5 Fast Acting Cold Sore Remedies

Your bedside alarm clock beeps into a frenzy as you hit it with your palm in order to silence it. You make your way towards the bathroom, looking forward to your first day of work, creating new friendships in the guise of colleagues and making something out of yourself in the corporate world. Sure, you may feel a little bit out of sorts but you figured you were just excessively excited to finally start working after being out of work for a while. However, you faced the mirror, you nearly cried out. On the side of your lip is a conspicuous blister seeping clear fluid, which is not exactly the best first impression you wanted to make in your workplace. You realize easily enough that it is a fever blister as you look for a variety of cold sore remedies to help you out.

Cold sores refer to the blisters found on the edge of the mouth, and at times, the lips. It usually opens up and seep clear fluid. Afterwards, it creates a crust over the opening and disappears by itself after only a few days up to two weeks. The blister could also be accompanied with a sore throat, a fever, swollen lymph nodes in the neck, a sore mouth that can make drinking and eating uncomfortable and drooling, which usually occurs in small children. Cold sores are caused by the Herpes Simplex virus (HSV). It is important to know that the symptoms may not manifest after you have been first infected with the HSV. The first outbreak is typically found in any part of the mouth. If you get cold sores immediately after you have been infected, it is commonly more severe that the continuing outbreaks afterwards. This is also another reason why cold sore remedies are becoming popular, considering they are cheap and easily accessible when an outbreak arises.

The Herpes simplex virus can never be removed from your system, which is why your body may manifest the symptoms continuously throughout your entire lifetime. Statistics show that as people go older, the cold sores outbreaks also tend to decrease. The prodromal stage of the cold sore outbreak is considered to be six to forty eight hours after it manifests. The patient may also feel numbness, pain, tenderness, tingling, itching and burning sensation in and near the area where the cold sore is located. There are numerous triggers that can cause cold sores to recur, which is why cold sore remedies typically come in handy. For instance, dental treatment or injury to the gums and lips can easily cause cold sores to recur. Stress, fatigue, infections, pregnancy, hormonal changes, weak immune system, sunlight exposure, food allergies and cosmetic surgery can also trigger an onset of cold sores.

Diagnosis of cold sores isn’t as comprehensive or as heavy-handed. Most of the time, the doctor will examine you and the sores. Afterwards, the doctor will most likely ask if you have come in contact with the Herpes simplex virus. That’s usually that. However, if you want to undergo specific tests for the sake of assurances, you can always request to do so. In order to prevent getting cold sores, it is important to remember how the virus spreads. When there is a break in the skin, the virus uses that lowered defense to invade the body. Hence, you need to avoid coming in contact with infected body fluids. That is you need to avoid kissing an infected person, sharing utensils or any other items with an infected person. Cold sores are contagious so if you know you’re diagnosed with HSV, be considerate.

Top 5 cold sore remedies

Now that you know all that you need to know about cold sores, it’s high time that you know about effective home remedies used to treat fever blisters. Knowing different home remedies can be important when you cold sores suddenly recur in the middle of the night and you’re too tired to go out. Here are some of them.

1. Petroleum jelly - From moisturizing chapped lips to soothing scrapes, petroleum jelly is an all-around presence in every home’s first aid kit. But what you didn’t know is that it is also one of the most effective cold sore remedies. All you need to do is to apply it on the area around the blister in order to keep it moisturized and soothe the blister. This can prevent the blister from cracking and bleeding, which may only lead to scarring. You can do this after icing the area so as to decrease the redness, pain and other signs of inflammation. This will also help protect the surrounding area from secondary infection from the clear fluid out of the blister. Do not put the petroleum jelly directly on the blister.

2. Licorice – According to studies, an active ingredient in licorice called as glycyrrhizic acid, stops cold sore virus cells. If you decide to go out and buy some licorice, you need to make sure that it is real licorice considering numerous licorice candies are only teeming with flavorings. You can also purchase licorice powder and mix it with your cooking. Nevertheless, remember to use licorice in moderation as an intake of too much licorice can produce numerous health complications.

3. Sun protection factor (SPF) - The sun block is not only for the sun. If you’re suffering from cold sores, you also need to protect your lips from the sun as it is one of the most common triggers for an outbreak. Even if you’re only inside the house, you should also use a lip balm with the appropriate SPF as well.

4. Zinc lozenges – We all know how cold sores can be triggered by stress or a weak immune system right? Zinc lozenges are the perfect way to combat that trigger as it strengthens the immune system. Not only that, it also speeds up the healing process, which means you won’t have to go with cold sores for so long.

5. Milk – This home remedy doesn’t mean you need to drink the milk. In this case, the milk needs to be applied topically. Not only will it help heal the blister faster, it can also help relieve pain.

These cold sore remedies are proven to be effective and they are pretty accessible too.