Cold sores are common, eight out of ten people show evidence of the virus Herpes simplex which causes cold sores and 20% to 40% of those go on to develop the symptoms associated with cold sores. Cold sores appear on the lips and are painful fluid filled blisters which later break, leak and then crust over before healing. Cold sores do not tend to last more than two weeks. The first indication that a cold sore is going to appear is a prickly or tingling sensation called the prodrome. Cold sores are very contagious and are typically passed on from parent to child in childhood by kissing. Kissing is the main way of spreading the cold sore virus, when cold sores appear it is best to restrain from kissing. Care needs to be taken not to infect the eyes with the cold sore virus, in extreme cases, if the eyes are affected it could cause blindness. Never touch your cold sore and then rub your eyes. Once infected by the cold sore virus, recurrences are common, the triggers for cold sores are exposure to excessive ultraviolet light such as sunlight or sun beds, stress, periods of illness and the menstrual periods.

The recurrence rate of cold sores can be influenced by diet; the cold sore virus needs a high requirement of an amino acid called arginine. Arginine can be found in nuts, peanuts and chocolate. Another important amino acid, in relation to cold sores is lysine. By increasing lysine intake, the recurrence rate of cold sores can be reduced. Taking lysine supplements on the break out of a cold sore will help to suppress its duration. Lysine can be found naturally in Brewer