How to get rid of cold sores symptoms

What are cold sores?

Cold sores are a tiny virus that bothers many people around the world. It is (mainly) caused by the HSV-1 (Herpes Simplex Virus -1) virus and is particularly easily contagious.

It can live inactive within a person’s immune system for a lifetime, periodically causing blisters that burst and turn into open sores or ulcers before healing.

These small blisters usually form:[1][2]

• on the lips
• around the mouth
• on the tongue
• on the nose
• on the chin

In fact, about 70% of people are infected with the virus and many of them suffer from the virus outbreaks 3-4 times every year, while others never get activated.

Most commonly, someone gets it in childhood and is then a carrier throughout their life.

What are the stages of cold sores?

There are 5 stages of cold sores. These include: [3]

Stage 1: Tingling sensation

In this initial stage, an unexplained itching, burning or tingling sensation may suddenly appear on the lip area or somewhere around the mouth.

Stage 2: Blister appears

About 2 days after the first tingling sensation, blisters are going to form in the area around your mouth, lips or even inside the oral cavity. The blisters are filled with clear fluid while the skin around and underneath them is red.

Stage 3: The blister breaks

At this stage the blister breaks and the clear liquid leaks out. It is, in fact, the stage with the greatest contagiousness.

Stage 4: Crust forming

At this stage, the wound has dried up and a yellowish or brownish crust forms.

Stage 5: Healing

The surface crust gradually peels off (about 10 days after its appearance) and the skin slowly takes its original, healthy form.

What causes cold sores?

There are 2 types of herpes simplex virus. HSV-1 is mainly responsible for the occurrence of cold sores, while HSV-2 is most commonly responsible for genital herpes. Of course, this occurs in the majority of cases and not all of them. More generally, both types can cause either cold sores or genital herpes.

However, many factors may trigger cold sores. Some of them are: [4][5]

• the stress
• fatigue (physical and mental)
• menstruation
• the cold climate
• overexposure to solar radiation
• the alcohol
• the “weak” immune system

Cold sores treatment

The first step to treat cold sores is to improve immune system function by increasing nutrient intake. [6][7]

Cold sores and diet

Foods rich in L-lysine

Lysine is an amino acid that can prevent the herpes virus from reproducing. It can help in the treatment but also in the prevention of this virus outbreak.

Good sources of lysine are foods such as:

• legumes (beans and lentils)
• certain fish (cod and sardines)
• red and white meat (chicken or turkey)
• the parmesan
• and certain vegetables (soybeans)

People who are prone to developing herpes can for a short time take L-lysine supplements 1,000 mg three times daily.

Antioxidants

Brightly colored vegetables, such as orange, red, yellow and dark greens, are very good sources of antioxidants. Carotenoids, bioflavonoids and vitamin C help the skin and wounds heal , while also strengthening the body’s immune system.

What to limit

Foods rich in L-arginine

Arginine is an amino acid that acts as a lysine competitor. In particular, arginine is essential and can stimulate the replication and reproduction of the herpes virus.

In periods of high intensity, it is recommended to reduce the consumption of foods containing:

• wheat
• oats
• nuts (peanuts, walnuts, hazelnuts)
• pumpkin seeds
• chocolate

Sugar

Eating sugar suppresses immune function and can make inflammation worse.

Alcohol

High amounts of alcohol suppress immune function and can worsen symptoms such as:

• fatigue
• pains
• skim inflammation

Which nutritional supplements help cold sores?

Propolis

It is a natural substance produced by bees. Propolis is rich in antioxidants and is one of nature’s most powerful antimicrobial elements. It reduces the healing time of the wounds and the pain caused by herpes, compared to the classic antiviral ointments, while at the same time it creates a layer of protection on the lips.

Zinc

Zinc takes part in many chemical reactions involved in wound healing, skin repair and protecting the body from viruses and bacteria. Something very important is that it keeps the viruses inactive, thus contributing to the prevention of cold sores.

Vitamin E

Studies show that taking Vitamin E in the form of a supplement can fight free radicals to such an extent that it allows the immune system to act effectively and timely on HSV infection.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C boosts immune function improving and reducing the duration of herpes symptoms.

The results of a double-blind study are worth mentioning. Patients received 200 mg of Vitamin C (as ascorbic acid) and 200 mg of bioflavonoids, 3 times a day, for 3 days. It was observed that the time until symptoms remission of was reduced by 57% compared to the placebo group.

Medical treatment

Many times, when cold sores persist, your treating physician may recommend an antiviral treatment either for local application, in the form of a cream-ointment or for systemic oral administration.

How to get rid of cold sores in 24h?

Most people may hope that they will get rid of cold sores within a day, but, like most viruses, this infection needs to “make its life cycle” in order to go away. In about 7-14 days from the first signs of manifestation (Stage 1) the symptoms subside on their own.

Of course, if cold sores persist, we can ask for help from our doctor or pharmacist.

Cold sores in children

When a child develops cold sores for the first time (primary HSV), the blisters can spread beyond the lip area, around the mouth, and even to the gums. [8]

Although most of the time the symptoms are quite mild and hardly noticed by the parents, a child can also show:

• fever
• swollen and tender lymph nodes
• sore throat
• irritability

Parents should be especially careful with babies under 6 months, as at such young ages the immune system is not fully developed.

As discussed above, while the virus remains in the child’s body for the rest of his/her life, its reappearance is highly variable. Some children may never develop symptoms again, while others may experience multiple outbreaks each year.

Are cold sores contagious?

As mentioned above, the virus is at its most contagious stage during the leakage of clear fluid from the broken blister (Stage 3).

Although it can be transmitted from surfaces in the mouth or skin that may seem normal, the greatest risk for transmission is when there are active sores. [9]

In conclusion

The infection and flare-ups of cold sores are more of an aesthetic problem than a serious health disorder.

Be sure to take the necessary nutritional supplements to strengthen the immune system and follow a diet with the appropriate ratio of L-Lysine and L-Arginine to limit viral outbreaks.

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