Cold sore? This supplement helps suppress it
and my tips for dealing with it
A cold sore. If you suffer from them regularly, you know exactly what I mean when I say that sometimes you can tell how it’s going to be even before the first blister appears. That annoying tingling, burning sensation on your lip and then you know: here we go again.
I've been suffering from it since I was two. So I can't really remember what it's like to never have to deal with a cold sore. Fortunately, I now know quite well what triggers it for me and what I can do to keep it away as much as possible.
Since I started taking L-lysine daily, my cold sores really stay away much more often. I consciously say 'for me' because scientific evidence that lysine prevents cold sores is not convincing. But after years of experience, it has become part of my daily routine. And anything that ensures I walk around with fewer blisters on my lip is, to be honest, a nice bonus.
Why do you keep getting a cold sore?
A cold sore is caused by the herpes simplex virus. Once you have the virus, it remains in your body and can become active again at certain times. For some, this almost never happens, while for others it occurs regularly.
For me, I notice three moments when I need to pay extra attention: when my immunity is a bit lower, when I've been in the sun too much, and during stressful periods.
And I now recognize that last one immediately. A few busy weeks, little sleep, a lot on my mind, and suddenly I feel that familiar tingling again. Sunlight can also be a trigger. That has become enough reason for me to not only apply SPF to my face but also to seriously protect my lips.
My discovery: L-lysine
At some point, I got tired of getting a cold sore every time. So I delved into this and discovered L-lysine, an amino acid that you can also take as a supplement.
Since I started using it daily, I've personally had much fewer cold sores. In fact: I have periods where they just stay completely away. Of course, that's my own experience and no guarantee that it works the same for everyone. Research into lysine as a way to prevent cold sores does not show a convincing preventive effect.
But because it seems to make such a difference for me, I continue to use it daily.
SPF on your lips is not an unnecessary luxury
If I could give one tip to everyone who is sensitive to cold sores, it would be this: protect your lips from the sun. I've experienced multiple times that I lay in the sun just a bit too enthusiastically and got a cold sore a few days later. Coincidence? I don't think so. Sunlight is also known as a possible trigger for cold sores.
So yes, SPF 50 on my face and then completely forgetting my lips? I don't do that anymore. I use a lip product with SPF and just take it with me when I go to the beach for a day or spend a lot of time outside. A small effort, but absolutely worth it for me.
This is what I do when I feel it coming
Always such a moment when I think: oh no, not now. But especially with a cold sore, the rule is: the sooner you act, the better. A cold sore often starts with a tingling, burning, or itchy feeling before the blisters appear.
When I recognize that, I don't wait until there's actually a huge blister. There are antiviral creams available at the pharmacy that are most effective early in the process. I always get the cheapest option from Kruidvat, which works just fine.
In addition, there are special cold sore patches that can protect the spot. And honestly: I sometimes just find that nice for appearance's sake. You can't always prevent it from coming, but you also don't have to stare at it all day.
Don't touch it. Really.
This is easier said than done, I know. But try to touch your cold sore as little as possible. The virus is contagious from the first tingling feeling until the spot is completely healed. So wash your hands if you've touched the spot and don't share lip balm, glasses, or other items that may come into contact with it.
And perhaps even more importantly: no kissing while you have a cold sore and also wait with oral sex until the spot is completely healed. The virus can be transmitted. And be extra careful with babies. A cold sore can cause serious infections in newborns. Unfortunately, that's how I got mine too.
My main tip? Get to know your own triggers
Because maybe that's ultimately the most useful thing I've learned over the years. I now know: too much sun, stress, and lower immunity means paying attention. And precisely because I recognize my own triggers, I can do something about it earlier.
And L-lysine? That has now become just as much a part of my daily routine as my vitamins. Does it work for everyone? I can't promise you that, of course. But after having had cold sores for such a long time, I do know one thing: I'm very happy that I now have a swollen lip much less often.
Image: Spotlight
