Cold sores are caused by a strain of the herpes virus. According to AuroraHealthCare.com, many people encounter the herpes simplex virus as children, although some people contract it as adults. This virus is incurable but can lie dormant for long stretches of time, and many times it is only activated by certain factors. Cold sores are communicable between people, and there are also several ways a person can prevent contracting the virus that causes these sores. Most of these preventative measures are helpful whether you have yet to contract the herpes simplex virus or are simply trying to prevent an outbreak of cold sores.
Step 1
Avoid sharing things with people who have cold sores or may carry the herpes simplex virus. The safest bet is to never share with strangers and avoid sharing with anyone other than your spouse or other close individuals. This includes avoiding the sharing of products like lip balm, drinking cups and toothbrushes, as well as not sharing food or drinks with other people.
Step 2
Do not kiss individuals who have cold sores present on their skin. This makes you a likely candidate to contract the virus.
Step 3
Wash your hands frequently. If you encounter something that has the herpes simplex virus and it gets onto your hands, you are still safe until your hands come in contact with the nose or your mouth. Wash your hands after touching unfamiliar or dirty objects to limit the spread of HSV and other unwanted materials.
Step 4
Avoid triggers that can cause outbreaks of cold sores if you already carry the virus. Many people have trigger foods that can cause outbreaks, and unfortunately there is no way of knowing what those foods might be until the consumption of the food results in an outbreak. If you do experience outbreaks, keep track of the foods you eat when you get an outbreak in order to identify and avoid that food. Other triggers, such as lack of sleep and sunlight, should also be avoided, according to the MayoClinic.com.
Step 5
Limit your consumption of acidic foods, like lemons and spices. These foods are triggers to most individuals who carry the HSV virus, and they can result in a cold sore outbreak.
