Find out why you get cold sores so often and what can be done to reduce the number of recurring outbreaks.
The facts about cold sores
Cold sores are an infectious chronic inflammatory skin disease caused by the herpes simplex virus. The infection occurs in the form of vesicular eruptions, usually located on the periphery of the mouth and lips. Herpes is a contagious and recurrent disease; that’s why it’s impossible to get rid of. Unfortunately, outbreaks will erupt and subside throughout your lifetime. However, that doesn’t mean you have no control over the frequency with which that typical tingling and burning sensation will be felt.
What causes cold sore outbreaks?
You can stop wondering why you get cold sores so often and instead make every effort to avoid conditions that trigger an outbreak. They include:
- stress and anxiety
- fatigue
- extreme hot or cold temperatures
- fever
- flu or colds
- prolonged exposure to sunlight
- cracked lips
- some foods and allergies
It goes without saying that you should also avoid kissing anyone when you have a cold sore, as well as sharing your utensils or towels.
Nothing works
If you've tried to avoid conditions that can encourage cold sore outbreaks, and still can't seem to avoid them, you may need to consult a doctor and get some more advice on what you can do to control it.
Ask your doctor for help
In these circumstances, seeing your doctor may be helpful in order to find other ways to reduce the frequency of your cold sore outbreaks. He or she will ask you questions concerning the context that gives rise to your outbreaks and might also suggest various tests to identify allergies or foods that could be the cause—in short, all the reasons that could explain why you get so many cold sores will be reviewed. Your doctor may be able to pinpoint the problem and help you relieve and prevent future outbreaks.
