Cold Sores: prevention and treatment

Although you can never get rid of the cold sore virus, it is possible to make sure you never have to suffer from cold sores again! 

Even if you're one of those people who seems to get one cold sore after another, there is a simple, natural treatment that will get them under control. 

And if one sore does manage to sneak through, you can stop it in its tracks if you know what to do, and have the right treatment on hand. 

You see, the one good thing about cold sores is that they have an early warning system - that strange tingling sensation that you feel just before they erupt. If you can start treatment then, you can prevent the sore even forming.

The most effective solution to a developing cold sore is a cold sore cream containing acyclovir (or aciclovir), like Zovirax. These creams come in a tiny tube that will fit into the smallest pocket or purse, so you can keep a tube handy wherever you are.

Don't just dab a little on and forget it - that's not enough to arrest the virus. Keep using the cream for a day or so, even if the tingling's gone. You could also start taking a "preventer" dose of Lysine (see below), to be on the safe side.

Originally, acyclovir creams were useless once the cold sore had developed, but the newer formulas do make a difference. Read the packet: if it doesn't claim to have an effect on established cold sores, it doesn't.

I have bad news for those who would prefer to use natural products - there isn't one.

"Natural" creams generally contain no more than moisturisers to prevent cracking, and soothing ingredients for comfort. Although it may feel better, softening the sore can actually prolong the attack, because the virus seems to like being moist.

If you don't want to use acyclovir, your best option is to dab the cold sore frequently with alcohol (e.g. methylated spirits, surgical spirit, rubbing alcohol). This will help dry it out, which can speed up healing.

The other weapon in your arsenal - and it's a powerful one - is Lysine. It's a potent preventer as well as a treatment, and you'll find it at your local health food store. Look for 500mg tablets.

The proper name for lysine is L-Lysine hydrochloride. It may sound like a chemical, but actually it's an amino acid, one of the basic building blocks our food is made of. Buy it in its pure form and it's an amazing cold sore fighter, blocking the virus from multiplying.

To treat a cold sore, take one tablet every hour for up to 8 hours. The sore won't disappear, but it should flatten and become less angry. If it doesn't, you can repeat the treatment next day. After that, take one tablet 3 times a day for a week - whether or not the cold sore has disappeared - to avoid another flare-up.

If you're experiencing recurring cold sores, it's perfectly safe to take Lysine long-term as a preventative measure (one or two a day). It's most effective on an empty stomach.

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All text copyright Marisa Wright.   Zovirax photo by Djenan, cold sore photo courtesy of Vanessa Roanhorse, both on Flickr