Knowing how to reduce cold sores naturally can be beneficial to many people. The condition has no cure but you can take steps to make the cold sore disappear in little time. Some preventative measures can stop outbreaks from occurring as well.
What is a Cold Sore
What is a cold sore? Some may find it surprising to find that a cold sore is the herpes simplex type 1 virus. The herpes simplex type 2 can affect the mouth as well. In either case, the condition can be uncomfortable and unsightly. The troublesome health problem is easily transmitted and prevention depends on understanding how a cold sore works.
How Does a Cold Sore Work
How do cold Sores Work? The herpes simplex virus comes from the Greek word meaning, “to creep” and this is exactly what the incurable virus does. If skin is broken and the virus is exposed to it, the cold sore begins on a cellular level. The simplex virus delves into the cells’ nuclei and attempts to replicate itself.
Sometimes the virus infests cells without causing readily apparent symptoms. However, the virus can destroy cells as it replicates itself. This creates blistering or ulcers can form as a result of the cell damage. These blisters typically form a crust and repair themselves over time without a trace.
Although it appears to disappear, it actually rests in nerve branch points that are deep in the body. The branch points are known as ganglia. There, the herpes stays dormant and does not try to replicate itself. However, if the inactive virus is triggered, the process begins again as it travels from the ganglia to the skin’s surface.
How to Reduce Cold Sores Naturally
Since there is no cure for the herpes simplex virus, even when it comes to cold sores, but natural remedies for cold sores can be effective. Approaches including treatments as well as preventative measures you can take to keep the problem at bay.
• Tea tree oil is a natural antiseptic that can be a helpful topical treatment that can be used full strength or diluted.
• Acidic foods and citrus fruits can aggravate the condition.
• L-lysine supplements are amino acids that may be effective in preventing an outbreak. Take the supplement if an outbreak seems to be starting.
• Antioxidants may help reduce free radical cells and they can be effective in lessening the chance of a cold sore as well.
• Zinc is a natural immune system booster that can keep the blisters from forming. Other immune system boosters include goldenseal and Echinacea.
Some preventative measures can work wonders including:
• Avoiding meat, oats, peanuts, dairy if it seems like an outbreak is eminent.
• Poor coping skills can lead to emotional response that cause outbreak-inducing stress.
• Too much sunlight can trigger an outbreak.
• Extreme temperatures should be avoided.
• Excessive fatigue can lead to a breakout; make sure to get a lot of sleep.
Reducing the incidence of cold sores is possible with the right preventative measures. Taking some time to relax is an integral part of keeping the virus from attacking cells.
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