Best Cold Sore Treatment

Cold sores are small, red or brown colored blisters that are caused by a virus, known as the herpes simplex virus. They are, also known as fever blisters are a type of recurrent and contagious viral infection. The sores or blisters, that more commonly appear on the lips and mouth, can be quite painful at times. The herpes simplex virus enters the body through the nose and mouth, and then moves to the sensory nerves, where it can lie dormant for several days to years. The sores appear due to a reactivation of the virus, and then disappear. They can appear again when the virus is reactivated. So, cold sores are characterized by a remission period. What exactly reactivates the virus is still not known, but factors like fever, cold, exposure to sunlight, stress, infection, fatigue, a weakened immune system, and high level of arginine in the body are supposed to play an important role in this regard.

Getting Rid of Cold Sores

So far, there is no permanent cure for cold sores. However, it is possible to ensure the quick healing of the sores with the use of certain topical and oral anti-viral medications. Simple home and natural remedies too, can prove beneficial for treating mild to moderate outbreak of cold sores. The cure for this condition can be different for each specific case, depending on the severity of the condition and the individual preference. For example, some people prefer natural remedies, especially if the outbreak is not very severe.

Using Topical Medications
The most popular topical medications for cold sores are Denavir, Viroxyn and Zovirax. Denavir, a topical anti-viral medication and Abreva are approved by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) of United States. Apart from these, lysine containing creams and ointments too can prove very effective for this condition.

Using Oral Anti-Viral Medications
Sometimes, one may need the help of oral anti-viral medications along with the topical ones, to treat a severe outbreak of cold sores. For the treatment of cold sores, FDA has approved certain anti-viral medications which include Acyclovir, Famciclovir and Valacyclovir. Again, lysine supplements can also be used as lysine is an essential amino acid that can help to reduce future episodes of recurrences, and speed up the healing process of the sores or blisters.

Using Home Remedies
The advantage of using natural remedies is that they usually do not cause any side effects. Moreover, for mild or moderate cold sores, they can prove quite effective in speeding up the healing process. The most effective home remedies for this condition are ice, petroleum jelly, lemon balm, tea bags, and chamomile. Lemon balm is suitable for both external and internal applications. A few other herbs that can be used are licorice, aloe vera, echinacea and neem.

The most suitable treatment can vary from person to person, depending on the severity of the condition. As far as the oral medications for cold sores are concerned, one should take them only after consulting a physician. If sores are not very large or severe, then home remedies and topical creams and ointment can help to get rid of them. But, if the sores do not heal with topical medications and home remedies, and if you experience eye irritation and fever along with cold sores, then consult a certified physician for proper treatment. At the same time, control the triggering factors like stress, fatigue and exposure to sunlight and cold weather. Also reduce the consumption of high arginine food, and increase the consumption of foods containing lysine, in order to promote rapid healing of the sores.