Cold sores are a manifestation of oral herpes. Cold sores can appear at any time once you have oral herpes and can be very painful and cause you significant discomfort. There are many different products that you can use to reduce the severity and duration of cold sores, including L-lysine.
Cold Sores
Cold sores, which are also called fever blisters, are a manifestation of the herpes simplex virus. In general, cold sores are caused by herpes simplex 1 and are sometimes preceded by a feeling of itching or burning on the lips, also known as the prodomal stage, MayoClinic.com notes. Cold sores typically last for between 10 and 14 days, after which the blisters break and ooze. The immune system is unable to get rid of the herpes virus, which means that once you are infected you can develop cold sores for the rest of your life.
Lysine and Herpes
The herpes simplex virus needs a large amount of the amino acid arginine to replicate and survive. Arginine is similar in structure to another amino acid, lysine. In theory, high levels of lysine could interfere with the ability of the herpes virus to replicate, helping to prevent or quell cold sore outbreaks. According to Herpes.com, eating a diet which has a high lysine/arginine ratio can prevent cold sores. Recommended foods include margarine, whey, yogurt, beets and many kinds of cheese.
Lysine Supplements
L-lysine, which is the form of lysine which is naturally found in the body can also be taken in supplement form. In some cases, taking lysine supplements on a regular basis can help prevent oral herpes outbreaks, the University of Maryland Medical Center explains. If you are trying to prevent cold sores, you should take 1,000 mg of l-lysine three times each day. For the treatment of active cold sores, take between 3,000 and 9,000 mg of l-lysine in divided doses each day.
Considerations
Although some people claim that l-lysine can help prevent or reduce the severity of cold sores, there is not enough scientific evidence to fully support the use of this amino acid for oral herpes infections. Taking large amounts of lysine can disrupt the balance of amino acids in your body, the American Social Health Association notes, and there is no consensus as to what the proper dose of l-lysine is. You should talk to your doctor before taking l-lysine or any other supplement.
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