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"Mistress of finance and foods."
(set 16 days ago)
Location: Coastal Georgia
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I've never suffered with cold sores, for which I am very grateful, but I've always wondered.. why do they appear only on the lips? Why not elsewhere on the body?
I've never suffered with cold sores, for which I am very grateful, but I've always wondered.. why do they appear only on the lips? Why not elsewhere on the body?
You can get cold sores anywhere but they are easiest to spread from one mucous membrane to another and since people kiss, share drinks, chap-stick, etc they are most often spread lip to lip.
This very issue is how I found out about city data. Used google to research mouth ulsers and city data came up, so there is another thread on this if you use the search function. The amino acid lysine does work for me.....BUT it is just one of the many amino acids your body needs so my advice is to purchase a protein supplement that has all the other Important amino acids as well as lysine.
There are two main amino acids which effect cold sores, arginine and L-Lysine. Arginine is almost like food for the virus. It helps cold sores replicate and produce symptoms. Taking supplements with arginine in them will make a cold sore worse. It's best to avoid arginine in supplements and in foods such as peanuts, chocolate, etc during an outbreak. L-Lysine competes with arginine and can actually repress arginine production, that's what makes it so helpful in combating cold sores. A supplement containing all of the amino acids may be fine in between outbreaks but if you feel a cold sore coming on or have an active outbreak you should avoid arginine and just take a L-Lysine supplement on it's own.
when I feel a cold sore coming on, I take Lysine. also, I use neosporin on it. It seems to clear them up pretty quickly. If you seem to get cold sores from sun exposure, be sure to always use lip balm with at least a 15spf.
If you seem to get cold sores from sun exposure, be sure to always use lip balm with at least a 15spf.
I agree 100% with sgresident! I have suffered from cold sores for all of my life - and in the last 10-15 years, I have used Hawaiian Tropic lip balm with 45 spf ANYTIME - let me repeat - ANYTIME I am going to be outside longer than moving from house to car.........and I find that my actual cold sore suffering has been almost eliminated.
I can't speak for Lysine, as I don't use it - but do use the Hawaiian Tropic Aloe Vera 45+ Sunscreen Lip Balm - all the time. In the odd event that I get an actual cold sore, I use Abreve at the first 'sensation, then for a few more days, along with the Hawaiian Tropic lip balm. I think I pay $1.67 per tube at Wal-Mart......hard to get unless you stock up at the beginning of the summer season - in early May.....I buy about 10 tubes when I first see it - have it in all my bags, purses, pockets, cars, etc.......so I'm never 'without' the SPF protection. And don't skip on cloudy days - the SPF on cloudy days is BRUTAL on those of us who suffer cold sores from sun exposure!
Medicated lip balm blistex brand..............all the time...............helps prevent one. Of course I had a small one and used alcohol with a cotton ball directly on it and ICE ICE ICE..................................
KEPT putting ice directly on cold sore and poof gone in about 3 days! compared to two weeks! I hate those. Stress is a major factor....or weak immune system....winter or summer especially.
Totally correct on the L-lysine and arginine .... arginine is food for the herpes virus (cold sores). And the best treatment is to prevent them ... especially those suffering chronic or frequent outbreaks. That preventative is avoiding foods that are high in arginine. One such common food these days is Soy. Avoid Soy, and products containing Soy. (Not good for you anyway, but that's another subject).
I've known a couple of people who suffered cold sores 3, 4 5 times a year. They eliminated Soy .. no more cold sores.
After taking that regularly I only got one cold sore last winter, and that's because I slacked off taking it for a bit. This really works and it's all natural. I'm so happy I finally found a solution I could do cartwheels...and no I'm not spamming.
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