When a person is unduly stressed, sick, or has been exposed to intense sunlight or even menstruating, the body is weak and this may become a good time for the dormant virus to appear and take over. 

The other cause for the spread of cold sores is by having close contact with the infected person, irrespective of whether there are blisters visible on the mouth as saliva can shed the virus. Kissing an infected person, using infected utensils, towels and washcloths can all make a person susceptible to the cold sore attack.

The herpes simplex virus 1 is sometimes passed to the child when somebody with cold sores kisses or hugs the child. The virus remains in a dormant state in the nerve cells until the right conditions are created for it to multiply and attack.

Cold sores are also triggered by having oral sex with a person who is infected with the herpes simplex virus 2, although this is not very common. Taking care to have protected sex is important as genital infection is very contagious.

To fight off herpes attack, minerals and vitamins are essential for the body. Research studies point out that our food lacks half of the nutrients as compared to 50 years back. Vitamins and mineral deficiencies in the body is one of the main causes for cold sore attacks. When you are under stress, you need to take in vitamin C and B as these are stress vitamins that can help you cope better. These are easily burned up by the body so you need to replenish them daily. Zinc and Calcium are essential to fight the cold sore attack as zinc destroys the virus and calcium maintains the alkaline balance. 

One of the main causes of cold sores is the arginine protein which helps in building up the herpes simplex virus. Without ample arginine supply, the cells have no chance of creating the herpes virus. Arginine is stored in special receptor areas of the cells. Likewise, lysine protein is also stored in the same way but this cannot create the herpes virus. Therefore, a sufficient intake of lysine can help to saturate the cells which forces out the excess arginine, which starves the virus which feeds on this protein. The virus is forced to go back into hiding. During the attack of cold sores, lysine intake can stop the herpes virus right in the track. Many people take in lysine rich food or supplements which helps in staving off cold sore attacks.

The best ph balance for a healthy person is slightly alkaline at 7.35 on the scale. The ph level measures the acids and alkaline in your body and from a rating of 1 to 14 the best balance is 7. This is a neutral level as below 7 will be too acidic and above 7, too alkaline. Your cells are healthy and rich in oxygen and resistant towards any virus including cold sores when your ph level is in the alkaline state. When you are stressed, sick, injured or exposed to cold weather, the ph level goes down below 7 in the acidic state. You become prone to attacks of cold sores as the serum oxygen in your cells are reduced. Too much pickled food, carbonated drinks, white flour and pork can make your body more acidic, making you vulnerable to cold sores attack. Consuming plenty of green leafy vegetables can help in maintaining the alkaline state in the body. You can also try vitamin supplements and powders which can all help towards maintaining your alkaline balance.