Cold Sore Remedies that Work

Cold sores are blisters or facial lesions found mostly on the lip or the area surrounding the lip. Cold sores, also known as fever blisters, are caused due to Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV 1) and Herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV 2). The medical term for cold sores is recurrent herpes labialis. What causes cold sores? Let us have a look.

Cold Sore Causes
Many people wonder how are they contracted with the virus. However, one should know that cold sores do not develop immediately on contracting the viral infection. They are caused by the herpes virus that are already dormant in the body for a long time. The herpes virus, that are already present in the body, become active when something triggers them off. Disorders or medical conditions related to the immune system like cancer, any infection, etc. are believed to trigger off herpes virus in the body. Sometimes, diet or the food that a person consumes is also considered as one of the reasons for causing cold sores. Food containing arginine amino acids like grains, chocolates, nuts, peas, etc. can trigger off cold sores.

Cold Sore Treatment
Cold sores treatment consists of two methods. Firstly one can make use of the traditional treatment using antibiotics and get rid of cold sores quickly. Some of these medications can be gotten over-the-counter while some need prescription. However, there are several side effects like nausea, diarrhea or vomiting related to the antibiotics used for treating cold sores which one may or may not observe. Therefore, in this case, it is better to go for natural cold sore remedies that work effectively. Let us have a look at them in detail.

Cold Sore Remedies
Cold sores can be effectively treated with the help of products that can be easily gotten in a household. The following are some home cold sore remedies that work:

• Ice: Ice is considered as the most useful thing in treating cold sores. You can rub an ice cube on the infected area for a minute and repeat this every hour for best results.
• Lysine: Lysine is an amino acid found in proteins which is found to treat cold sores. Lysine is found in food products like milk, eggs, cheese, yeast, fish, etc. Having a diet with these products helps in curing cold sores.
• Lemon: Lemons are also used to get rid of cold sores. You can place a thin slice of lemon on the cold sore directly or simply consume lemon juice 1-2 times a day. On the other hand, you can even apply lemon balm directly to the sores.
• Tea Bags: Using tea bags is yet another effective remedy to cure cold sores fast. You can press a tea bag on the sore for a few minutes and repeat this 1-2 times a day.
• Mint: Mint is believed to be a soothing agent and is used to treat cold sores. You can apply an extract of the mint plant, peppermint oil or even place peppermint tea bags on cold sores for quick healing.
• Petroleum Jelly: It is essential to cover the sores in order to prevent bacterial infections. Secondly, it is also necessary to keep the skin moist and supple for quick healing.

These were some of the cold sore remedies that work effectively for treating cold sores. Lastly, if a person is suffering from cold sores, he should remember to avoid touching his blisters as much as possible. It is also advisable to not to share any personal items of daily use with other people to prevent the spread of infection.