Cold sores are a common viral condition that can be uncomfortable and frustrating. They often appear at the most inconvenient times and tend to recur, especially during periods of stress, fatigue, or weakened immunity. While topical treatments can help manage symptoms or outbreaks, cold sore supplements are another alternative to help prevent an outbreak from occurring by supporting your immune system; therefore, reducing the frequency of outbreaks. 

Let's explore what causes cold sores and how targeted nutrients may help prevent them. 

What Are Cold Sores?

Cold sores are the result of an infection with herpes simplex virus (HSV-1). This highly contagious virus is usually contracted in childhood through skin contact.

The virus then lies dormant in the body and only produces sores when triggered.

What Triggers A Cold Sore Outbreak?

Triggers for cold sores are individual, but some of the more common triggers are exposure to cold, wind or sun, food allergies, a decreased immune system due to other infections or stress and hormonal fluctuations.

Initially, a cold sore will present a tingling or burning sensation around the lips. This is the cold sore forming. The next stage is the formation of a red bump that itches and turns into a blister filled with fluid. Next, the blister will break and form a crust, which indicates that the infection is no longer contagious. These breakouts usually last for approximately 10 days and will occasionally develop multiple sores. Along with these sores will be a mild fever and fatigue.

Cold Sore Outbreak Prevention Tips

Cold Sore Supplements & Nutrients 

Supporting your immune system and maintaining the right nutrient balance can play a key role in reducing the frequency and severity of cold sore outbreaks. This is where management through diet and supplements comes in.

  1. Dietary help for preventing and treating cold sores involves decreasing the amino acid arginine in the diet. Arginine is used by the virus for replication. Avoid arginine-rich foods such as nuts, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, peas, lentils, oats, corn, buckwheat, barley, chocolate and coconut.
  2. Increase the lysine content of your diet, because lysine inhibits herpes virus replication. Lysine-rich foods include fish, especially halibut, shrimp, poultry, milk, lima beans, mung bean sprouts and yeast.
  3. Use immune-boosting foods like flaxseed oil, raw fruits and vegetables, pumpkin seeds, wheat germ and seafood. And supplements like vitamin C, zinc, vitamin B complex, probiotics, and lemon balm.
  4. Avoid foods that decrease the immune system like white flour and sugar products, and trans-fat products like margarine and shortening.

Lifestyle Tips

Physical treatments for boosting the immune system include: alternating hot and cold water at the end of your shower (always ending with cold), regular exercise, relaxation exercises and dry skin brushing. Topical treatment of cold sores can be done with colloidal silver, licorice extract, vitamin E oil, and creams containing vitamin C and zinc. All of these treatments help to kill the virus and heal the skin.