Stop A Cold Sore With These Great Cold Sore Remedies

If you have ever had a cold sore, then you know how painful they can be. A cold sore is caused by the herpes simplex 1 virus and it is highly contagious. When you have a cold sore or fever blister, you should avoid kissing anyone, sharing drinks or any other activity that will pass your saliva to another person. There is no cure for cold sores. They are a virus that lies dormant underneath your skin, waiting to flare up at any moment. But read on to discover a few cold sore remedies that can shorten the duration of the cold sore.

Cold sores flare ups can be caused by several different things. It can be from a fever, stress, fatigue, menstruation or anything else that upsets the immune system. You will start to feel a tingle on your lip or right above or below the lip line. This is a sign that the cold sore is coming to the surface to wreck havoc on your appearance and to cause you pain.

There are a few over the counter cold sore remedies on the market. These remedies do not cure the cold sore, but they can lesson the symptoms. They may also shorten the duration of the breakout.

There are also a few cold sore remedies that you can try at home. When you start to feel the tingle of a cold sore, apply ice. Do this for five to ten minutes every hour. This can be beneficial in two ways. First, dropping the temperature of the affected tissue can disrupt the metabolic rate of the cold sore and prevent formation. Second, the ice will numb the area and stop the pain.

Another home cold sore remedy is to apply a tea bag to area where you feel a cold sore forming. Tea contains tannic acid which is thought to have anti-viral properties. Since a cold sore comes from a virus, this treatment may prevent the cold sore from forming and lesson the duration of the outbreak.

If you do have a cold sore, it is a good idea to coat the cold sore with petroleum jelly or some other moisturizing agent. This will keep the scab soft and prevent it from cracking and bleeding.

So the next time you start to feel the tingle of a cold sore, try one of these cold sore remedies. Just think, something as simple as an ice cube may save you a week of pain!