Natural health: What causes cold sores, why do they reappear and how can I treat it?

Vitamin D is crucial for immune support, and levels are often lower in individuals who feel fatigued, have trouble sleeping, and experience low moods

Cold sore triggers can be anything from sun exposure, food sensitivities and allergies, medication interactions, or menstruation — however, the most common triggers are elevated stress levels and fatigue.

My teenage daughter, who always seems tired, developed cold sores around her mouth recently. She’s on a vitamin D supplement. Is there anything else we can do?

Cold sores are a sign your daughter is feeling run down or stressed. Caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV-1), an estimated 90% of all adults have been exposed to this virus at some point in their lives, with only around 20% of those developing cold sores — typically during puberty or later on.