People tend to experience more cold sores in the winter. Is this due to the cold weather, hence the name - cold sores? The short answer: no. The long answer...
Cold sores are triggered by several different outside influences such as the common cold or flu and fever, stress, a weakened immune system, lack of sleep and trauma to the skin. Because most of these triggers are more prevalent in the winter, this is when cold sores are more common.
Many of these triggers relate closely to each other. When your immune system is weak, you are less likely to be able to fight off illness such as the common cold, flu and fever. These illnesses trigger cold sores, which is why cold sores are sometimes called fever blisters. You can keep your immune system strong and more able to fight illnesses by reducing your stress levels, getting enough sleep, eating healthy and excising regularly.
Cold sores also appear when there is trauma to the skin, which can be as simple as chapped lips. Make sure you keep your skin and lips well moisturized in cold, dry weather. Use lotion, lip balm and chap stick regularly. Use these products to prevent chapped and dry skin rather than to sooth it after you are already having problems. In addition, exposure to ultraviolet radiation (sun and tanning beds) triggers cold sores. So be sure to use lotion and chap stick with SPF in it.
Although cold sores are not brought on by cold weather, some of the most common triggers are most prevalent in the winter. So take precaution to avoid cold sores, especially in the winter.
Cold sores are triggered by several different outside influences such as the common cold or flu and fever, stress, a weakened immune system, lack of sleep and trauma to the skin. Because most of these triggers are more prevalent in the winter, this is when cold sores are more common.
Many of these triggers relate closely to each other. When your immune system is weak, you are less likely to be able to fight off illness such as the common cold, flu and fever. These illnesses trigger cold sores, which is why cold sores are sometimes called fever blisters. You can keep your immune system strong and more able to fight illnesses by reducing your stress levels, getting enough sleep, eating healthy and excising regularly.
Cold sores also appear when there is trauma to the skin, which can be as simple as chapped lips. Make sure you keep your skin and lips well moisturized in cold, dry weather. Use lotion, lip balm and chap stick regularly. Use these products to prevent chapped and dry skin rather than to sooth it after you are already having problems. In addition, exposure to ultraviolet radiation (sun and tanning beds) triggers cold sores. So be sure to use lotion and chap stick with SPF in it.
Although cold sores are not brought on by cold weather, some of the most common triggers are most prevalent in the winter. So take precaution to avoid cold sores, especially in the winter.
