Cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus, and can reappear once you become infected, according to the NHS.
More than 30 million people in the UK are infected with the virus, which can be caught by a single kiss.
Patients can experience flare ups of the condition, which may be caused by hormone changes, stress, impaired immune system, or fatigue.
But, Indigo Faulkner, 18, claimed a liquorice balm helped to prevent her cold sores from returning.
Faulkner began getting outbreaks of cold sores in her early teens, and the condition appeared like “open wounds” on her lip, she said.
“I’ve had cold sores since I was a little girl,” said Faulker. “I had my first one when I was five, and I have been getting progressively worse and more frequent outbreaks ever since.
“When I have a really bad outbreak, they cover my whole top lip and even go up my nose. They last for about ten days. They can crack open and weep and when anything touches them they hurt.”
Doctors prescribed Faulkner tablets to try and control her cold sores, but they didn’t really make much of a difference, she added.
The most effect treatment she found was using ice cubes to soothe and reduce the pain of her cold sores.
But, after applying The Liquorice Balm, from Skin Shop, to her cold sores, they don’t last as long, and don’t cause as much pain.
“Over the last year the Liquorice Balm has made a huge difference. I use the lip balm every day as a preventative and then I use a slightly stronger Liquorice Rescue Lip Gel at the first sign of a tingle of a cold sore.
“They both contain an anti-viral natural acid which is found in liquorice root. The combination has reduced not only the length of time my cold sores last but also how often I get them.
“I am getting far fewer outbreaks than I used to. They disappear much more quickly now I am using the liquorice lip products and they don’t spread up my nose and they don’t burst open and weep.”
Liquorice lip balms are backed by the Herpes Viruses Association.
The organisation trialled the lip balms on 40 individuals as part of a study to reveal their usefulness in preventing cold sores.
Liquorice balms reduced the severity and duration of cold sore outbreaks in more than 73 per cent of the individuals. Combined with traditional treatments, 83 per cent reported reduced severity of symptoms.
You should see a GP if your cold sore hadn’t started to heal within 10 days, or if it’s very large and painful.
