How often do you get cold sores?
Are you aware of things that may cause this?
No?
As well as the common triggers, some people notice all sorts of other things can trigger their cold sore episodes.
Try and remember what they are and when such triggers cannot be avoided, prepare to start treatment early.
Yes?
There are many triggers of cold sores but with such a low occurrence, it may be due to colds or flu.
Many people like you notice that when they are run down with a cold they can develop cold sores at the same time.
When we understand how the virus that causes cold sores works, it is not surprising that it takes advantage of your run-down situation and springs into action. So when stocking up with cold and flu treatments it may be a good idea to buy your cold sore treatment as well so that you can start treatment early.
Your cold sores could be due to 'seasonal' triggers.
For example, do you wear a scarf when you go out in the cold wind?
When exposed to sunlight do you use a good lip balm with added UV protection?
Many people notice that cold sores come on when they are exposed to strong sunlight whilst on skiing or beach holidays. A really effective sunscreen can be very useful at preventing this trigger. The zinc oxide based ones are probably the most effective physical sunscreens, as they block out both UVA and UVB rays, and nowadays can be much more cosmetically acceptable. However, remember to take your cold sore treatment with you on holiday in case this doesn't prevent it.
This is more than the average of 2 cold sores a year.
Ask yourself whether they occur during very busy periods in your life?
If the answer is yes they could be triggered by your stress levels.
There are certain renowned events in one’s life that are particularly stressful, in particular, moving house, getting married, deaths and changing jobs. Any one of these could lower your immune system making you more susceptible to cold sores. Stress can be caused by something minor too – even a bad week at work could set you off!
Many people attribute outbreaks of cold sores to periods of stress. While it is easy to blame stress for all types of illness it is not so easy to find ways to avoid it. There is no doubt that people who are physically and mentally on top form are in a much better position to keep the virus at bay. If you recognise stress as a trigger of your cold sores then maybe this can act as an incentive to improve your way of living in order to reduce it.
Are you:-
- Male ? Click Here
- Female ? Click Here
Answer: Male
Shaving, hot drinks, exposure to cold
It seems that anything that can damage the area around the mouth, such as hot drinks, may lead to inflammation which seems to stimulate the virus into action. If you want to reduce the number of cold sore episodes, you need to take more care than most people with the area around your lips.
Answer: Female
Menstruation (periods)
Some women notice that the cold sore virus can spring into action around the time of their monthly periods. If you think you are one of these people, then at least you can predict when this will be and be in a position to start effective treatment at the first signs of a cold sore.
Your cold sores can be triggered by a number of everyday events including shaving, exposure to cold temperatures, drinking hot drinks and general damage to the lip area.
It seems that anything that can damage the area around the mouth, such as hot drinks, may lead to inflammation which seems to stimulate the virus into action.
If you want to reduce the number of cold sore episodes, you need to take more care than most people with the area around your lips. See our advice on Coping
So your cold sores can come at any time without warning?
This is unusual as most people tend to relate the onset of an episode to something such as stress, sunlight, periods, exposure to cold temperatures and so on.
If you think that any of these in particular may bring on your cold sores then see our section on triggers.
However, if you really feel that you get no warning of an impending attack then you may find it useful to always keep your cold sore treatment handy, so that you can start treatment as soon as possible.
