Why do i keep getting cold sores every week?

Are you tired of waking up with another cold sore on your lip? Do you feel like everyone is staring at that little blister whenever you go out in public? Well, you’re not alone. Cold sores are actually incredibly common and affect approximately two-thirds of people worldwide.

While it may seem like the universe is conspiring against you, there are several reasons why you might be experiencing more frequent outbreaks than others. In this article, we’ll dive into some of the most common causes and what you can do to prevent them from ruining your day – or week!

What exactly are cold sores?

Before we get into why they keep popping up all over your face, let’s first understand what a cold sore actually is. According to dermatologists (those fancy folks who know everything about skin), “cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), which lives dormant in nerve tissue inside the body until it’s triggered.”

This means that once someone has been infected with HSV-1, they will always carry the virus within their body – whether or not they ever experience symptoms. When an outbreak occurs, it usually starts with a tingling sensation around one’s mouth before eventually appearing as a cluster of small blisters which can last anywhere from a few days to two weeks.

The good news: they’re not dangerous! That being said, if left unchecked these pesky sores could lead to further complications such as bacterial infections – especially if irritated through physical contact or excessive stress.

So now that we know just how annoying these suckers can be, let’s get into why some people battle them far more frequently than others.

Genetics

Okay smarty-pants genetics majors… Can you guess where we’re going next?

It turns out that some unlucky souls inherit genes making them especially prone to cold sores. These genetic variants affect the body’s immune system, making it a bit more difficult to fend off triggers for outbreaks.

Triggers

Whether or not you are predisposed to cold sores genetically, certain environmental factors can trigger an outbreak. Some of these include:

Stress

You know what they say – stress is a silent killer who also happens to be responsible for about 99% of our lives’ problems!

Unfortunately, that includes cold sores as well. Stress can weaken the body’s immune system and make it harder for your body to fight off potential outbreaks.

So what are some practical tips to manage everyday stress?

  • Go easy on yourself! Remember that we’re all human and deserve breaks
  • Exercise regularly – even just take short walks throughout the day
  • Reduce exposure from toxic people/codependency

Sunlight

Got any sun-bathing nudist in-laws? Time to invest in some curtains…

Sunburns have long been known as culprit when causing skin irritations, such as acne breakouts or eczema flare-ups… And yes… Cold Sores too!

To prevent those nasty UV Rays from taking time out of their schedule into your life… 😔 place generous amounts of sunscreen on your lips (even if cloudy!) You could even up this routine by wearing large-brimmed hats designed exclusively for lawn-sitting seniors at picnics.

Lack Of Sleep

I once had a professor who admitted he hadn’t slept since before he walked barefoot through Ireland with his friends in college…. Please don’t let be like him – It won’t bring happiness🤦‍♀️!!

Lack of sleep is linked with suppressed immunity & voila: More frequent herpes breakouts appear.When we miss sleep,the chance increases because good REM cycles stimulate lymphocytes which protect us from viruses.Unfortunately,the person most affected is one who involuntary stays up all-night submitting his bank account number to princes in foreign countries.

Diet

As the 15th century proverb goes: “You are what you eat!”

This holds very true when dealing with cold sores. Diets with high acidic levels or refined sugars can trigger those under-the-radar microbes lurking within your system waiting for their chance!

Believe it or not, excessive coffee usage boosts that risk too. Trying alkaline foods such as fruits/veggies may help manage acidity level and support other healing activities by focusing on the ‘let food be thy medicine’ idea.

Touch & Transmission

Lastly, while this might seem obvious from commercials plastered across TV… Cold sores are incredibly contagious – regardless of whether an outbreak is occurring at any given time!

Avoid touching them whenever possible because scratching isn’t a great backing strategy; Your hands could make matters even worse transmitting bacterial infections overingesting garlic sauce seconds ago.

Here are some tips to remember if you want to avoid infecting others:

  • Wash your hands regularly
  • Do not share utensils like bowls/plates etc with anyone else
  • Avoid intimate contact until healed

Catch my drift? If you’re someone whose life seems to revolve around herpes breakouts – these environmental factors play a significant role. By working towards removing practices that lead us into flawed lifestyles (i.e constant stress, unhealthy diets),one can attain minimizing frequency of CM outbreaks.

Overall don’t beat yourself up about it—cold sores happen—and there’s no real cure…but knowledge does prevent future instances!. Now – grab a drink and enjoy living alittle more comfortably 🍹

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