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Cold sores are painful blisters that tend to appear around your mouth. How to get rid of cold sores shows you how to prevent their occurrence and get rid of them when they do appear.
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How to Get Rid of Cold Sores Tips
- Starting treatment as soon as the first signs of the sores appear is a very good idea.
- Apply ice to the area as soon as you feel that first tingly sensation.
- Be very careful not to infect others or spread the infection to other parts of your body.
- Wash your hands regularly.
- Get some over the counter help. Pain relievers, lotions, and supplements can cut the time of the infection to half.
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Step 1: Know The Symptoms
- To find out if you have cold sores or not, see if you're exhibiting any of the following symptoms.
- The first symptoms typically include pain around your mouth or lips, a fever, sore throat, swollen glands, or other parts of the body, says WebMD.WebMD: Cold Sores Overview
- Pain or tingling sensations may appear a day or two before the blisters are formed, say the folks at the MayoClinic.MayoClinic.com: Cold sore
- According to University of Michigan Health System, sometimes there may even be numbness, itching or burning.University of Michigan Health System: Women's Health Advisor 2005.4: Cold Sores (Fever Blisters)
- In children, you sometimes will find them drooling before the cold sores appear.WebMD: Cold Sores Overview
- Small and painful blisters may form around your mouth.NY Times Health Information: Mouth Sores-Symptoms, Causes, Tests
- The blisters quickly dry up and leave scabs that can last anywhere from a few days to a few weeks.MedicineNet.com: Cold Sores (Herpes Simplex Infection)
- If you've had them before, fever, menstruation, stress, food allergies, pregnancy, hormonal changes, and exposure to the sun, are some factors that can trigger a recurrence of cold sores.MedicineNet.com: Cold Sores (Herpes Simplex Infection)
Step 2: When to Seek Medical Advice
- In the following situations, be sure to get professional advice from a medical practitioner.
- If you have an existing illness or medical condition which has affected your immune system.MayoClinic.com: Cold sore
- If you're in chemotherapy or undergoing other kinds of treatment.MedicineNet.com: Cold Sores (Herpes Simplex Infection)
- The cold sores don't heal on their own within two weeks.NY Times Health Information: Mouth Sores-Symptoms, Causes, Tests
- Your symptoms are severe or seem worse than normal.MayoClinic.com: Cold sore
- The infection has spread from one area to another.MedicineNet.com: Cold Sores (Herpes Simplex Infection)
- You're experiencing irritation in your eyes. Ocular herpes, the symptoms for which are lesions and severe pain around the eye needs to be treated immediately. It can lead to blindness.MedicineNet.com: Cold Sores (Herpes Simplex Infection)
Step 3: Treatments and Remedies
- While cold sores will usually disappear on their own within two weeks, there are a few things you can do to make them go away quicker.
- Ointments such as topical lidocaine or benzyl alcohol (Zilactin) may help relieve symptoms.MayoClinic.com: Cold sore
- If started early, an antiviral medication will helping in shortening the duration of the cold sores and reducing the pain.MayoClinic.com: Cold sore
- Over the counter pain relievers help, too. A few examples are aspirin, acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, etc).MedicineNet.com: Cold Sores (Herpes Simplex Infection)
- To help with the pain, you can apply ice or warm compresses to the blisters.MayoClinic.com: Cold sore
- Avoid triggers such as sunburn and stress can help prevent additional outbreaks.MedicineNet.com: Cold Sores (Herpes Simplex Infection)
- According to MedicineNet, oral antiviral medications can be used in the treatment of herpes simplex virus. These include acyclovir (Zovirax) and valacyclovir (Valtrex).MedicineNet.com: Cold Sores (Herpes Simplex Infection)
- Cover the cold sores with a protective petroleum-based product which, according to HowStuffWorks, will speed healing and protect it from secondary infection.HowStuffWorks.com: 7 Ways to Get Rid of Cold sores
- Avoid salty or acidic foods. These can further irritate the sores and add to your pain.HowStuffWorks.com: 7 Ways to Get Rid of Cold sores
- If you're up for it, try aromatherapy. The application of plant and essential oils may help in accelerating the healing process.Cold Sore Treatment Guide: How to Get Rid of Cold Sores
- A common and easy tip is to apply ice to the affected area as soon as you feel the first tingling sensation.Cold Sore Treatment Guide: How to Get Rid of Cold Sores
- Keep it dry, says MotherNature.com. Regularly wash the area, and don't forget to keep washing your hands as well in order to avoid spreading the infection.Mother Nature: The Doctor's Book of Home Remedies
- MotherNature.com also advises that you get a new toothbrush. The old one probably has traces of the virus and will keep it coming back. You might want to consider replacing the older toothpaste tube as well, if it comes into contact with the toothbrush bristles.Mother Nature: The Doctor's Book of Home Remedies
- Take supplements, advises Women's Health Magazine. Taking 1,000 milligrams of L-lysine, an amino acid, can cut the length of your outbreak to half. Also suggested: 200 milligrams of Siberian ginseng.Women's Health Magazine: Tips for Treating Cold Sores (December 2006)
Step 4: Preventing Cold Sores
- Cold sores are extremely contagious, and one way to avoid getting them in the first place is through prevention. And if you've managed to get the virus, try not to pass it on! Here's how to prevent cold sores.
- If you have an infection, particularly avoid contact with infants, people with eczema, or those with suppressed immune systems, such as people with cancer, AIDS, or who've undergone organ transplants.MayoClinic.com: Cold sore
- Avoid kissing and skin contact, says The University of Michigan Health System.University of Michigan Health System: Women's Health Advisor 2005.4: Cold Sores (Fever Blisters)
- Don't share towels, creams, soaps, utensils or drinks.WebMD: Cold Sores Overview
- Always remember to wash your hands says the University of Michigan Health System, especially if you've touched your mouth or infected areas.University of Michigan Health System: Women's Health Advisor 2005.4: Cold Sores (Fever Blisters)
- Be very conscious about touching other parts of your body so that you don't spread the virus. Your eyes and genital area are particularly prone.University of Michigan Health System: Women's Health Advisor 2005.4: Cold Sores (Fever Blisters)
- Avoid triggers such as stress and sunburn, advises the MayoClinic.MayoClinic.com: Cold sore
- Apply lip balm, and use sunscreen.WebMD: Cold Sores Overview
Conclusion
- Once you've got a cold sore, the infection will stay in your body forever. Use the tips above to avoid getting the virus in the first place, but if you've already been infected, they'll also help you avoid recurrences.
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