Originally Posted by WarChild

You get them in August because the sun is a major trigger. If you're going to be out in the sun, make sure you have minimum SPF 30 chapstick on at all times for your lips and the rest of your face use a normal sunscreen.

Also see your doctor for Valtrex (Valacyclovir generic) 500MG pills and keep them handy. The moment you start to feel a coldsore coming, take 4 pills (2 Grams) and take another 4 pills 12 hours later. The "live" sore time will be greatly reduced and new sores most probably won't develop. It'll cut the worst part down to maybe 2 days with healing starting on the 3rd. Significantly shorter than without.

Valtrex can also be taken as a preventative measure. 1 pill a day in the morning. This is especially useful if you are say planning a beach vacation or have an important function coming up.

Lastly, compromised immune system (already sick, fighting something else) and stress are also major triggers and combining them adds to the likelihood you'll develop an outbreak. So if you're stressed out about something and in the sun without sunscreen, you're asking for trouble.