How healthy are you?
Take our quick quiz to discover just how healthy your immune system is, as well as some useful information about your general health and wellbeing!
Check nowThe Herpes Simplex Virus-1 which causes cold sores can lie dormant under the skin for years and can be activated by a number of triggers. Today I discuss what factors commonly trigger a cold sore outbreak, so that you can minimise these factors and hopefully prevent the next outbreak.
Cold sores are common. Research shows that the majority of the adult population carries the virus. But, not everyone experiences cold sores. So, what triggers a cold sore? Why do some people carrying the virus develop this painful condition, whereas others don’t?
The main answers lie with your immune system, your diet and the presence of external factors which may damage the skin around your nose and mouth allowing a cold sore to develop.
Cold sores are caused by the Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV-1).
For most, the virus is picked up when under 30 years of age. At this point, there are often no obvious symptoms – in fact, it may be some years before you develop your first outbreak of cold sores. It is estimated that approximately 60% of the population carry this virus without knowing, as they experience no symptoms.
The HSV-1 virus is incredibly easy to transmit. This is done through various forms of physical contact – for example, sharing of towels, cutlery or razors.
After the first infection, some may develop antibodies preventing them from suffering another outbreak; equally other people can experience a cold sore several times a year. In most cases sufferers can, over time, spot the trigger that affects them and learn to avoid it. This could, in turn, reduce the number of outbreaks that occur.
As with all viruses, the HSV-1 loves to attack when the immune system is at a low point. A weakened immune system gives the virus a sense of power in its efforts to attack. Cold sore triggers include:
We are sometimes asked if kissing can spread the cold sore virus. As the Christmas party season approaches, and with more mistletoe around, now is a good time to set the record straight.
Kissing does indeed spread the cold sore virus – whether or not the person you kiss has an active cold sore. However, as you have seen earlier in this article, picking up the virus does not mean that you will have a cold sore the next day – it may take months or years for HSV-1 to cause you problems, if at all.
So technically, whilst you can pick up the cold sore virus when kissing someone who carries it, this pastime will not trigger a bout of cold sores.
Our bodies tend to suffer more at this time of the year. The stress of the festive season and the year’s activities can take their toll on the immune system.
Cold sores are unpleasant and often painful. I hope that, by following these tips and recognising your personal trigger, you can in some way avoid outbreaks in the future.
Looking for our products in a store near you?
Not sure whether your favourite health food store sells our products?
To find your local independent store selling our products, just type your postcode below.
Take our quick quiz to discover just how healthy your immune system is, as well as some useful information about your general health and wellbeing!
Check nowStay up to date with the latest pollen information by finding your local pollen forecast from over 30,000 locations across the UK.
Get your local pollen count nowWhat you drink can have a big impact on the extent of your allergic rhinitis symptoms. From herbal teas to fruit juices find out which could help you most.
8 tasty drinks that could help allergic rhinitisDiscover the story of Alfred VogelNature is just about the best thing we’ve got!