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" Question I have been getting a lot of cold sores lately and have heard that the amino acid L-lysine is a good preventative supplement.  I have suffered from fairly mild Crohn&amp;#039;s disease for the past 10 years and have not had a &amp;#039;flare&amp;#039; for the past three years.  Is L-lysine suitable for someone suffering from this condition? I can find no evidence that it will exacerbate my Crohn&amp;#039;s, but would like to be sure.  I have also heard that certain sunscreens aggravate cold sores &amp;amp;#8211; is this true? If so, can you recommend one that does not?   Answer L-lysine is an essential amino acid, which means the body can&amp;#039;t make its own supply.  It plays a part in the formation of collagen, an important protein that gives mechanical strength to many of the tissues of the body.  L-lysine also helps the absorption of calcium to ensure good bone growth. It needs other nutrients such as niacin, vitamin B6, riboflavin, vitamin C, glutamic acid and iron in order to be properly dealt with by the body. I have been unable to find any confirmation that taking L-lysine as a food supplement would help to prevent the formation of cold sores.  Avoiding the sun, if it triggers your cold sores, would seem a more useful option.  This is presumably why you have also asked about lip sunscreens. Again, I do not know of any specific sunscreens that would irritate a cold sore, but avoiding those that contain perfume or colourings would be sensible.  Many sunscreens formulated for babies or children are worth looking at, as they tend to be hypoallergenic. A treatment for cold sores in the early stages (when they are just tingling and can&amp;#039;t really be seen) is available over the counter from most pharmacies.  It&amp;#039;s made from an anti-viral medicine called aciclovir (Zovirax).  Yours sincerely The NetDoctor Medical Team   Other Qs &amp;amp; As Antibiotics and vaccines Can adults get mumps Can an inner ear infection damage my brain? Can collidial silver cure molluscum? Can I drink while taking antibiotics? Can I drink whilst taking amoxicillin? Could I have psitticosis? Czech tick &amp;amp;#8211; what is this insect buried in my leg? Do I have to take antibiotics against cystitis? Does doxycycline affect hearing? Enlargements around the neck Erythema mulitforme &amp;amp;#8211; cause and prevention Have I got bedbugs? Homeopathic treatments for verrucas How long does a BCG last? I want to live in India, but I&amp;#039;ve had a spleenectomy. Long term antibiotics after spleen operation Laporoscopy stitches not healing properly Painful reaction with travel jabs Post-polio syndrome Receding gums Recurrent infections under my fingertips Should I get a hepatitis vaccination? Should my father have his wrists fused? Stubborn verrucas Throat infections for four months &amp;amp;#8211; what can I do? Treating persistent giardia What are the early signs of BSE? What are the long-term consequences of a splenectomy? What is a pilonidal sinus? What is ESR? What is giardia infection? What is giardia lamblia? What is phlebitis? What is slapped cheek disease? What issues surround rubella in the middle aged? What would raised blood urea nitrogen be like? What&amp;#039;s the difference between pneumonia and pleurisy? Which vaccinations should I have? Who&amp;#039;s got the worm? Why is my stepson passing blood in his urine? Why haven&amp;#039;t I responded to the hepatitis B vaccine? Yellow fever   Last updated 17.02.2015 "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/ask-the-expert/infections/a5481/will-l-lysine-ease-my-cold-sores/>