Click Here to Learn How to Get Rid of Cold Sores Permanently

Getting rid of cold sores should be your main priority once you find yourself having those bumps on your lips or mouth. What are they, to begin with? Cold sores are primarily caused by the herpes simplex virus, most especially the type 1 virus (HSV-1). They are the most evident symptom of oral herpes, otherwise known as herpes labialis.

Once contracted, they are believed to lie dormant in the nervous system until it is triggered into activity by factors such as stress, illness, menstruation, or too much exposure to sunlight.

Why Get Rid of a Cold Sore Fast

Cold sores are definitely unsightly; they can also be uncomfortable and embarrassing for those who suffer from it. As if these are not trouble enough, they also carry the great risk of spreading the herpes simplex virus to the other parts of their body or to the people around them.

Direct contact, especially through kissing, cuddling and sexual contact, can spread the virus to others. Thus, it is very important that you find ways to find the cold sore remedy that will work best for you. Remember that the best time to treat a cold sore is at the time the very first sign or symptom is felt (tingling, itching and blister).

How to Get Rid of Cold Sores: The Magic Seven

The unfortunate part about cold sores or fever blisters is that trying to camouflage them with makeup often just aggravates the problem. Looking at the brighter side, while you can not do so much about the way a cold sore looks on your face, there are a few things you can do to decrease the discomfort you feel, speed up the healing process, and keep them from coming back. There are also steps that you can take to prevent passing on the HSV-1 virus to others. Here they are:

1. Cover and protect. One of the most important rules for cold sore treatment is the need to cover the affected area with protective petroleum based products such as petroleum jelly. This can benefit you in two ways: it can speed up the healing process and protect it from additional infection.

2. Use painkillers and anaesthetics. Cold sores can be painful so you can use painkiller such as aspirin, ibuprofen or acetaminophen, as well as local anaesthetic ointments to numb the pain such as ones containing benzocaine. Remember though that these medications only work by suppressing the primary symptoms, you would need something more potent to get rid of cold sores fast.

3. Avoid acidic and salty food. Foods that are high in salt content and those that are acidic (like potato chips and citrus fruits) can aggravate and irritate cold sores more, adding to the pain and discomfort you are feeling. It is best to avoid these kinds of food during the onset of fever blisters.

4. Consult your doctor. If you happen to have severe cold sores or ones that occur rather frequently, you would have to see your health care provider immediately. Doctors typically prescribe antiviral medication to help manage your cold sores or fever blisters.

5. Do home remedies. There are natural remedies for treatment of cold sores that many people have deemed effective. These include herbs and herbal remedies such as sage and tea tree oil, as well as home remedies which include ice and tea bag applications. Though these methods have not been proven scientifically for treating fever blisters, there is no harm in trying them. Many people from all over the world have attested to their effectivity, so there is a big possibility that it will work for you, too.

6. Protect your lips. It is very important to protect your lips from the sun. Applying sunscreen and sunscreen protect lip balms can prevent the sun-induced recurrence of cold sores. Choose one that has an SPF of 15 or higher.

7. Keep it entirely to yourself. Remember that cold sores are extremely contagious. So, avoid kissing, cuddling, sharing cups, towel and other such personal items, and yes, most especially sexual contact. Wash your hands as frequently as possible, especially right after touching a cold sore. Take extra care not to touch your genitals and your eyes immediately after touching a cold sore. Remember that it is better to be safe, than be extremely sorry at the end.

There are many ways to alleviate the uncomfortable cold sore symptoms and following these steps can help you manage and treat your cold sore. Getting rid of a cold sore is not exactly easy to do, but it is possible with the right effort and the right method.