I don’t remember why I started putting Chapstick on my lips, but around 1980 I realized I didn’t get cold sores when I wore it. I realized a few years later that regular Chapstick has sun protection factor 4 and you can get Chapstick and even lipstick by companies like Clinique and Cover Girl with SPF 15.
Four out of every five people get cold sores, and most get the Herpes 1 virus that causes them from family members, according to The Patient Education Institute. I got them at age 13 when my favorite aunt kissed me while she had them. All through my teen years I suffered with the ugly sores or their scabs.
There is no way to cure the Herpes 1 virus, but sun screen prevents my sores from forming. I sometimes feel a little tingling or “cold” spot where a sore has formed before, but my cold sores don’t form if the area has not been exposed to the sun.
I have to put the sun screening lip balm not only on my lips, but all around my mouth, too, as if my lips were twice as big as they are. Regular sun-screen lotion works, too, but lip balm with sun screen in it stays on longer. I can also feel lip balm on my face, so I can reapply it quickly if I feel it come off. This usually happens when I eat or drink, but can also happen when I kiss my husband.
I still get a cold sore if I am out in the sun for even a few seconds without sun protection any place where I have had a cold sore in the past. I keep lip balm with SPF 15 on me at all times. I apply it even before walking from the car to the grocery store. It doesn’t matter if it is cloudy or even raining or snowing. The sun can still give me cold sores.
I used to shy away from explaining why I need to apply sun screen before I go outside. Now that I know so many people get cold sores, I don’t even hesitate to tell others they can prevent cold sores by using lip balm or sun screen with SPF 4 or higher.
Canada.com recently featured advice from Dr. Weil, a medical doctor who says lip balm with sun screen can help prevent cold sores. He also says the virus can be triggered by an amino acid called arginine found in cola, beer, chocolate and other foods. I drink cola every day, though. I don’t get cold sores if I avoid exposing the infected area to the sun.
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