If you have ever experienced a cold sore, you are painfully aware of the discomfort and embarrassment these blemishes can cause. And the worst part is that a cold sore can hang around until its welcome is more than worn – up to ten days in some cases. The other bad news is that once you’ve had one, the virus remains in your system so that you could suffer from additional breakouts from time to time. Yuck. Are you ready for the good news? There are steps that you can take to prevent a cold sore from occurring or shorten the time you have to suffer with one that has already appeared. There are also tips for hiding those sores while you are waiting for them to go away. Read on for ways to win the battle of the cold sores!

Prevention

To learn how to prevent a cold sore, it helps to understand what causes them in the first place. Cold sores are caused by a virus called Herpes simplex type 1. This virus is different from the herpes virus that causes genital herpes. Once this virus is in your system, you cannot get rid of it completely, which explains why some unfortunate folks will experience multiple cold sore breakouts every year. The best prevention for a cold sore is to eat a healthy diet, get plenty of rest and manage stress effectively. These habits will keep your immune system going strong, and hopefully keep cold sore breakouts away. It is also a good idea to wear a lip balm with a sunscreen and apply sunscreen to your face daily to try to prevent the colds sores from occurring.

Treatment

If you feel the familiar tingle that tells you a cold sore is on its way, you don’t have to take the news lying down. Apply an antiviral cream as soon as possible to keep the breakout to a minimum or even prevent it from occurring at all. If you have frequent outbreaks, you can also talk to your doctor about getting the antiviral medication in a pill form. Other treatments of cold sores include ice applied directly to the area, and acetaminophen or ibuprofen to help deal with the pain. Natural remedies include aloe, lemon balm or mint applied to the area multiple times a day. You can also use petroleum jelly to keep dryness and cracking to a minimum.

Cover Up

If, despite your best efforts, you still end up with an unsightly cold sore on your lip, don’t despair. You can raid your makeup drawer to find the right cosmetics to make the sore less noticeable. First, apply your topical medication that will be working hard under cover. Next, dab a Q-tip into a mixture of oil-free foundation and liquid concealer. Lightly apply to the area and blend gently. Finish with a dusting of powder for staying power. You can then turn your attention to your lips by outlining them with a lip liner that is close to the same shade as your natural lip color. Apply lipstick to your mouth, then follow up with a spot of gloss on the middle of the lower lip. This technique should draw attention away from your cold sore and focus it on your pretty smile instead.

A cold sore is no fun, but it doesn’t have to ruin your day and bring your social life to a grinding halt. Follow these steps for prevention and treatment, and keep those inevitable breakouts under cover until the healing is complete. Bye-bye, cold sores!

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