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Slaying the Ultimate Beauty Killer!

7 August, 2015 - 10:05pm by - First Lady | 16 Comments

Article by BR Kellie

It starts with a tingle. You may even feel like you’re coming down with a cold. Your heart sinks. You know what is it, you’ve felt it before. And typically it tends to turn up when you’ve a hot date, an important meeting or a glam event to attend.

Cold sores are right pains in the… lip. So what can you do to hold one off or even head one off? 

The moment you feel a cold sore coming grab a cube of ice, heck grab a bag of frozen peas, whatever you’ve got on hand, as long as it’s icy cold, and apply it to the tingling area. Why? The cold sore virus prefers a warm environment to thrive, so when it is met with a cold environment it backs off…for a while anyway. It’s not a complete fix, but at least you can go to a big event without feeling self conscious about the ugly mass on your lip.

Lemon balm or lemon balm cream is another natural way to help stop cold sores in their tracks; it can also be used to help heal cold sores. Best of all you can grow your own lemon balm in your garden, so when that familiar tingle hits you can quickly grab a fresh leaf and rub it over the affected area. 

If the halt method doesn’t work, get set healing. Some swear by soaking a cotton ball in room temperature full fat milk and applying it to the area for 10 to heal a cold sore more quickly, while others crack open aloe vera and apply the gel onto the cold sore. Witch hazel, a paste of licorice powder and water, and even toothpaste are also often recommended by sufferers as ways to treat cold sores.

So what if it’s too late and the cold sore has exploded onto your lip and you want to minimise the look of it? Head to your makeup bag and grab your concealer and a cotton bud, pop some concealer on the cotton bud and lightly dab it over the area, then chuck out the cotton bud and use a fresh one if you find yourself needing extra coverage – remember, we don’t double dip chips and dip and we don’t double dip concealer and cotton buds that have touched cold sores. Whatever you do don’t apply the concealer directly to the cold sore, as you’ll have to toss out your concealer and buy a fresh virus-free one. Once you’ve concealed the cold sore you can then apply lipstick with a cotton bud, remembering to use a fresh cotton bud when building the colour so as not to infect the lipstick.

In an ideal world we’d never get cold sores, but if you’re prone to getting them there are ways you can cut down how often they appear. 

One of the biggies is to take care of yourself. The moment you’re feeling tired, stressed or ill the virus is more likely to come out to play. So exercise regularly, get a good amount of sleep, manage stress by learning relaxation techniques like meditation or deep breathing exercises, boost your immune system with Echinacea and eat well. Speaking of eating, if you’re regularly getting cold sores keep a diary of the food you’re consuming, as there may well be a food trigger you can eliminate from your diet. Eating lysine-rich foods like meat and dairy products are said to battle arginine, aka the evil protein that likes to make cold sores. They lysine replaces the arginine at a cellular level, therefore stopping the likelihood of a breakout. Of course there are medicinal methods to stopping or clearing up cold sores and your local pharmacist can assist with advice on that.

Other tips to prevent cold sores? You might want to buy stock in a toothbrush company, because it’s recommended that the moment the blister has formed you chuck out your toothbrush and get a new one, and the moment the cold sore has cleared up you’re to chuck out that toothbrush and replace it again. And if you’re a fan of heading out into the great outdoors be sure to wear sunscreen on your lips, as the sun loves to help kick start the cold sore virus. 

So do tell, do you suffer from cold sores? How do you head them off or help them heal? Have you got covering them down to a fine art? Sharing is caring so get chatting!

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Comments

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10th August, 2015

I find that stress and tiredness can bring on a cold sore, which I hate.

9th August, 2015

I feel for you ladies that get cold sores, they look so painful and I imagine they are just a huge pain in the rear being in such a visible area. It sounds like there are some good tips floating around here though!

9th August, 2015

I don't get cold sores! and im so happy about that , i feel for you ladies!! they must be so sore. I do remember getting one in high school but would never have thought to do the things recommend in the article! saving this <3

9th August, 2015

I have never had them, not sure what I would do, see the chemist first, and if no joy the doctor.

9th August, 2015

I have to be honest, I've never had a cold sore but my son has had them a couple of times and that Zovirax stuff is so expensive lol xx

8th August, 2015

I'm very lucky and have never had a cold sore. Fingers crossed I don't get any because my mum gets them and it seems to be a pain and a nuisance!

