Cold sores can be painful, embarrassing, and not to mention unsightly. There are many things that you can do to speed up the length of time that a cold sore sticks around. There are prescription treatments, over the counter treatments, and cold sore remedies that can provide you with some relief.
Milk. Soaking a cotton ball in milk and then applying to the cold sore for a few minutes a couple of times a day can reduce the swelling, provide relief from the pain, and speed up the healing process.
Over The Counter Treatments. Abreva is an over the counter treatment that can help reduce swelling, dull pain, and keep the area from becoming infected. It is available at most drug stores. Lysine is another popular over the counter cold sore remedy.
Ice. If you feel a cold sore coming on you can apply ice to the area to keep the cold sore from lingering around. Not only can you cut down on the length of time that you have a cold sore ice can also help reduce any swelling you experience as well as numb the pain.
Zinc. Sucking on zinc lozenges can help give your immune system the boost that it needs to fight back against a cold sore. Taking zinc supplements on a regular basis can help protect you from future break outs of cold sores.
Licorice. While it may sound ridiculous to use candy for medicinal purposes, licorice is known to have many healing properties. Chew on a licorice stick or sprinkle licorice dust on your cold sore to reduce and prevent infection, boost your immune system, and speed up the healing process of a cold sore. Pick your favorite flavor and start chewing.
Avoid Infection. To avoid making a bad cold sore a whole lot worse, you should cover the area with petroleum jelly to reduce the risk of infection. You should also avoid touching the area as much as possible. If you do touch your cold sore, be sure to wash your hands immediately after to avoid spreading the cold sore to others or to other areas of the body.
Lemon Balm. Lemon balm has antiviral properties that can help heal a cold sore in a jiffy. Other natural products like peppermint oil also have antiviral properties that can be useful in fighting against a cold sore. Other natural cold sore remedies include witch hazel and the use of aloe vera.
Tea Bags. Applying a hot tea bag to your cold sore once every few hours for a period of a few minutes can reduce the size and appearance of a cold sore dramatically.
Garlic And Onions. Garlic does not just keep vampires away. Consuming chopped garlic can not only help heal a cold sore quickly, it can also keep cold sores away. Rubbing raw onions on the cold sore can also help get rid of a cold sore in a hurry. Onions are famous for naturally boosting the immune system.
