How To Prevent Cold Sores This Winter

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If you’re plagued with cold sores, I totally feel your pain. They’re an absolute pest, especially at this time of year and there are so many over the counter treatments, but they’re not always effective. That’s particularly the case with active cold sores. Once you’ve got a cold sore that’s cropped up, there’s not a lot you can do unfortunately and with cold sores, it’s very much a prevention is better than cure which is where the HERPOtherm Cold Sore Treatment comes in.

What is a cold sore?

Did you know that a cold sore doesn’t have to necessarily be on the lips? Cold sores are small, fluid filled blisters that typically break out along the border of the lips where your lip line meets the skin of the face. However, cold sores can also occur around the nose, or on the cheeks – which I have to admit, I had no idea about until recently. Cold sores typically start to heal within ten days, but they are contagious and potentially irritating, and painful whilst they heal.

What causes cold sores?

A cold sore is a group of tiny, painful blisters caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). They’re also called fever blisters or herpes simplex labialis. Up to 90% of people around the world have at least one form of HSV. You catch the HSV when coming into contact with people or things that carry the virus. For example, you can get it from kissing someone who has the HSV or from sharing eating utensils, towels, or razors.

There are certain things that can trigger a cold sore outbreak, once you have the HSV;

• Foods
• Stress
• Allergies
• Fatigue
• Colds or other illnesses
• Sunburn
• Strong sunlight or exposure to extreme cold
• Dental work
• Cosmetic surgery
• Menstruation
• Hormone fluctuation

Meet HERPOtherm

HERPOtherm is a dermatologically tested heat pen that can prevent the development of cold sore blisters if it is applied early enough. If it is applied later, once a blister has formed, the severity of cold sore symptoms may be lessened, or they may fade sooner. What makes HERPOtherm so unique, is that it’s not just a treatment you use once you’ve got an active cold sore, but it’s something can actually prevent the development of cold sores, which is why, if you suffer from cold sores, you need th HERPOtherm in your life, ready to pounce for when the cold sore symptoms strike.

Normally you’d have a cold sore and have to hit up a chemist for a cream, gel or lotion. However, HERPOtherm is a completely chemical free, medical device that can prevent the development of cold sore blisters if applied early enough. As I said, the good thing with the HERPOtherm is that if you don’t catch a cold sore in time, it won’t prevent the blisters but it’ll help minimise your symptoms, or help the blisters fade sooner.

How do you know if you have a cold sore forming?

Early blister symptoms are tingling, itching or burning sensations on or around the lip/s several hours or days before the blisters begin to appear. Once you’ve had cold sores multiple times, you will become used to the symptoms and know when’s best to break out your HERPOtherm medical device. Once you’ve experienced these initial symptoms, small, hard, painful spot appear and blisters begin to erupt.

Is there proof that a HERPOtherm works?!

There was a study conducted, which pitched the HERPOtherm against acyclovir which is an ingredient typically found in many cold sore cream treatments. The key findings from this study was the HERPOtherm observation group showed a significantly faster improvement in all symptoms after 1 day of application than the acyclovir. The burden and duratio of disease was lower and shorter using HERPOtherm when compared to the acyclovir group.

How does the HERPOtherm work?

HERPOtherm works by concentrating heat on the affected area killing the virus beneath the skin before it emerges into a blister. HERPOtherm acts throught local thermotherapy. The heat of around 51 degrees centigrade has shown in tests it can influence the secretion of histamine and support the degradation of enzymes thereby reducing the inflammatory reaction.

The application of concentrated heat (local hyperthermia) is a physical mode of action based on a brief, concentrated application of heat to a small, limited area of the skin. Even a localised pulse of heat may be sufficient to relieve symptoms such as itching, burning, tingling or tightness. This means once the pen heats up to the right temperature, and is used on the spot where you start to feel a tingle, it uses that heat helping you to banish the nasty bits that cause the cold sore.

How do you use the HERPOtherm Pen?

1 First place the device onto the affected area and gently press onto the skin.

2 After pressing the button, the ceramic contact surface heats upto approx 15c.

3 This temperature is maintained for three seconds, when HERPOtherm then switches off automatically.

4 To achieve the max heat transfer to the skin, ensure good contact with the skin and ceramic contact surfacr as even a small air gap can effect the heat conduction

5 Please leave a treatment interval of at least 2 mins between each application, and do not exceed a max number of 5 applications per hour on the same area of skin.

The HERPOtherm Cold Sore Treatment Pen is available via Amazon, and the full price is £36. There are many cold sore creams you can buy in the chemist to treat symptoms, once you’ve developed a cold sore, but the HERPOtherm has many positives. Firstly it can b used hundreds of times, and creams obviously have an expiry date and are often packaged in plastic tubes and packets. By having a HERPOtherm, it’s better on the environment as it’s something you can keep and use long terms. It’s also more cost effective as you can use it as much as you want, wherever you want.

Many cold sore creams are white or sticky, and you have to wait around for them to absorb into the skin which can effect your makeup application. With this medical device pen, it’s mess free, fuss free and travel friendly so you can carry it around with you, enabling you to use it whenever the symptoms strike without effecting your makeup.

The HERPOtherm can leave a small red mark due to the heat, but it fades and is a lot more inconspicuous than a cream. It can also be used by pregnant women, allergy sufferers and children as it’s completely chemical free. It’s ever so discreet, and it’s not painful either. I was worried the 51 degrees would be excessively hot, but it doesn’t actually feel that hot. 51 degrees sounded excessively hot, but it’s not uncomfortable, it doesn’t burn nor does it make my eyes water which I thought might happen. It’s so easy to use, and the ideal tool to have in your medical cupboard of first aid bag to prevent the formation of cold sores.

Whilst the HERPOtherm is £36 via Amazon normally, they currently have the pen discounted by £5 until the 20th of March. Meaning you can snap up the HERPOtherm for £31 until the 20th of March, making it the perfect time to purchase it, to nail your early prevention of future cold sore breakouts. You can find the HERPOtherm Cold Sore Treatment Pen right here.

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