8th August, 2015

I've never had the virus thank God. And that's why I never use lipstick testers at the store on my lips. If I want to try a Mac Lipstick I always wait till the attendant can disinfect it.

8th August, 2015

Thank GOD I don't get these. However, my mother in law does, and she has a habit of trying to kiss her children on the mouth. If we ever get them I will know who it's come from! *shakes fist*

8th August, 2015

I get really bad coldsore outbreaks ... huge blisters about the size of a 10c piece that cause my cheek bones to ache and the my glands in my neck and behind my ears to swell. I've had up to 14 in one year and up to 4 at one time - so bad that I couldn't eat, drink or speak. I no longer get a burning or tingling warning, they just appear. I've tried the ice thing, it nothing for me, the blister still comes up as big as ever. Applying make-up over them just makes mine worse, it seems to make them flare (get hot, irritated and throb). I've tried various things over the last 26 years, from home remedies to prescription meds and find that using Zovirax cream and taking an L-Lysine supplement definitely helps reduct the size and they heal much faster. Avoid sugar and anything containing arginine (nuts, peanut butter, etc) and the virus thrives on sugar & arginine. If you really do have to cover one up for an event, Abreva make a non-medicated patch called “AbrevaConceal“, which you stick on over the blister and then apply make-up directly onto the patch so that it doesn't come into contact with the blister.

If anyone out there really suffers badly with coldsores and would like advise from someone who's tried everything, I'm happy to share my experiences and what I've found works best for me.

8th August, 2015

I've only suffered from them once or twice but this is some great ideas for if I do get one.

8th August, 2015

Just go to the chemist and get the 3 tablet super dose (over the counter) when you feel the tingle. And if your having a bad run go to the doctor and get a prescription for 10 days- I've suffered for years and now I just carry the tablets in my purse for emergency tingles.

8th August, 2015

I suffer cold sores and I hate them I either get them on the top of my lip and they look horrid or up my nose and that hurts. Cold sore creams I've tried them all the slightest tingle and I'm on it, but they still come argh then...... I found my HG I take lysine stops them faster than a slug in a sand pit :)

7th August, 2015

Touch wood... I haven't had a cold sore in a long time now; but when I do get them I swear by Earl grey tea bags (chilled/used) as they contain Bergamot, also a favorite of mine (and a lot of mums) Lansinoh. Also cutting out peanuts and chocolate at the time of blisters or tingling as both will slow healing as will caffeine and salt (moderation is fine though). And I have been known to use bottle sterilizer on my toothbrush (living rural with impromptu blisters means you have to be resourceful at times).

7th August, 2015

I've never had one before. My partner gets them. Hes had them come and go since he was a small boy. He uses cold sore cream. I must try the lemon balm on him .

7th August, 2015

I haven't had a cold sore for many years and can't remember what I did about when I did! I may recall some sort of cream from the chemist...

Koni
8th August, 2015

Ohhh I love Earl Grey! So how long should we keep the chilled tea bags on the lips?

pintsize
8th August, 2015

For as long as you need to Koni, a few minutes at a time (I do it until the teabag is no longer chilled) as many times a day (fresh tea bags), it really soothes and I had one disappear after only a day... I caught it early though. xx

Koni
8th August, 2015

Thank you so much for that. I'll be trying this next :-)

Head Pixie
9th August, 2015

I am starting to think that teabags are the best beauty invention ever! They pop up in my research as a cure for all sorts of things.

pintsize
9th August, 2015

Maybe an idea for another article Head Pixie ;) The Beauty Wonders of used tea bags :) xx

Ringy
8th August, 2015

I get nose ones! They hurt like a mofo but at least you can't see it as much! Unless your superstressed and it connects down to your lip! I think eyeball cold sores would be the worst!!

MAGPIEFI
8th August, 2015

omg I didn't know you could get such a thing. Are they new? It's been a while since I've asked at the chemist. On the list :) thanks xx

Ringy
8th August, 2015

Been out a few years- you have to go in and pretend you have the tingle etc and get them in preparation because you NEVER are conveniently walking past a chemist when that itchy tingle strikes!

Kimrose
9th August, 2015

They are called Famir once.They are a pharmacist only medication which means the pharmacist will ask you a couple of questions .

Kimrose
9th August, 2015

Sorry bad spelling, it is called Famvir.

MAGPIEFI
9th August, 2015

ok thanks exciting x

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