It is suggested that around 1 in 5 people in the UK suffer from recurring cold sores that can be caused by the herpes simplex virus. These cold sores are characterised by painful, burning or itchy blisters on and around the mouth or lips. Often caused by stress, tiredness or even strong sunlight, they can be frustrating, uncomfortable and embarrassing, lasting approximately 7-10 days without treatment.
While some other cold sore treatments may draw more attention to the cold sore by leaving a white mark, NEW fast acting bonjela Invisible Cold Sore Cream turns invisible when applied.
What’s more, unlike other cold sore treatments, bonjela Invisible Cold Sore Cream is specially formulated to not only treat, but help prevent cold sores too. It contains the active ingredient UV-Active. UV-Active creates a protective film layer on the skin cells of the cold sore and prevents attachment of virus particles to the cells. It also protects the skin against harmful environmental stimuli such as UV radiation.
To prevent a cold sore: Use bonjela cold sore cream at times when you think you’re at higher risk of developing a cold sore. Factors thought to trigger outbreaks of cold sores include:
· Having another infection, such as a respiratory tract infection
· Having a high temperature (fever)
· Emotional upset or psychological stress
· Tiredness and fatigue
· An injury to the affected area
· Menstruation
· Strong sunlight[iii]
To treat a cold sore: Use bonjela cold sore cream at least four times a day until the cold sore completely disappears.
· RRP: £5.99
https://www.healthpharm.co.uk/products/bonjelacoldsorecream
Beauty Q+A with Jo Freeman – Celebrity Make-up Artist
What is a cold sore?
Cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus. Once you come into contact with the virus, it will stay in your body all your life and can resurface in the form of a cold sore at any time. Cold sores are generally first felt as tightness, tingling or itching around the mouth and nose area, then after 24-48 hours can develop into painful, burning or itchy blisters on, in and around the lips and nose. During this first phase, you may also notice you have tender and swollen lymph nodes underneath your jaw, ulcers and bad breath, a sign your body is fighting the virus – this is often how we ascertain the severity of the infection.
When are we likely to contract them?
A healthy immune system helps keep the cold sore virus ‘silent’, making it more likely to come to the surface in the winter, when we are run down, stressed or suffering another illness like cold and flu. Due to the fact we spend more time indoors, viruses including the herpes simplex are spread more easily in the colder weather. However, if you are planning on getting some winter sun to combat tiredness or stress, beware of strong sunlight and ultraviolet light is also a known trigger.
How can I prevent and treat them?
Having a stress-free lifestyle will help prevent cold sores, but this just isn’t achievable for most of us. However, there are more practical solutions to avoiding cold sores which involve boosting your immune system. These include eating a healthy diet high in vitamin B and amino acids, getting enough rest, as well as getting the flu jab.
If you are feeling run down and susceptible to cold sores or once you feel the ‘tingle’ I would advise treating with a topical treatment. Statistics show that using topical treatments can halve the recovery time, resolving the cold sore within 5 days, as opposed to the normal lifespan of approximately 10 days if left untreated. As cold sores are caused by a viral infection, antibiotics are not an effective treatment – I would advise using OTC remedies as a first line. If you get cold sores more than once a month you should seek advice from your GP
Should I be covering up a cold sore?
You should take care not to apply make-up to a cold sore until the scab appears during its final stage. As hard as it is, try to avoid applying make-up during a cold sore’s early stages and apply a preventative treatment like bonjela Invisible Cold Sore Cream instead. This can help reduce the life span of the cold sore, having you back to looking and feeling your best sooner.
What is the best way to cover up a cold sore scab?
bonjela Invisible Cold Sore Cream is invisible once applied to the skin, leaving no white marks. I hide redness with a neutralising green concealer and blend the edges so that they feather out seamlessly into the skin. Once I’ve applied the neutralising concealer I go over this with foundation or concealer, and finally, I set the area with a fine loose powder to increase longevity and to ensure that the makeup doesn’t move throughout the day.
What tools should I use?
I would advise using disposable applicators to minimise the risk of spreading the virus. Small make-up sponges will help achieve a better finish than cotton buds as the scab and moisture on the skin can encourage little bits of cotton to stick.
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