An Amino Acid Cure for Cold Sores

While cold sores are generally annoying, embarrassing, and require up to two weeks of care in order to become fully invisible, most over-the-counter remedies like creams or gels are often expensive and messy. Years ago I heard about an amino acid supplement that treats cold sores from within the body to hopefully curb their progression on your face: Lysine (also known as L-Lysine).

There are 8 essential amino acids that your body needs to function in complete health. Essential, meaning that your body cannot produce or store them so they need to come from your diet in order to balance out the rest of the non-essential amino acids taking up residence in your body. While this is not a primer on amino acids,  I realized that while researching Lysine on my own in order to cure an unsightly development growing on my bottom lip, maybe more people want to know exactly what this cold-sore killing amino acid does.

While I didn’t plan on writing about amino acids when I started, Lysine helped me multitask, and while science is getting close to a cure for cold sores, until research can prove that science has succeeded, people will be seeking the natural healing properties of this amino acid.

Since amino acids build protein, Lysine is necessary for growth and helps produce carnitine—a nutrient that converts fatty acids into cholesterol-lowering energy—as well as helping the body to conserve its calcium resources. Lysine is important for keeping bones and their connective tissues intact by helping collagen form. Collagen is most well known for being an injection given by plastic surgeons, but it is vital in helping the skin keep its youthful elasticity.

Because Lysine is found in your diet, it is hard to become deficient in the amino acid which could result in health problems. Protein-rich foods contain a lot of lysine, especially red meat, chicken, and pork, cheese (especially parmesan), cod or sardines, nuts, soybeans, eggs, and tofu among other prominent dietary sources. Lysine is found in so many foods it would be hard to deplete your body of it, but having too much in your body for a long period of time could also be a problem.

The regular dose of Lysine is usually 500mg to 1,000mg per day to make sure your daily intake has been reached and to ward off the nasty Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) Type 1 that causes cold sores/fever blisters. Generally, the HSV Type 2 is what causes the stigmatized “herpes” also known as genital warts. However, at the first sign of a cold sore—swelling, pain, tingling at the site, on or around the mouth and lips—professionals advise that taking up to 3000mg per day to help rid yourself of the outbreak is recommended. When the virus is no longer active, stick to the required dosage because taking much more than 1,000mg per day could cause you to have health problems.

Lysine is sold in tablets, capsules, liquid form, and cream most often under the name: L-Lysine. Mostly, Lysine helps the body balance out the amino acid Arginine entering the body through commonly consumed food sources. If you are having a HSV Type 1 outbreak, some nutritionists and doctors may tell you to avoid foods high in Arginine like nuts, chocolate, wheat products, gelatin, and oats, because when the Arginine content is low and the lysine content is high, problems like cold sores are able to go away faster. It is also recommended that Lysine be taken along with Vitamin C and Zinc supplements and Bioflavanoids, which together work to keep the skin balanced, rejuvenated, protected, and restored. Try to stay away from synthetically made Lysine; you want the natural lysine formulas made without artificial coloring, flavoring, preservatives, or common allergens.

Cold sores are not fun, but if you do happen to get them due to a severe sunburn, your menstrual cycle, high stress levels, or any number of problems that are known to spur outbreaks, keep a bottle of Lysine on hand just in case.