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Prevent Cold Sores by Avoiding These Top Five Triggers
By Jane Anthony

Cold sores are a virus in the body that lay dormant until they are triggered and appear above the skin surface. Many people who experience cold sores feel a tingling or itching sensation at the site of the cold sore about a day before it appears. Then small blisters will form and eventually turn into a scab, which later flakes off. These pesky blisters can hang around for about five days and up to the average of two weeks. Although they can seemingly come on for no apparent reason, there are common triggers that wake them from their dormant state.

Five Cold Sore Triggers

1. Common colds, the flu, or a fever
2. Weakened immune system
3. Stress and lack of sleep
4. Exposure to ultraviolet radiation – sun or tanning beds
5. Trauma to the skin, which can be as simple as chapped lips

You can avoid these triggers with a few easy tips.

Ways to Avoid Cold Sores

1. Keep your immune system healthy so it can better fight off illnesses. Take vitamins, exercise regularly, eat healthy foods and get enough sleep.
2. Make a list of things you do to relax and practice them more regularly. You can try yoga or meditation. Take time relax in a warm bath or read a book. While at work, take a few minutes out of your day to close your eyes and take a few deep breaths – you’ll be surprised just how much this easy exercise will refocus your energy and relax you.
3. Avoid tanning beds and wear hats to shade your face in sunny weather. Use sun screen regularly. You can find facial lotions and chap stick with SPF in them for daily use. You can also put a higher SPF lotion directly on the site where you get cold sores.
4. Keep your skin moisturized, especially at the site of the cold sore, with lotion, chap stick and lip balm.

Avoiding these triggers can help prevent cold sores, but if you experience cold sores more frequently then once a month, you may want to consult a doctor about preventative daily medication.

Learn more about the Causes of Cold Sores and How to Prevent Them with natural home remedies, over-the-counter medication and prescription strength medication. Say good bye to your cold sores!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jane_Anthony
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