The Warning Signs of a Cold Sore Outbreak

If you want to learn about recognizing a cold sore outbreak in its early stages then you'll want to read this article. Specifically I'll discuss the what the first signs of an impending cold sore in many sufferers, why you should start treatment as soon as you are aware of a new outbreak and the steps you can take to minimize the impact of the outbreak. After reading this article, you should be able to deal with new cold sore outbreaks more effectively.

The first sign of an impending cold sore is often a tingling sensation in the area that the sore later appears. The reason for the tingling is that the herpes simplex virus which causes cold sores has woken from its dormant state and when awakened moves towards the surface of the skin, instead of the nerve cells it normally inhabits.

At the surface of the skin the virus breaks down skin cells, which form a series of small blisters that combine and then burst. The scab that forms takes several more days before it finally heals and falls away leaving healthy skin underneath.

You should start treatment of the infected area as soon as possible to minimize the impact of the virus on your skin, whether using natural cold sore remedies or conventional medical products. This is so the virus is attached before it has done all the damage it can do by actively fighting the virus and reducing the amount it is able to replicate.

There are some claims that rapid treatment using ice applied directly to the skin can sometimes prevent the blister from appearing completely, but it is certainly true that the infected area will be soothed by treating early.

Simply take an ice cube and hold it against the skin for 30 minutes will do the trick. Other remedies that will help include the application of a tea bag to help sooth the lesion and also to fight the virus. One tip to combine bother treatments in one is to freeze a used tea bag and apply it to the area of the cold sore for 30 minutes, getting the benefits of the cold as well as the tannic acid from the tea.

If you use viroxyn or a similar product start treatment as soon as possible following the instructions provided with the product or your medical practitioner's advice.

In the article above we've looked at how to tell when you've got a cold sore coming, why it pays to start treatment as soon as you are aware of it and what remedial steps to take. By following this advice you can shorten the overall healing time of you cold sore and minimize the misery caused by this unpleasant condition. You can read more about cold sores at the Cold Sore Treatment Guide at http://www.coldsoretreatmentguide.com