How to Prevent a Cold Sore

Cold sores can be brought on by a variety of external factors such as stress, poor diet, and even sun exposure. These factors create an environment that's ripe for the virus which causes cold sores to replicate and set up an active infection. Fortunately, there are some steps you can take to help prevent these annoying lesions. Here's how to prevent cold sores.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. How to prevent cold sores: Avoid excessive sun exposure.
   
   Sunlight can activate the virus which causes cold sores. If you plan on being out in the sun, wear a sunscreen with a high SPF or put on a hat to shield your face from the sun.
2. How to prevent cold sores: Improve your general health.
   
   Cold sores tend to surface when your tired and your immunity is down. To avoid this, eat a healthy, balanced diet and get plenty of sleep. Lack of sleep can decrease the ability of your body to fight off infection, including the virus which causes cold sores.
3. How to prevent cold sores: Take a lysine supplement.
   
   Lysine is an amino acid that works by competing with another amino acid that the cold sore virus needs to replicate. Taking 1000 milligrams of this amino acid each day may reduce the frequency and severity of infection with the cold sore virus. Be sure to ask your doctor before taking this or any other supplement.
4. How to prevent cold sores: Practice good hygiene.
   
   If someone you know has a cold sore, avoid direct contact with the lesion. Wash you hands and avoid touching your face to help reduce transmission of the virus.
5. How to prevent cold sores: Avoid stress.
   
   It's impossible to completely avoid stress, but learning how to handle it more effectively can help to reduce the incidence of cold sores. Consider practicing meditation or other forms of stress reduction.

Tips & Warnings

• Once you have the virus, it lives in nerve endings and can be reactivated by a decrease in immunity. You never really "cure" the infection, you just control it.