What Cold Sore Home Remedies Are There To Help You?

cold sore home remedies

Why would somebody look for cold sore home remedies? Are they better than other remedies? Or maybe they are safer? They are able to treat sores faster? Let's see, what the answers to these questions are.

Cold sores are caused by herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 1, also known as oral herpes. The second type - HSV-2 - is a genital herpes. Herpes is highly contagious during its outbreak period and it is this period when the disease brings the most sufferings to the person.

The secret of successful cold sore treatment is to catch the disease in the early stage and start your treatment right away as soon as you notice the first symptoms of the coming outbreak. Of course there are lots of various remedies to treat the herpes, but why would you choose natural ones? There are reasons, actually.

First of all, herpes cannot be fully treated yet, which means you will have to deal with it from time to time throughout your whole life. If you constantly use OTC treatments, drugs, or some other synthetic and artificial medications for a long time, it can impact your health in a negative way. This is the major cause why it's better to switch to cold sore natural remedies.

Second thing is that natural cold sore cures are safer in both short and long term. They contain natural ingredients, which gently work on minimizing the outbreak severity and speeding up the healing process.

Third thing is that the majority of the natural remedies for cold sores are very affordable; actually you can find many of them right at your home that is why we titled this article "cold sore home remedies". Those remedies can just be right there!

OK, now let's see what you can do to prevent or/and minimize the cold sore outbreak, and improve the healing speed.

Cold Sore Home Remedies That Work

First thing to do is to always keep the sores dry and clean. You need to wash it with soap and a damp towel regularly - say, every two or three hours. You can use a sterilized needle to drain the fluid out of the sores.

There is a simple method to bring relief to your sores: take an ice cube and rub it over the sores. It will reduce irritation, swelling, itching, and make the whole severity of the outbreak lower. You can use ice for every two hours and leave it there on the sore for ten minutes.

To prevent infection petroleum jelly can be used; the sores' fluid cannot go beyond the sore because the jelly creates a barrier that covers the whole sore. So it can prevent the spreading of the virus and it also helps to heal the sore.

You can use milk compresses on the sores to get the relief. Use a half of a cup of room temperature milk, soak cotton in it for a minute or two, and apply it on the sores. Keep the compress there for 10 minutes, and repeat the process three or four times a day. The used cotton should be disposed immediately after the usage to prevent the transition of the virus.

You can also try using a nail polish remover over the cold sores; repeat the process every two hours; the nail polish remover is able to soak up all the fluid inside the store.

Use lemon juice on the cold sore blisters to increase the healing rate; just apply it over the sores and keep it there for a while. You can use the peppermint oil in the same way, but be careful if you have a sensitive skin to avoid skin burns.

cold sore natural remedies

Aloe Vera possesses antiviral properties and often found in many skin care products. It accelerates the healing and prevents the herpes virus multiplication.

Of course you need to fight the virus from inside as well. Start taking lysine supplements as soon as you notice the first signs of the outbreak. Lysine is an amino acid that reduced the herpes virus ability to multiply itself. Those who suffer from cold sores are advised to take lysine supplements at least once a year.

You can also take other vitamin and mineral supplements, which are not directly related to the cold sore treatment. The idea is to help your body fight herpes itself by making the immune system stronger.

Make some changes to your diet; lessen the amount of arginine foods like peanuts, chocolate, coffee, etc. Eat more fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and foods high in antioxidants.

Protect your skin from strong wind, and excessive sun UV rays. Do regular physical training to keep your body fit.

These are the cold sore home remedies that work, and many of them can be easily found at your home. They are safe and effective. Of course before you start your cold sore treatment, consult with your doctor to make the treatment safe and effective.