{"id":2616,"date":"2019-01-20T09:11:19","date_gmt":"2019-01-20T09:11:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/?p=2616"},"modified":"2021-05-24T13:57:15","modified_gmt":"2021-05-24T13:57:15","slug":"12-effective-cold-sore-remedies-to-try-at-home","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/12-effective-cold-sore-remedies-to-try-at-home\/","title":{"rendered":"12 Effective Cold Sore Remedies to Try at Home"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

You wake up in the morning to find that your glands feel swollen and your lips are feeling tight and inflamed. Oh no, it looks like you\u2019re experiencing a cold sore outbreak. Also known as fever blisters, these small groups of blisters around the mouth and lips are due to infection by the herpes virus. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Herpes simplex virus (HSV,) comes in two formats, HSV-1 and HSV-2, with both strains of the virus-producing cold sores. HSV typically enters the body through breaks in the skin. Touching or kissing an infected individual spreads the highly contagious virus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Statistics from the CDC show that up to 90-percent of Americans will suffer from cold sore infection at least once in their lifetime \u2013 with 40-percent of the population experiencing multiple breakouts. Curing the blisters requires the use of medication prescribed by the doctor. However, if you get to the sore in time, a home remedy can reduce the intensity of the outbreak and reduce the healing period. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are eight effective cold sore remedies to try at home.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Ice<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Cold sores<\/a> are painful. As the infection starts to reach the surface of your skin, you\u2019ll notice the affected area begins to turn red and feel sensitive to the touch. You might not even realize your infected during the initial incubation stage. As the blisters start to \u201chead,\u201d you\u2019ll notice your skin turns bright red and small bumps begin to appear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During this stage, the blisters feel irritating, and if they\u2019re close to your mouth, you may find yourself unconsciously licking your lips to keep them moist. As the infection continues, the blisters feel warm and painful. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

At this stage of the infection, ice is your friend. Wrap a block of ice in a thin towel and apply it to your lip. The cooling effect of the ice reduces swelling and soothes pain symptoms. Ice your cold sore for periods of 5-minutes on and 5-minutes off until you experience relief.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

2. Replace Your Toothbrush<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The next time you visit your bathroom, take a look at your toothbrush. We all see this oral care device as clean and sanitary, after all \u2013 we put it in our mouth, don\u2019t we? Unfortunately, you may not feel the same way about your toothbrush ever again after reading this segment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In reality, toothbrushes are pretty dirty. Not only do we use them to brush away plaque <\/a>and pieces of food from our mouth, but they have exposure to particles in the air as well. If you keep your toothbrush within three feet from your toilet, its collecting feces particles from the air every time you flush.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you experience a cold sore outbreak, it’s best if you replace your toothbrush. Toothbrush heads retain trace particles of the virus, and it\u2019s vital that you throw away your toothbrush after your infection begins to clear to avoid another outbreak. If you own an electric toothbrush, change the head and wipe down the handle with surgical spirits to kill off any traces of HSV.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

3. Apply Pure Vanilla Extract<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

HSV is an inflammatory virus that affects the skin. As your cold sore infection progresses, you\u2019ll notice that the skin around the blisters <\/a>gets more and more inflamed each day. By the time the blisters burst, the affected area will be bright red and feel like it has a pulse of its own. Inflammation is responsible for the heat and pain emanating from the blisters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As mentioned, ice is a great way to soothe the effects of inflammation, but it does little to penetrate the skin and stop the virus from spreading. When you feel the onset of a cold sore, soak a cotton ball in some vanilla extract and apply it to the affected area. Vanilla has potent anti-inflammatory properties and helps to reduce infection time and aid in healing after the blisters burst.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soak your blister with vanilla for a few minutes three times a day. This remedy smells fantastic as well.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

4. Medicated Mouth Patches<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s important to catch a cold sore early to reduce the intensity of the outbreak and speed up healing time. Unfortunately, the majority of treatments aren\u2019t effective at every stage of the virus life cycle. After the first 48-hours are over, the viral load of the sore drops by as much as 50-percent, meaning that anti-viral treatments become ineffective.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As soon as you notice the cold sore starting, apply a medicated patch to the affected area. Patches moisturize the skin and allow nutrients to disseminate, speeding up the healing process. A medicated patch soothes the heat and pain emanating from the blisters, by covering the nerve endings in your lip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Patches also reduce the tension in the skin around the cold sore, reducing swelling <\/a>while providing relief. This remedy is cheap and effective at drastically reducing the healing time of the blisters. Some patches claim they can cure cold sores overnight.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

5. Topical L-Lysine Paste<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This amino acid is a common dietary supplement taken at a dose of between one to three grams daily. Supplementing with L-lysine<\/a> reduces the frequency of cold sore outbreaks and reduces healing time. Medical science doesn\u2019t have a clear answer as to why ingesting this amino acid works as a fever blister treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, some experts believe its efficacy is due to the way it interacts with Arginine, another amino acid abundant in the body. Studies of arginine on cold sores show that the amino acid helps to increase cell replication of the virus, reducing infection rates and lessening infection time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Make a paste by adding a teaspoon of pharmaceutical-grade L-lysine to a small mixing bowl and add a few drops of water to make a thick paste. Apply to your sore using a cotton earbud and cover it with a plaster overnight. If you make more than one batch of the remedy, store it in the fridge to ensure the ingredients remain active.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

