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Blister Busters
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Our experts offer these pre-outbreak hints that may put the brakes
on your sore spots:
- Avoid stress by getting enough sleep and not overscheduling yourself.
- "Supplements that boost your immune system may help," says
Dr. Golden. She suggests taking as much vitamin C as you can tolerate,
up to 5 grams (large doses can cause diarrhea), and between 400 and
800 IUs of vitamin E per day, as well as a multivitamin. Vitamin E
oil can also be applied directly to sores to protect tissue and prevent
scarring.
- Watch your intake of chocolate and nuts (including peanut butter).
They contain arginine, an essential amino acid that seems to stimulate
HSV-1. Also avoid alcohol and caffeine, which act on the central nervous
system. A food allergy may be behind cankers, so keep track of which
edibles might set off an attack, and avoid them.
- The amino acid lysine seems to counteract excessive arginine. Dr.
Golden suggests taking 500 mg twice a day and doubling the dose during
an episode.
- An aspirin a day may keep a cold sore at bay. A small study reported
in The Annals of Internal Medicine suggests that a daily 125-mg dose
taken by adults at the first sign of a sore and continued throughout
the outbreak can shorten its visit, as well as lessen the pain and
inflammation.
- Shield lips and surrounding skin from the sun by using sunblock;
apply a lip balm or lipstick with an SPF of at least 30.
- Avoid tartar-control toothpastes and mouthwashes that contain alcohol.
Always brush teeth and gums gently.
- Always use a clean cotton swab to transfer makeup, sunscreen,
or lip balm ointment from the tube to the affected site to prevent
contamination or re-infection.
- Wash your hands after touching or treating a sore - otherwise, you
might spread the virus to other people, other body parts, or re-infect
the same area.
- Even without treatment, both cold and canker sores will clear up
within 7 to 14 days. "But if they linger longer or recur more
frequently, the lesions may be a sign of a more serious autoimmune
illness," says Moneymaker. High fever, spreading infection, or
pain that can't be controlled with OTC medications are other signals
that you should consult your doctor.
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