Can Probiotics Cause Cold Sores? (SEE HOW)
Cold sores (also called oral herpes) can be quite painful and uncomfortable, causing itching and a burning sensation. They’re caused by a virus called HSV-1 (herpes simplex virus type 1).
On rare occasions, they might also be due to the HSV-2 (herpes simplex virus type 2), the variant that’s responsible for genital warts, a sexually transmitted disease.
You might also be wondering whether probiotics can cause cold sores, especially because these products contain different kinds of bacteria and some yeasts.
Here’s good news: Although studies are limited with regard to probiotics and cold sores, these products (and their microbes) don’t appear to cause cold sores. Here’s even better news: Probiotics might actually help alleviate cold sores.
This got me thinking about which strains can have an effect on cold sores and whether an oral or topical probiotic application is more effective.
Let’s dive deeper.
What Are Cold Sores?
Also known as fever blisters, cold sores are groups or clumps of small blisters on the lips or around the mouth. Painful and itchy, the skin around these blisters is often swollen, red, and sore.
Worse, these blisters could break open, leaking a clear fluid. Then, they can scab over after a few days. Recovery time can vary, ranging from just a few days to a couple of weeks.
Here’s a sample photo of a cold sore from the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention):
Aside from being painful, itchy, and uncomfortable, cold sores can even cause you some embarrassment.
There’s a social stigma that these might be due to an STD (they’re both caused by the herpes simplex virus, as I explained above). Even if yours is due to the HSV-1, it’s an elephant in the room.
If cold sores are caused by a virus, is it possible at all that probiotics, which are made of bacteria and yeasts, might also trigger their appearance?
Let me explain this to you in detail below.
Can Probiotics Cause Cold Sores?
When the HSV-1 enters your body, it doesn’t always cause an infection. It stays dormant (inactive) until activated by certain factors, such as:
- Cracked or damaged lips
- Fatigue
- Stress
- Fever
- Illness
- Hormonal changes
The good news is that researchers haven’t found any evidence yet that probiotics can cause cold sores.
And while supplements such as probiotics can have different effects on people, it might be unlikely for you to get cold sores from taking these microbe-containing supplements.
What’s actually great is that probiotics might even help you prevent or heal cold sores.
Let’s look into that topic below and discuss the science behind it.
Can Probiotics Help With Cold Sores? (the science & mechanisms involved)
In a 2012 study published in The Brazilian Journal of Infectious Diseases, the researchers point out that HSV-1 appears to be developing drug resistance, making treatment for this simple condition difficult.
That’s why many researchers are now looking into probiotics as a possible treatment for cold sores.
Amazingly, several studies have shown that probiotics might be a promising option for cold sore prevention and treatment.
Let’s take a look at how probiotics can help with cold sores below:
Mechanism #1: Boosting the Immune System
Cold sore outbreaks can be prevented or shortened in duration by strengthening the immune system.
Remember that, as discussed above, cold sores can be triggered by fatigue, fever, and certain illnesses. If you can keep your body healthy, especially by boosting your immune system, it’s possible to prevent cold sores.
Taking probiotics is one way of boosting your immune system. Although many probiotics aren’t specifically made for cold sores, they can still help prevent an outbreak by helping you stay healthy.
Mechanism #2: Macrophage Activation
Based on the results of the 2012 study mentioned above, probiotic bacteria appear to effectively activate macrophage activity.
Macrophages are the largest white blood cells in our bodies. They play an important role in our immune system because they engulf and destroy viruses and bacteria.
Imagine having a giant on the battlefield against the viruses that cause cold sores. You’d want to have as many of them as you want so that you can quickly win the battle, right?
That’s where probiotics come in.
According to the 2012 study, Lactobacillus rhamnosus probiotics can be useful in activating these macrophages so that more of them are sent to the battlefield. The activated macrophage ‘giant’ cells engulf and break down the virus cells, attack them with certain enzymes, and manually push out the leftover materials as waste.
The 2012 Brazilian study also found that Lactobacillus rhamnosus probiotics can have antiviral properties.
Further research, such as the 2016 study published in the journal New Insights on Antiviral Probiotics, showed that several probiotic strains can protect us against several health threats, including infectious diseases.
For example, Bifidobacterium longum subsp. Infantis CECT 7210, can inhibit viral replication. Because viruses multiply by replication, inhibiting this can quickly help cure the infection.
Some strains, such as Lactobacillus reuteri Protectis (ATCC 55730) and Bifidobacterium adolescentis, were shown in the 2016 study to even fight pathogenic viruses in physical interaction.
Isn’t that interesting?
I really didn’t know that probiotics can be such great fighters.
