Cold Sore Remedies that Work

Cold sores have been known to be triggered during colds, fevers, during menstruation, after exposure to the sun, or for no apparent reason. Generally, it is believed that anything that compromises the immune system can trigger cold sores.

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Stock up on vitamins
Take a good multivitamin every day. In addition, a daily supplement of
L-Lysine the most studied and researched dietary supplement in association with cold sores has shown positive results in decreasing the recurrence of the cold sore virus.

Stay healthy and watch your diet
The cold sore virus is often triggered during stress, colds, fevers, during menstruation, after exposure to the sun, or for no apparent reason. It is generally believed that anything that compromises the immune system can trigger a cold sore. Eating foods that have high concentrations of
L-Lysine will help reduce your chance of developing a cold sore during times that your immune system has been compromised. Some foods that are high in L-lysine include dairy products, chicken, beef, beets, apricots, avocado, apples, soybeans, and fish. On the flip-side, an amino acid called arginine has been found to increase the risk of developing of a cold sore. It is a good idea to limit your intake of foods containing arginine. Some foods with a high concentration of arginine include chocolate, nuts, almonds, walnuts, pecans, peanuts, seeds, seafood, peas, oranges, grapes, other fruits or berries; broccoli, carrots, and corn.

Protect your lips
Exposure to the sun, wind, and cold are big contributors to cold sore flare-ups. Wear sunscreen when exposed to the sun and always carry a lip-balm that contains SPF. A good lip-balm to carry is Herpecin-L Lip Balm which contains L-lysine as well as an SPF. This will protect your lips whether exposure is related to sun, wind, or cold temperatures.

Toss the toothbrush
Although the cold sore virus generally cannot live outside the body for a long period of time, numerous studies have shown that the virus can continue to live for more than a week in a toothbrush.

Get enough sleep
Fatigue and stress weaken the immune system, triggering cold sores. Make sure you get enough sleep to keep the body from becoming run-down and vulnerable to attacks.

These are just a few simple precautions to take, however there are numerous other ways to protect yourself from an unsightly cold sore. But no matter how many safety precautions you take to protect yourself, remember there is no guarantee that you will not fall victim to a cold sore at some point.

Any cold sore sufferer knows that the best way to treat a cold sore is to nip it in the bud as soon as possible. It is vital to take action during the tingling stage (prodrome) which usually precedes the development of blisters by 1-2 days.

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Cold sores usually appear on the lips and outer edges of the mouth. Occasionally they may occur on the chin, nostrils, or fingers. The first symptom of a cold sore is pain or tingling on the area of infection. This is often called the prodrome and usually precedes the appearance of blisters by one to two days. Then small, painful, fluid-filled blisters will form on the skin. They usually break open, weep clear fluid, then crust over and heal without leaving a scar. The normal stage of healing is 8-12 days.

YES, the normal stage of healing is 8-12 days without any type of treatment. Following the tingling/prodrome stage you will experience a blistering stage, then a weeping stage when the blisters break open. Following that the blisters will crust over, and eventually form scabs and heal. This is an unpleasant process and much of it can be avoided if you find the right treatment.

A cold sore is most responsive to treatment if it is applied during the prodrome/tingling stage. The internet offers mixed reviews on almost every cold sore product on the market which leaves you wondering why some reviews range from "my cold sore was gone in two hours" to "this stuff made it worse!" (and yes, you will find these reviews side by side on the same product). It is extremely important to use the right medication when treating a cold sore. The stage that the cold sore is at when initially applying medication is an indicator of the type of medication to use.

Find a cold sore medication that works for you and keep it handy. Even a few hours can make a world of difference in treating a cold sore. Once blisters have begun to form, you may be out of luck if you are using a medication that is more effective for treating a cold sore before the blisters have formed.

Abreva- Cold Sore/Fever Blister Treatment

Abreva is the only FDA approved over the counter medication for the treatment of cold sores. It contains 10% Docosanol, a unique patented active ingredient that helps protect healthy cells from the cold sore infection. This treatment has some of the best reviews across the board but seems to be most effective for treatment during the prodrome/tingling stage.

Viroxyn Cold Sore/Fever Blister Treatment and Topical Antiseptic

If the stage of your cold sore is more advanced, i.e. blisters have formed, Viroxyn may be solution for you. Viroxyn is a unique approach to treating cold sores/fever blisters. Viroxyn is a single-application treatment, and has been proven to shorten the duration of outbreaks from 10 days to three to four days. Many patients report pain relief within minutes of application. The active ingredient in Viroxyn is considered by the FDA to be safe and effective when used as a germicidal treatment of open skin wounds. Viroxyn is applied topically, and works by acting directly on the mature virus.

Campho-Phenique Cold Sore Treatment with Drying Action

If your cold sore has progressed to the point where blisters are beginning to weep, anti-viral medications like Abreva and Vironyx will probably not be effective. Instead, you should use a medication that will aid in drying out the cold sores and relieving the pain. Campho-Phenique is a great cold sore medication that temporarily relieves pain and itching. It also relieves dryness and softens crusts and scabs. Campho-Phenique does not contain an anti-viral agent and is more effective for the later stages of cold sores.

Try a prescription medication. Denavir and Zovirax are topical creams often prescribed by doctors for cold sore treatment and have much stronger virus fighting components than over the counter medications. If you would like more information, you can read my online review of Abreva vs. Zovirax.

Home remedies for cold sores are not necessarily a last ditch effort if you aren't able to spend the money on cold sore medications. Home remedies have been used for years and work wonders for some. Many swear by these remedies but it is important to remember that what works for one person may not work for another. Home remedies are NOT medical advice and you should consult with your physician before trying any home remedy.

L-Lysine:
Take up 4,000mg of L-lysine during the tingling stage and continue to take daily until cold sore is gone. Many believe that this will shorten the healing time by several days. Another alternative is to crush up a lysine pill, mix with water, and apply to cold sore.

Ice:
This is especially good to do at the onset of a cold sore. Apply ice every ten minutes for an hour. This process may prevent the movement of the virus from the nerve to the skin.

Nail Polish Remover:
Apply nail polish remover with a q-tip several times a day to dry out a cold sore.

Rubbing Alcohol:
Apply rubbing alcohol with a q-tip several times a day to dry out a cold sore.

Ear wax:
It might sound gross, but many claim that applying ear wax to a cold sore works wonders.

Tea Bag:
Place a damp tea bag on the cold sore for five minutes or so a couple times a day until the cold sore scabs over and clears up.

Listerine:
Apply Listerine with a q-tip or cotton ball to dry out a cold sore.

Instant coffee:
Make a paste from "instant" coffee and water and apply to cold sore.

Witch hazel:
Apply with a q-tip several times a day.

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I hope that the information on this page was helpful for all you fellow cold sore sufferers out there. I would like to invite you to visit my website at www.coldsoreadvice.com, a site dedicated to education on the topic of cold sores, prevention, remedies, tips, and dangers/risks associated with cold sores.

Thank You,
Quinn Black
www.coldsoreadvice.com,