Cold sores, also known as fever blisters, are basically groups of small blisters that appear on or around the lips. The skin around blisters is often swollen, red and sore. The blisters tend to break open, leak and then scab over after a few days.
These blisters are caused by herpes simplex-virus and usually heal in a few days to 2 weeks.
Let’s Take A Look at How to Treat Cold Sores
These tips should help you deal with the problem in a painless and effective manner.
1. OTC Creams
There are many medicines available at pharmacies. These can be bought without any doctor’s prescription. You can research about effective OTC available creams and lotions for cold sores, and buy the one that suits your requirement and budget in the best way. Creams containing behenyl alcohol are considered to be an effective option.
You can apply them directly on the affected skin, two to five times a day. However, make sure you check the label before making any purchase. If needed, consult the pharmacist to come to know about the effectiveness of the chosen cream. Applying the cream or petroleum jelly as the symptoms appear is the best approach to get rid of cold sores fast.
2. Probiotics
You can look for number of over-the-counter supplements to treat cold sores. Probiotics provide the required nutritional value to the skin, as well as kill the virus causing sores. Probiotics for cold sores can be bought from any chemist or general conventional stores.
Also, you can ask your doctor to recommend some brands which have good reputation in the market. If you are also taking doctor prescribed antibiotics, make sure you give a gap of at least 2 hours after the antibiotic dose.
3. Styptic Pencil
Another commonly used and effective method to get rid of cold sores is treating them with styptic pencil. Styptic pencil works as an effective treatment to get relief from cold sore symptoms overnight.
In this treatment, the pencil is directly applied on the affected skin, once a day. This treatment makes your blood vessels to contract that quicken the healing process.
4. Honey
This is one of the best home remedies to treat cold sores. It is skin-friendly and will definitely treat cold sores without giving out any side effects. Honey is warm and gives instant relief from pain from the sores.
One tablespoon of honey two times a day would work wonders for your sores. You can also apply honey directly on the affected area to get instant relief.
5. Cinnamon
This is one of the most effective grandma’s home remedies. Cinnamon acts as a great healing agent for viruses and bacterial infections due to the presence of anti-viral properties.
Simply sprinkle some cinnamon on the affected area and wait to see results. Cinnamon has antiviral properties which can heal your sores faster.
6. Coconut Oil
Virgin coconut oil is not only good for your hair and skin, but also act as a good product to treat bacterial infections. It has high antiviral and antifungal properties.
Since cold sores are caused by the virus, this oil can inhibit the virus effectively due to its antiviral properties. You can simply pour some in a bowl and apply directly to affected area.
Take a note of these home remedies and try either of them to get instant relief from your problem. These remedies can treat the virus more efficiently than any anti-biotic.
Preventing Herpes Simplex Infection
It is best recommended to prevent herpes simplex infection by following certain hygienic measures. These measures not just prevent the virus, but also reduce cold sore outbreaks. The whole idea is to strengthen the immune system, which can be easily achieved by modifying lifestyle and eating habits.
Performing regular exercises, eating balanced diet and drinking lots of water everyday are a few things that you can do to prevent the outbreak.
In addition to lifestyle factors, it is also recommended to reduce stress levels as much as possible. Taking proper breaks between work, performing deep breathing exercises 2-3 times a day and staying away from gadgets will help you bring down the stress levels.
Also, make sure you sunbath at last 2-3 times a day to maintain good levels of D3 and other vitamins that you get from the Sun. Prevent exposure to the virus through by maintaining an antibacterial hygiene routine.