Cold Sore Prevention
first if you suspect that the irritating little red spot on your lip
may be a cold sore, consult a doctor. It is desirable to do so early,
ideally from the onset, if discover lesions on the face, it is important
to get a diagnosis to be sure to use the most appropriate treatment to
alleviate its symptoms.
Avoiding physical contact is essential if you suspect someone is
contagious when symptoms appear and throughout the period in which the
lesions are visible. Take care to avoid having yourself, and especially
young children come into contact with the lesion.
Do not touch cold sores, yours or anyone else’s; they can transmit the
virus to many points on your body. You can also spread it to other parts
of your own body, this phenomenon is called self-inoculation. It happens
rarely, but you should be aware that its manifestations are the same as
those of herpes. Avoid touching or scratching your or someone else’s
cold sores. If you do, you wash immediately hands and defiantly do not
touch any other part of your body.
Protect your eyes, do not touch your eyes or your eyelids, you could
infect your eyes with herpes which goes by the name of herpetic
keratitis and this could compromise your vision. If you wear contact
lenses, do not wet them with your saliva.
Do not have sex, or even kiss or even hug, oral contact. It is important
to know that the risk of transmitting the virus remains, even if it is
less, when the injuries are not apparent and you are not having an
outbreak.
Do not use other people’s personal belongings such as a toothbrush. Do
not share towels or your coffee cup and do not use those of others.
Drain lesions that seep by applying a compresses of cold water and boric
acid powder, they produce a drying effect.
Use a sunscreen. It is recognized that ultraviolet rays trigger
outbreaks in some people. Use a lip balm and lip lotions with an index
of sun protection that is the highest possible (30 or 45).
Avoid foods that seem to trigger an outbreak, if you feel that certain
foods, spicy (jalapeno peppers) or acidic (tomatoes, orange juice), are
linked to your surges of cold sores, either because they trigger,
compound or amplify your injury or pain, do consume them. |
