Sometimes a cold sore outbreak can wreak havoc with your self-esteem. As soon as you feel that dreaded tingling, you reach the best cold sore remedy you know and prepare for up to ten days of avoiding social occasions and hiding the lower part of your face with a scarf, a roll-neck collar or a fan (well, maybe not a fan).
Considering the sheer amount of people who experience the type 1 herpes simplex virus – it is estimated that it's carried by around eight out of ten people* - we think the huge effect it can have on a person's confidence is unwarranted, after all no-one stares at the red nose produced by the common cold.
To help you feel less self-conscious during an outbreak, we've put together five tips to consider for boosting your confidence while you're suffering from a cold sore.
Realise you're not alone - The reason you only notice your own cold sores is because we're quick to spot faults in ourselves, but not in others. As mentioned above, around 80% of people carry the virus and while not all of them will experience regular cold sores, a significant proportion do.
Plus, if celebrities like Alexa Chung and Justin Timberlake get them, you shouldn't be embarrassed - you're in celebrated company.
Wear something that makes you feel good - When a cold sore is making you feel rubbish about yourself, it's always good to bring yourself back up with something you know increases your confidence. Whether it's putting on your best suit for work, a new lipstick, or your favourite fragrance; make a special effort to add that spring in your step and focus attention elsewhere.
Indulge in a relaxing routine - Having a hot bath, listening to some of your favourite music and getting to bed an hour earlier can do wonders for your tension levels; helping you worry less about your cold sore. Introducing a regular relaxation routine could also help prevent outbreaks in the future, as they're frequently triggered by stress and fatigue.
Cover it up - You shouldn't feel it necessary to hide your cold sore with make-up, particularly if it's sore (plus if you're not careful you can transfer the virus to your makeup applicators and perpetuate the cycle of infection). But for those who feel they simply must cover it, concealer can give that extra confidence boost. Our handy guide can help you apply makeup safely - click here to find out more.
Try Herstat! - Our tips can help you feel good during an outbreak, but we know what would make you happiest is a treatment that could abolish a cold sore quickly and be used at any point during the infection. Herstat can do both these things, so – while you might feel like you've tried the best cold sore remedy – our ointment is clinically proven to reduce the healing time.
To feel your most confident, try the Herstat Cold Sore Care ointment and LipCare stick today.
To learn more about the product and to order a tube today, click here.
*http://www.colgate.com/en/us/oc/oral-health/conditions/mouth-sores-and-infections/article/cold-sores-and-fever-blisters
Photo © Alessandro Valli via Flickr under Creative Commons
