How Can You Reduce Your Risk of Getting Cold Sores with COVID-19?

With the emergence of COVID-19, personal hygiene and preventive measures have taken on a whole new level of importance. One of the most common conditions that can be affected by the virus is cold sores.
Cold sores are Herpes Simplex Virus-induced blisters that appear around the mouth area. While these blisters can range from mild to severe, it’s important to take steps to reduce your risk of getting them with COVID-19. 

Read on to find out how can you reduce your risk of getting cold sores with COVID-19.

Ways to Reduce Your Risk of Getting Cold Sores with COVID-19?

Maintain Good Hygiene Habits

The first step in reducing your risk of getting cold sores with COVID-19 is to maintain good hygiene habits. This includes washing your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, avoiding touching your face, and covering coughs and sneezes with your elbow or with a tissue.  

You can also check our article on Dr Oz Cold Sores Remedy.

Avoid Close Contact with People Who are Sick

The second way you can reduce your risk of getting cold sores with COVID-19 is to avoid close contact with people who are sick. If possible, try to avoid being around anyone who may have symptoms of COVID-19, such as coughing, sneezing, fever, difficulty breathing, or fatigue. 

Wear a Mask and Avoid Touching Surfaces and Objects

Another effective way to reduce your risk of developing cold sores is by wearing a mask when out in public. Masks help reduce the spread of droplets containing viruses, such as those that cause cold sores and COVID-19.

Additionally, avoiding touching surfaces and objects with your hands helps prevent you from transferring any potential virus particles onto yourself. 

Stay Away from Crowded Areas

Another way to protect yourself from cold sores is to stay away from crowds. Avoiding large gatherings will help limit your exposure to HSV-1 and lower your risk of catching a cold sore.

Practice Social Distancing

In addition to avoiding crowded areas, it is important to practice social distancing whenever possible. This means keeping a minimum distance of six feet between yourself and others when interacting with them or engaging in activities such as shopping or exercising outdoors.

It is also important to avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth while around other people—the virus can enter the body through mucous membranes in these areas of the body and cause infection. 

Disinfect Commonly Used Surfaces

In order to reduce your risk of getting cold sores with COVID-19, it’s important to keep commonly used surfaces clean and disinfected. This includes doorknobs, countertops, light switches, phones, keyboards, faucets, and any other surface you touch regularly.

To effectively sanitize these surfaces, use a disinfectant spray or wipes containing at least 70% alcohol or bleach solution. This will help eliminate germs that could cause cold sores due to contact with infected surfaces. 

Eat Healthy Foods and Exercise Regularly

Eating nutritious fruits and vegetables can help boost your immune system so that it is better equipped to fight off viruses like HSV-1.

Additionally, regular physical activity can increase your immunity as well. So be sure to include a variety of healthy foods in your diet and exercise regularly to reduce your risk of getting cold sores with COVID-19. 

Practice Good Oral Hygiene

Good oral hygiene is also important for reducing your risk of getting cold sores. This includes brushing and flossing your teeth twice a day, using a tongue scraper to remove bacteria and debris from your tongue, and rinsing your mouth with a fluoride rinse.

Doing these things helps prevent the virus from entering your body through your mouth and nose. 

Get Vaccinated Against COVID-19

Another best way to reduce your risk of getting cold sores with COVID-19 is to get vaccinated against the virus. Vaccines will help protect you from catching and spreading the virus, which in turn can help reduce your chances of developing cold sores or other illnesses associated with it. 

Seek Medical Attention If Necessary

If you do start experiencing symptoms such as a fever, coughing, fatigue, sore throat, or difficulty breathing, seek medical attention right away so that you can get tested for COVID-19 and receive appropriate treatment if necessary.

It is also important to monitor any changes in your health closely so that you can get medical attention if needed before any further complications arise from an untreated illness, such as cold sores or other infections associated with it.  

Conclusion

Cold sores are not directly related to COVID-19, but it’s still important to take precautions in order to reduce your risk of getting them during this time. By following the tips outlined in this article, you can help protect yourself and others from getting cold sores with COVID-19.

It is also important to stay up-to-date on the latest developments and recommendations related to COVID-19 so that you can make informed decisions about how to best protect yourself and your loved ones. 

We hope that this article has provided you with useful information about how can you reduce your risk of getting cold sores with COVID-19. Thank you for reading, and stay safe!