Liquorice balm could help reduce the frequency and intensity of cold sore outbreaks.

Liquorice Balm is a lip balm formulated to be used on lips to aid the prevention of cold sores. The balm can also reduce the duration and intensity of a cold sore outbreak.

Cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus which effects over 30 million people in the UK.

Liquorice contains high levels of Glycyrrhizic Acid, which research shows has strong anti-viral actions. When applied to the lips, Glycyrrhizic Acid can supress the cold sore virus that lies dorment in the skin  around the lips, making it less active.

The Herpes Virus Association, which is a national support and reasearch group for herpes virus sufferers,  trialed Skin Shop’s Liquorice Balm on a group of testers. The trial was double blind, meaning that neither the testers nor the researchers knew which balm was the Liquorice Balm and which one was a placebo.

The test results were convincingly postitive. The Liquorice Balm reduced the severity and duration of cold sore outbreaks for over 73% of  the testers. In addition, 83% of  the testers using the Liquorice Balm reported less severe outbreaks than those using the placebo.

Unlike conventional treatments, testers could wear the Liquorice Balm at all times without any negative side-effects, meaning that the balm could be used to prevent cold sore outbreaks before they could take hold.

In addition to this trial, published research in the US Journal of Clinical Investigation has shown that the Glycyrrhizic Acid in liquorice is able to supress and weaken the production of special proteins that feed the skin cells infected with the cold sore virus. By weakening the process that feeds the cold sore virus,  the researchers concluded that Glycyrrhizic Acid helps keep the cold sore virus dormant for longer.

Liquorice Balm can be rubbed into lips as often as necessary and not only does it help reduce cold sore outbreaks and their intensity, it is also a nourishing balm that helps keep lips well-conditioned.

Liquorice Balm costs £7.95 for 30g. Click here for details.