Make sure you have kiss-tastic lips this summer

Wherever you're jetting off to this summer, if you're hoping for some holiday romance the last thing you need is a whopping great big cold sore. After all let's face it, it doesn't matter how well you try to hide it, a cold sore is a sure-fire way to miss out on even the slightest bit of lip action.

A cold sore – or herpes simplex labialis, to give it its medical name – is a viral infection caused by the Herpes simplex virus. You can catch the virus through direct contact with someone who already has it (which is why kissing someone with a cold sore is an absolute no-no), or from something a cold sore sufferer has used – such as a cup, toothbrush, towel, lipstick or lip balm, for instance.

Around 95 percent of the population is thought to be affected by cold sores. The virus is most typically contracted during childhood, with subsequent break-outs often triggered by stress, illness and injury – basically anything that lowers your immune system. Some women even find they get cold sores during their period.

Exposure to UV rays can also bring on a cold sore – which explains why, if you're already susceptible to them (that is, you already have the virus in your system), you're more than likely to get a cold sore while sunning yourself on holiday.

However, if you catch a cold sore early enough – that is, before a blister forms – you can stop it in its tracks with a new, handy gadget called Herpotherm.

This neat, lipstick-sized device blasts the virus with enough heat to kill it (around 50 to 51ºC). Simply place the end of the Herpotherm wherever you feel the telltale tingling, prickly sensation on your lips, and in around four seconds you're done. And once you've cleaned the Herpotherm with a disinfectant wipe, it's ready for use again if the tingling sensation persists. No greasy creams or ointments, just a four-second blast of heat and it's bye-bye cold sore.

Going, going, gone

In tests a group of men and women who were known to have the Herpes simplex virus tried the Herpotherm for size. Asked whether they noticed any changes after using the Herpotherm after noticing the first signs of a cold sore, 75 percent said there was a significant improvement in itching, while 90 percent reported significantly less tickling and 85 percent significantly less burning.

Twenty percent of the volunteers said the Herpotherm banished their cold sore in less than one day, followed by 30 percent reporting their cold sore was cured on day two, 10 percent on day three, 25 percent on day four and 15 percent on day five. Meanwhile no fewer than 60 percent said the Herpotherm was 'good' at soothing their skin, with 40 percent even claiming it was 'very good'.

One of the added benefits of the Herpotherm is that it has no known side effects, and there's no danger of you burning your lips with it either because it just doesn't get hot enough for long enough (the device automatically switches off after four seconds).

And because it's so compact, it's easy to carry around in even the teeniest handbag (or pocket – let's not forget that guys have cold sores too).

The Herpotherm cold sore treatment device costs £34.99 (inc p&p) from Coldsore-away.co.uk.