As most people who suffer from cold sores will agree, getting a one before an important event is a disaster. In fact, there is no good time to get a cold sore, especially ones where they last for over a week or two.

Coldsore prevention is on the top of most sufferers lists when looking to sort out health and skin problems. Luckily there are many easy ways to prevent a sore being brought on.

Sores most often occur because of mental or physical stress caused by things such as anxiety, for example, worrying about an upcoming event or job interview, or any other important event that is happening in your life. A weak immune system or an illness such as flu also means you are more likely to trigger a sore too. I know most of you will be asking the question:

How do I delay a coldsore until after my important event has passed?

It's easy.. Just follow my simple tips.

1. High arginine (a protein) foods will speed up a sores growth, and high lysine (another protein) foods will prevent it. Eat high lysine foods such as meat and dairy products, for example yogurt, milk and cheese. Avoid high arginine foods such as nuts, seeds, grains and chocolate.

2. Stop the sore from getting a warm moist environment, where it develops the quickest. Apply ice or something cold like a can of soda as soon as you feel a tingling or itch in the area where you normally get a sore. Do this as soon as possible to maximise your chances of preventing your cold sore from appearing.