Cold sores

What Is Cold sores?

Cold sores are the blisters that develop around the mouth, on the lips or nose. Usually small in size, they are painful and fluid-filled.

Caused due to an infection with the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-types 1), they usually go away without any treatment within 7-10 days, though in extreme cases, these may last for life. Cold sores are contagious which can be spread by kissing or coming in contact with the contaminated skin of the patient suffering from it.

What Are The Symptoms Of Cold sores?

Following are the common symptoms of cold sores:

• Small, painful, fluid-filled blisters on lips, mouth or nose.
• Burning sensation, rash or irritation on the skin
• Ulcers, sore lips or tingling lips

What Are The Causes Of Cold sores?

Cold sores are caused by the virus called herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV- type 1). They can be spread or transmitted by:

• Shared eating utensils
• Kissing, oral sex
• Sharing razors or towels

Recurrence of cold sores can be triggered by:

• Fever, viral infection
• Fatigue, stress
• Changed/ weak immune system
• Hormonal changes 

What Are The Things One Should Do To Manage Cold sores?

• Keep your hands clean and wash them with soap before touching another person.
• Practice safe sex.

What Are The Things One Should Avoid To Manage Cold sores?

• Do not share utensils, razors, clothes with an infected person.
• Avoid skin to skin contact with infected person.
• Avoid triggers like stress, too much of sunlight, or falling ill.

What Are The Best Foods For Cold sores?

Lysine is supposed to heal cold sores naturally. Hence, one should eat foods rich in lysine. Some Lysine rich foods are:

• Yogurt, margarine
• Cheese, other dairy products
• Flounder fish, other types of fish
• Apples, apricots, mangoes, pears and other fruits rich in lysine.
• Most poultry and meat

Alkaline rich foods like lemon, peppers, parsley and many fruits are also recommended in cold sores.

What Are The Worst Foods For Cold sores?

Arginine is known to flare up the cold sores, hence one should avoid foods that are rich in arginine and low in lysine:

• Many grains like wheat and oats.
• Chocolates
• Most nuts and seeds like almonds, peanuts, walnuts, flaxseeds, hazelnuts,  and sesame sunflower seeds.

Avoid acidic foods like beer, beef, sugar

Processed foods reduce the immunity, which is one of the main reasons for developing cold sores. Hence all processed as well as fried foods.

What Are The Medicines For Cold sores?

What Are The Tips To Manage Cold sores?