The 'Evil' coldsore battle

Let's face it, if you suffer from cold sores as I have done (really badly) and still do occasionally, then the word evil is not a strong word to call them. I used to get these wretched things if I was poorly, tired or stressed, a sure sign to me that I wasn't taking care of myself. They can make you feel very poorly, self conscious and generally miserable. An article that I read in Cosmopolitan magazine inspired me to write this post as I couldn't believe that a little miracle that I have found was not mentioned. I was reading through said article fervently hoping to find mention of it, but it didn't come. The article mentioned maintaining a good diet, avoiding certain foods and taking Aciclovir, an active ingredient found in the cold sore cream Zovirax as a tablet. It also recommended a very expensive cold sore cream which could be unreachable for many sufferers. So what is the mystery remedy I am talking about? It is called Lysine. 
I've had this little pot of sunshine for over a year, and to be honest, I haven't looked back. The ointment is clear and has hardly any smell. It is from the health food store Holland & Barrett and is not expensive at only £4.49. I would pay whatever it took to reduce the frequency and pain of the darn things! 

I have now gone up to another level of fighting back, after much research into Lysine and it's benefits. I take 1000mg of L-Lysine everyday, which is an amino acid which helps support the growth and maintenance of the body. It has been over three months since taking these tablets and (touch wood) I haven't had any breakouts, even with illness and a few sleepless nights. I also take an extra tablet if I feel any sort of tingle in my lip or around my nose, coupled with a hearty coating of the ointment before bed. (Make sure you wash your hands after use). This may all sound a little over the top, but I would take a routine like this over the beasts any day!     
Don't get me wrong, I also try to keep to a healthy diet, drink water and green tea, and get 8 hours of sleep every night (hilarious), but sometimes we just need a little extra help in our systems to fight off these pesky viruses.

This has worked for me, and of course I am not a medical practitioner, so check it out before you start taking any vitamins. I would just hate to think of people suffering like I was; thinking all avenues had been taken and there is no help. Here are the links on the Holland and Barrett website for more information:


Wishing you all happy healthy lips, just in time for Valentines Day, (timed it quite well didn't I)!

As always, if you have any questions or comments, drop me a line.

Twitter @clarity_beauty 

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