Most of us have had the uncomfortable experience of getting a cold sore. Cold sores can appear when we least expect them and ruin some of the most important events in our lives by making us feel uncomfortable. In fact, there is a logical explanation as to why cold sores usually appear at such crucial moments.

Most frequently, they are caused by stress, both physical and mental, which explains why they so often appear during our first day at work or school or any other event of similar importance. Simply put, stress weakens our immune system. Cold sores are also frequently caused by common colds, influenza and other sicknesses.

Cold sores are the most common variation of herpes, the type that affects our mouth and nose. This virus reacts quickly whenever it notices higher levels of stress or weaker immunity due to the fact that it resides in our nerves. As soon as the virus notices convenient circumstances, it rises to the exterior and reproduces. The outcome is what we call a cold sore.

Apart from being uncomfortable and irritating, cold sores are not dangerous and our bodies take care of them on their own. The only problem is that this takes time, anywhere between two weeks and a month. This can be torture for some, especially if they are going through an important period in their lives and they need to feel confident about themselves. Sometimes the fastest possible alleviation from a cold sore can be crucial. Luckily, there are things you can do to make the period of your torment as short as possible.

Although you cannot just kill the virus, the trick is to make it as hard for it to reproduce as you can. It has been demonstrated that a protein called lysine can be used to treat and inhibit cold sores. Lysine stops herpes from reproducing by substituting another protein called arginine. This protein is the main culprit for the virus’s ability to reproduce quickly. When the virus reaches the skin and there is no arginine to help it reproduce, it pulls back. You can use this to your benefit by consuming foods that are rich in lysine, such as dairy products and meat, and foods that are low in arginine, such as chocolate and dry fruits. Alternatively, you can take supplement pills containing lysine if you are really suffering. Be sure to consult your physician or pharmacist prior to starting this treatment.

Another thing you can do as soon as you suspect the appearance of a cold sore is to put ice on the infected area. If you are quick enough, the cold will decrease the severity of the cold sore to a great extent because the reproduction of herpes is stimulated by warmth.

You should also avoid eating foods that contain a considerable amount of acid, such as lemon, oranges and foods containing vinegar. The problem arises because the food can come in contact with the cold sore and acid is also conducive to the development of herpes.

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