6. Avoid Touching<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This tip isn\u2019t exactly a remedy, but rather a precaution. Inflammatory infections such as cold sores thrive on irritation<\/a>. The more you touch and irritate the skin around the lesion, the longer the infection lasts and the more intense the symptoms. When you inflame the sore through touching, traces of the virus end up on your fingertips. Any surface or person you touch becomes infected with HSV.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019re sure that the last thing you want to do is accidentally infect your partner, children, or spouse. Be mindful of your cold sore and your actions. Some people may touch their sore without even realizing it, then go on to make physical contact with a family member and infect them with the virus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you find yourself unconsciously touching your cold sore, put on a pair of gloves to prevent you from doing so. The extra layer over your hand keeps you mindful about the sore and reminds you not to touch the infected area.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

7. Light Devices<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Creams, ice, and patches go a long way in stopping a cold sore. However, would you believe that you can get better results using light? Our skin absorbs light in the form of UV rays<\/a>, an example of this phenomenon is the way the body converts sunlight into Vitamin D.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you suffer from frequent cold sore infections, buy an FDA-approved light device for healing cold sores. These devices emit light waves at 1072-nanometers, a frequency that disrupts the virus cells and causes them to die off early. Clinical trials show that light treatment of cold sores at this frequency drastically reduces the infection and healing time of cold sore outbreaks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All you need to do is hold the light to your sore for a few minutes two or three times a day, and the cold sore magically shrinks away into nothing. Research shows that light devices are up to 5-times more effective at healing cold sores than traditional methods like mouth patches and creams.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

8. Avoid the Sun<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Learning how to manage triggers is an essential part of dealing with a cold sore outbreak. Fever blisters <\/a>are irritated by direct sunlight, the drying out of the skin around the blisters intensifies pain and extends infection time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Catching a sunburn increases the chances of a viral outbreak of HSV. Most of us remember to put sun cream on pour body and face when we\u2019re out in the sun. However, very few of us remember to apply sunscreen to our lips as well. For those people living with HSV, sunburnt lips are almost a guarantee that you\u2019re going to experience an outbreak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s for this reason that we recommend you use a medicated patch if you\u2019re out in the sunlight during the day. However, to prevent infection, it’s best that you use a specially formulated lip balm with SPF to avoid burning your lips in the sun. Balm keeps your lips moisturized and protected from harmful UV rays.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

9. Lemon Balm<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The perennial herb looks almost exactly like mint. The plant has the same leaf size and structure as mint, so it\u2019s no surprise to learn that it comes from the same genus as mint. Lemon balm gets its healing properties from the polyphenol flavonoids found in the leaves. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

These flavonoids <\/a>reduce inflammation in the affected area on the lips and around the mouth. When applied as a topical cream or lip balm, lemon balm unlocks its healing powers on the skin, stopping the spread of the outbreak while reducing healing time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While lemon balm can assist with the healing time, it\u2019s important to note that it doesn\u2019t work very well for pain relief. Most online health food retailers offer lemon balm tea. Purchase the tea and make yourself a cup to benefit from the polyphenol flavonoids. Use the wet teabag after brewing your cup and try it as a compress on the affected area for relief.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

10. Reduce Stress<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Cold sores typically come about due to low immune function. When the immune system<\/a> is in a vulnerable state, it\u2019s more prone to other infections, especially recurring infections like a cold sore. One of the most significant factors influencing our immune response is the amount of stress we experience on a daily basis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When we\u2019re stressed about situations and circumstances in our life, we release more of the hormone cortisol. This hormone activates the \u201cfight-or-flight\u201d response in our bodies when we feel the onset of a coming threat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unfortunately, when our bodies are always in a stressful state, our immune function drops, and we\u2019re more likely to have an outbreak. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reduce the amount of stress in your life. Try out a few stress-busting techniques to calm your mind down at the end of a long day. Join a yoga class is a great way to stretch and breathe the stress away. Run a hot bath in the evening before bed and spend a few minutes meditating using an app like Headspace.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

11. OTC Medications
<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Over-the-counter medications <\/a>can provide you with some relief from the painful symptoms of a cold sore while speeding up your body’s process of dealing with the infection. OTC drugs such as Ibuprofen or acetaminophen can help to reduce the swelling and inflammation associated with a cold sore outbreak while it\u2019s in the infectious stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

OTC medications containing docosanol or benzyl alcohol can assist in stopping the spread of the cold sore, reduce the length of infection time while speeding up the healing process. If you try some of these medications and experience no relief from your symptoms, arrange an appointment with your doctor for a consultation and diagnosis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If OTC treatments fail, your doctor may prescribe drugs to help clear the condition and speed up the healing time. It\u2019s important to listen to your doctor\u2019s advice and stick to the dose and schedule they give you with the prescription. Failure to listen to your doctor could result in complications arising.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

12. Aloe vera<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This fleshy-leaf plant has a long history as a remedy for treating a variety of skin disorders and infections. Aloe vera is a fantastic way to heal the skin from the effects of a sunburn<\/a>, and a topical aloe vera lip balm makes an excellent treatment for a cold sore. Applying aloe vera lip balm to your sore will soothe the heat emitting from the wound while killing off any bacteria or viruses. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aloe vera is one of the world\u2019s first farmed crops. The plant has a 6,000-year history in alternative medicine and is native to the lands of Sudan, where it spread to Asia and the Western world. Aloe vera has strong antiseptic, anti-viral, and anti-bacterial properties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many Polynesian people who cut themselves on the reefs surrounding the islands use aloe vera to disinfect the wound and kill the bacteria that transfer from the coral into the injury after experiencing a cut.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\r\n

<\/div>