October 9, 2007

Remedies For Cold Sores

One thing that everyone can agree on is a cold sore is never a welcome thing. These small blisters are not only painful but they look unattractive as well. In addition to trying to cover them up, most people are looking for quick remedies for cold sores. Although you can certainly go see a doctor to get a prescribed medication to rid you of this nuisance, there’s a number of things you can do at home to help speed the healing process.

A trip to the drugstore will usually yield a number of preparations that are designed to help you deal with a cold sore. It’s important to remember that most of these types of products aren’t really remedies for cold sores. Instead they are made to help alleviate the symptoms as opposed to getting rid of the sore itself. If you are experiencing pain and dryness with your cold sore, these over the counter remedies for cold sores will help ease those problems.

Instead of purchasing one of these types of solutions, you can instead try something at home. There are many natural remedies for cold sores that many people swear by. One of these is ice. This is one of the remedies for cold sores that must be used early. In order to get the full benefits of ice you need to apply it when you feel the cold sore forming. If you wait until it’s blistered and open, the ice will do little good. That’s because the ice, when applied early, acts as a deterrent. It slows the growth of the cold sore cells so the sore itself will never fully mature.

Another approach that many people believe works well is a tea bag. Again this is one of the remedies for cold sores best used early in the cold sore’s development. Like ice it works to kill the cells before they have a chance to fully develop. You don’t need to brew the bag in warm water before using it. Simply wet it and place it on the area where you feel the cold sore is developing.

Some individuals feel the best way to treat one of these pesky sores is to try to avoid them in the first place. These types of remedies for cold sores involve pre-treatment for folks who are prone to getting several cold sores each year. One of the easiest and most effective remedies for cold sores is to keep the lips soft and supple. If your lips become sunburned, your risk for getting a cold sore increases. Therefore it’s advisable to keep a tube of lip moisturizer on hand and use it regularly. Also one of the best remedies for cold sores and their prevention is to always use sun screen when outside. If the lip area is constantly exposed to direct sunlight, cold sores can pop up.

Filed under Viral Infections by health-updates

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