Anyone who gets cold sores knows what a pain (literally) they can be. Caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV), these uncomfortable lesions on the lips and face can be triggered by stress, such as the onset of a cold or other illness, menstruation, sunburn, fatigue, even emotional trauma. The good news is that cold sores usually go away on their own within 10 days; the bad news is the virus remains dormant in nerve cells, and can reappear to initiate another outbreak. Help lessen the risk of recurrent cold sores with the following:
Avoid foods rich in the amino acid arginine, which can activate the virus. These include chocolate, cola, beer, grain cereals, chicken soup, gelatin, seeds, nuts and peas.
