How To Prevent Cold Sores When Traveling -

After years of being cooped into their homes, individuals can finally travel freely again! Whether it’s for getting a suntan on pristine beaches or experiencing the great outdoors, people can get on that long-planned vacation they so deserve at long last.

It should be all fun and adventure—but if you’re no stranger to cold sores outbreak, then you know your trip already went south when you start to feel that tingling sensation on your lips followed by the appearance of small bumps.

But it shouldn’t stop you from enjoying this vacation that’s been long overdue. Here’s how you can keep cold sores at bay while traveling.

Know Your Triggers

The only way you can enjoy your travels and vacation without worrying about how to eliminate cold sores and their symptoms is to not get them in the first place. To lead a cold sore free life, you need to identify what your triggers are and then avoid them like the plague.

In general, the most common cold sore triggers are:

Sleep deprivation or fatigue;
Hormonal changes;
Diet changes;
Stress;
Weakened immune system; and
Exposure to sun, cold, or wind.

Think back to the last time you got a cold store and determine what might have caused it. Have you been overworking yourself? Do you binge-watch your favorite Netflix series until morning? Or maybe the significant fluctuations in weather have given you chapped, dry lips and then the dreaded blisters?

Pack Your Anti-Cold Sore Essentials

Other than trying your hardest to avoid them, you also need to be always ready.

So, other than packing your favorite outfits, you shouldn’t forget your cold sores treatments that can help you attack these bumps the moment they show up. There are several options you can pack, from prescription medications to over-the-counter (OTC) ointments to household cold sore remedies.

Traveling gives you a chance to try out different cuisine and local foods and go all out. However, a sudden change of diet can wreak havoc on your skin and is one of the most common triggers of cold sores.

That said, you want to consider the menu first. You can ask what sort of ingredients are in a certain dish and choose wisely. Also, while it’s tempting to feast on delicious dishes you’ve never tried before, we suggest you eat in moderation if you want to enjoy the rest of your travels, cold sore-free.

That said, it’s not easy to ensure that your diet stays healthy when out traveling. So, a simple solution you can try is to pack food supplements. These supplements can save the day when the right type of food isn’t available or your nutrition value is fluctuating.

Avoid The Sun

Summer is already here. And if you’re thinking about lounging on white sandy beaches and getting a suntan, then think twice. Strong sunlight is a well-known trigger of cold sores. Pair that with the salty, dry air or strong winds on beaches and you’ll soon feel a tingling sensation on your lips.

That said, we’re not saying you can’t enjoy a wonderful and budget-friendly beach getaway. If you’re going to the beach, make sure to use a good lip balm with ingredients that can help reduce sun damage.

But you shouldn’t just focus on your lips. Getting sunburned on any part of your skin can put your body on overdrive to heal the affected area which can leave you prone to a cold sore outbreak on your lips. Plus, the harsh sun rays can cause more severe issues on your skin other than cold sores.

So, make sure to lather your whole body with sunblock. If you can, consider covering up or at least using a wide hat to protect your face.

Preventing A Spread

In the unfortunate event that cold sores do occur while you’re traveling, you must keep it from spreading to your travel mates or other people you meet.

Cold sores are known to easily spread, and they can infect someone who doesn’t even have an active sore. So, to help avoid spreading, follow the tips below.

Wash your hands frequently as well as use alcohol and sanitizers as necessary. This can help keep the herpes simplex (HS) virus, the microorganism responsible for cold sores, off your hands and from being spread.
Avoid scratching, picking, or touching your cold sores. Not only can this worsen the infection but it also transfers the virus to your hands, which allows it to spread to other parts of your body and to other people.
When cold sores are present, avoid skin-to-skin contact with other people. This includes kissing, hugging, or sexual contact.
Pack and avoid sharing your utensils, toothpaste, lip products, towels, or any other items that might touch your mouth. Also, never share food and drinks with others.

Conclusion

And there you have it!

Vacation travels should be great days of fun and all types of adventure— even to those who are prone to cold sores. So, the next time you’re traveling and worried about experiencing the dreaded lip tingle and bumps appearing, follow the above tips to keep cold sores at bay, or, in the unfortunate event that an outbreak occurs, keep it controlled.