Cold sores are small red blisters on the corners of the mouth and lips. They may appear one at a time, or in small groups. While there is no real cure for these painful outbreaks, there are some common cold sore treatments that many people have found helpful.

Prevention

Preventing a cold sore may be a sufferer’s first line of defense against the painful blisters. Caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV-1), cold sores are highly contagious and should be avoided. Never kiss anyone with a cold sore and avoid sharing utensils, drinks or even washcloths, towels and napkins. Sun exposure has also been linked to outbreaks; so many experts agree that wearing a zinc oxide-based lip balm can help reduce recurring outbreaks.

Home Remedies

There is no shortage of homemade cold sore treatments. With very little “medicinal” help until recently, sufferers have relied on grandma’s tried-and-true remedies for relief for generations. Among the most popular home cold sore treatments are:

Applying Ice To The Affected Area. This has two benefits: alleviating the pain and itching of a cold sore by numbing it; and slowly down (or even stifling) its growth by lowering the temperature in the surrounding tissue.

Applying Wet Teabags, to a cold sore for a few minutes every hour – especially when it first appears – can help slow its growth. How? The tannic acid found in regular black tea possesses antiviral properties that attack the virus causing the blister.

Coating The Sore In Petroleum Jelly. Keeping cold sores well-moisturized helps alleviate lip discomfort by preventing the cold sore from cracking and bleeding.

Over-the-Counter Medications

While many patients find home remedies a great way to treat painful cold sores, many patients rely solely on over-the-counter medications for quick cold sore treatment relief. It is important to remember when using OTC’s for cold sore treatment, that most are designed to relieve symptoms, and not actually cure the outbreak. Some, however, have shown promise in either promoting faster healing of cold sores, or stripping the virus of the ability to form new cold sores.

Docosanol is a product known for inhibiting the effect of the herpes virus, which can help to both shorten the duration and the severity of a cold sore outbreak.

There are also several antiviral medications available containing zinc, lysine, phenol and tannic acid, that are used to inhibit the growth of the herpes virus, which can impede the body’s ability to form new sores.

Antibacterial agents, in medications may not be able to prevent cold sores, but are used in cold sore treatment to promote prompt healing and prevent secondary infections.

Numbing agents such as benzocaine, lidocaine, benzyl alcohol, camphor and phenol are used most often to lesson the burning, itching and pain of cold sores, while pain relievers are recommended for those experiencing higher levels of discomfort.

As you can see, there are many different types of cold sore treatments available – from simple home remedies to more sophisticated antiviral medications. Finding one that works for you is the first step to less painful cold sore outbreaks in the future.