with herbal sage and violet. You could make a mixture of all these items and add a few sage leaves and ginger powder and then put all of it in a cup of boiling water. If you want your cold sores to simply go away in a short span of couple of days, drink this at least 2 to 3 times a day.

When everything fails for you, 3 acidophilus pills twice a day in the morning and evening could work wonders and dry and clear up. Taking 2 pills a day would be the best option for those who suffer from this skin condition more than often. This is not a complete list of home cold sore remedies by any means but those that most commonly provide relief.

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Common Skin Conditions – Cold Sores is from Good Health Weekly