So, which of these probiotic strains fight against cold sores? Let’s learn more about them below.
Which Probiotic Strains are Best for Cold Sores?
Based on the results of the 2012 Brazilian study mentioned above, it’s a good idea to look for Lactobacillus rhamnosus when choosing your probiotic supplements.
This probiotic strain was used in that study, which showed a positive effect against cold sores.
Aside from being shown in vitro in the 2012 study, this bacterial strain was also found to be effective in an in vivo 2009 clinical trial using the probiotic alone or in combination with prebiotics (fructooligosaccharides).
Which Is Better for Cold Sores: Topical or Oral Probiotics?
Different people react differently to probiotics and different treatment options. It could be difficult to directly compare the effectiveness of topical versus per os (taken orally or by mouth) probiotics because they’re designed differently.
But let’s break down their similarities and differences to help you choose.
Similarities of Topical and Oral Probiotics
- Both products are made with probiotics, although the strains in different products can vary
- They can be formulated to directly benefit your skin or even directly help with cold sores
- Many are also used for different purposes, not just for cold sores or similar health issues
Advantages of Topical Probiotics
- They’re sprayed or applied directly onto the affected areas, effectively delivering the probiotics where you need them
- No guesswork is involved on whether the probiotic strains in your supplement actually made it to your skin or affected body parts after, hopefully, surviving your stomach acids
- They might work faster and more effectively than orally taken probiotics in treating cold sores
Advantages of Orally Taken Probiotics
- They work by strengthening your immune system for a long-term defense against outbreaks. So, they can essentially prevent an outbreak of cold sores
- Their effects aren’t limited to the skin or affected areas. Instead, they can help improve your health to prevent or combat other health concerns, not just cold sores. So, they might provide the best value for your money
- They can be cheaper than topical probiotics
Still, it’s up to you to pick which delivery method to try. Here’s an even better idea:
- Take oral probiotics regularly even if you don’t have cold sores. This helps you prevent a cold sore outbreak and other health concerns, such as insomnia, eye problems, and stomach pain.
- If you experience cold sores, you can provide backup to your orally taken probiotics by using topical options.
Probiotic Supplements for Cold Sores (my recommendations)
There are many probiotics that provide the benefits I mentioned above, but these probiotics stand out from the rest:
- Bauer Nutrition Biotics 8 (probiotic taken orally – best for men)
- Clear Probiotics Lip and Skin Health (probiotic taken orally)
- Mary Ruth’s Skincare Probiotic Topical Spray (topical probiotic)
To help you pick, let’s take a look at what each probiotic can offer below.
Bauer Nutrition Biotics 8
Just as I explained above, probiotics taken orally, like Bauer Nutrition Biotics 8, work from the gut to boost your immune system to help prevent cold sore outbreaks.
To be sure, I asked the brand about it, and they responded quickly. Here’s proof of their reply to my query:
What’s great about Biotics 8 is that aside from containing Lactobacillus rhamnosus, shown in studies above to be effective against cold sores, it also features nine other carefully chosen probiotic strains (Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, and Saccharomyces strains).
This formulation, with 20 billion CFUs (colony forming units) per serving, helps fortify your immune system and strengthen the gut-brain axis for a better, healthier you.
Clear Probiotics Lip and Skin Health
Like Biotics 8, Clear Probiotics Lip and Skin Health is a probiotic taken orally. It’s specially formulated to build your immune system for long-term defense against cold sore outbreaks. It can also help with skin outbreaks and bad complexion.
This formulation contains Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Lactobacillus acidophilus, plus prebiotic FOS (fructooligosaccharides).
In the 2009 clinical trial mentioned above, the combination of Lactobacillus rhamnosus and prebiotics can be more effective against cold sores than taking the probiotic alone.
Plus, the formulation comes with vitamin C to promote skin healing and lysine to fight against the formation of arginine, identified as a common trigger for cold sore outbreaks.
Mary Ruth’s Skincare Probiotic Topical Spray
If you prefer a topical probiotic, then Mary Ruth’s Skincare Probiotic Topical Spray can be your best choice. This blend also features Lactobacillus rhamnosus plus other probiotic strains (Lactobacillus, Lactococcus, Bifidobacterium, and Streptococcus strains).
This easy-to-use probiotic can be sprayed directly on the affected areas for quicker healing.
Conclusion
So, while the jury is still out on whether probiotics can help prevent cold sores, it doesn’t appear that they cause them.
In fact, incorporating probiotics into your diet may actually help you get rid of those pesky sores more quickly. If you haven’t tried adding probiotics to your routine before, now might be a good time to start and see if you notice any difference.
Have you ever used probiotics to treat cold sores?
