Once you have experienced an outbreak of cold sores, you’ll definitely have to deal with it again sooner or later even after it heals. The virus (HSV-1) that causes cold sores does not leave your system. It just stays in hibernation and an outbreak can be triggered by certain factors like weather, stress, a weakened immune system, and an improper diet. Though you may not get rid of cold sores completely, there are preventive measures that you can take to avoid having outbreaks. And in the event that an outbreak does occur, there are remedies that you can do. These may range from home remedies to taking doctor prescribed medication that could help ease the pain and shorten the duration of cold sore outbreaks.
There are a lot of home remedies for cold sores but their efficiency might vary from person to person. Here are some of the more common remedies:
Ice packs. At the first sign of a cold sore coming up, pressing an ice pack on the area for about 15 to 20 minutes helps reduce the swelling and also provides some relief from the pain. This is to be done several times in a day. Some cold sore sufferers claim that doing this stopped the cold sore into becoming a full blown outbreak.
Milk. Pour a small amount of milk on a bowl and let it set until it reaches room temperature. Soak a cotton ball in the milk and apply it directly on the sores. Leave the cotton ball on for at least 10 minutes. This helps relieve pain and speeds up the healing process.
Rubbing Alcohol. Applying rubbing alcohol frequently (at least once every hour) at the onset of a cold sore can stop it from becoming worse. It also helps in keeping the sores dry and clean.
Tea Bags. Press a hot tea bag directly on the swelling sores for a few minutes. Keep the tea bag hot and do this for about 20 minutes. Doing so will reduce the swelling and tingling of the sores. The effect of the tea bags on cold sores is attributed to the tea’s tannic acid content which has antiviral properties.
Petroleum Jelly. During the scabbing stage of a cold sore, applying petroleum jelly moisturizes the cold sore scab. This would prevent the scab from cracking and bleeding. It can also relieve the intense itching and burning sensation.
Taking in L-lysine supplements can greatly reduce the occurrence of cold sore outbreaks. The recommended daily dosage to prevent cold sore outbreaks is 1250mg. According to clinical studies, this is the amount of lysine needed to affect the herpes virus. An increased dosage of L-lysine during an outbreak will help in the healing process and shorten the duration of the cold sores. It is best to consult your doctor regarding the proper dosage to take during an outbreak. It has been noted that taking in an extreme high dosage of lysine for a prolonged period of time might yield unwanted side effects like experiencing abdominal cramps and diarrhea.
There are various medical treatments for cold sores found in the market today. Some are available as over the counter medication while some are prescription drugs. These treatments are most effective if used at the earliest stage of a cold sore outbreak. Antiviral medications have different effects on cold sores. Some of these effects include shortening the time cold sores can heal, reducing the symptoms like pain and extreme itching, preventing lesions from occurring, lessening the number and/or size of lesions developed, and reducing the amount of viral shedding.
