“I know my cold sore triggers.”

You’re ready to take on a cold sore. So now it’s time to identify what may cause your cold sore outbreaks, so you’ll have one more weapon in your arsenal .

Remember, not everyone’s cold sore is triggered by the same thing. But there are seven common factors that may cause your cold sore outbreaks. Want to avoid them before things get ugly? Read on.

Fight Fatigue

Like stress and illness, fatigue can sap your immune system, making you easy prey for a cold sore outbreak. In today’s hectic world, feeling “beat” can give cold sores the advantage. So relax. Exercise. Sleep. And give your immune system a fighting chance.

Stay Calm

Sure, stress messes with emotions. But stress can also wear down your immune system, giving that dormant cold sore a chance to launch a sneak attack. Fight the urge to stress out. Instead, breathe deeply and relax.

Keep Warm

Protect yourself from the cold. Wear a scarf or pull up that turtleneck to avoid exposure to cold weather, dry air and winter wind that can dry out lips.

Shade Yourself

Go on the offensive against sun exposure. Ultraviolet (UV) rays can damage your skin and lead to a cold sore. So fight back with a good sunscreen, a wide brimmed hat and a beach umbrella.

Know Your Hormones

For women, hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle can trigger an outbreak. Pay attention to your own hormonal cycle to manage stress. And give yourself a fighting chance against flare-ups by keeping a tube of Abreva^® handy when you’re feeling that your hormones may trigger an outbreak.

Protect Your Mouth

Trauma to your mouth or lips can launch a cold sore outbreak. Could be an injury. Could be a dental procedure that pulls at the sensitive area around your mouth. If this is one of your triggers, make your dentist an ally and join forces to minimize trauma.

Stay Strong

A fever, a cold or the flu can leave you feeling run-down and on the defense against a cold sore outbreak. When you feel a cold, fever or flu coming on, listen to the experts and get plenty of rest and fluids. It could be just what you need to KO a cold sore.