Cold sores aren't just cosmetically ugly; they hurt too. As anyone who's ever had one can attest, they can be almost overwhelmingly painful. To help you conquer cold sores, we've gathered some cold sore tips to assist you in relieving the pain of a current cold sore outbreak, and to help you prevent new outbreaks down the road.

Let's get started by going over the triggers that cause cold sores.

Cold sores, also called fever blisters, are caused by a common virus called the Herpes Simplex Virus I (HSV I). You should not confuse this with genital herpes, which is caused by a different form of the virus.

Up to eighty percent of population has the HSV I virus. Most of those with the virus were exposed to it before reaching seven years of age. There is no way to get rid of this highly contagious and almost universally prevalent virus. Once you have it, it's in your body permanently. Most of the time it is dormant, without causing cold sore symptoms.

When outbreaks occur, the result is painful and unattractive sores around the mouth and lips. These happen when the normally inactive herpes virus is triggered.

Cold Sore Tips ? Preventing Outbreaks

So, how does the normally inactive HSV I virus become activated? There are a variety of triggers, including:

? Stress ? Weak immune system ? Illness ? Pregnancy or menstruation ? Injured or irritated lips and mouth

In a nutshell, anything that creates too much stress or overburdens the body can cause the formation of cold sores. So, the way to prevent cold sore outbreaks is to control these environmental triggers.

Obviously, when it comes to cold sore outbreaks in pregnancy or during a woman's menstrual cycle, some of the hormonal triggers can't be avoided. In these cases, the best prevention is a proactive approach.

A variety of supplements and drugstore products exist that can aid in preventing cold sores. Your strategy should include avoiding injuries to the lips and mouth as a result of overexposure to the sun and chapping. You should also eat a healthy diet that reinforces the immune system, and use a natural lip balm to soothe dry lips.

Cold Sore Tips ? Treatment

Prevention is all well and good, but what do you if you need to relieve symptoms of an outbreak that's already under way?

The following cold sore tips can help you get relief:

? Use a topical medication to numb the pain. Examples include "caine" medicines, like lidocaine and benzocaine. You can also use preparations like benzoyl alcohol or a phenol-containing formulation.

? Apply an antibacterial product to prevent the sores from getting infected.

? Use a good salve to moisturize the sores and prevent them from scabbing and scarring.

? Consider taking zinc and lysine supplements. These compounds may allow for faster healing of cold sores. Zinc is also a known immune system support.

The surest way to prevent cold sores is by taking care of yourself with a whole-foods diet, exercise, and good supplement program that keeps your immune system strong and healthy. Sleep well, and make sure you learn to deal effectively with stress.

While prevention is really the best treatment plan, if you do end up with painful cold sores, use these cold sore tips to minimize the associated pain and help get rid of your outbreak sooner.