To reduce your chance of a major outbreak, it’s important to start antiviral therapy medication as soon as you feel a cold sore coming on, even if blisters haven’t formed yet. They may be used to reduce the length of an acute outbreak or to prevent new outbreaks. Most antivirals come in a tablet or topical cream form, and some are available in an injectable form. Your doctor may recommend a prescription antiviral to treat a cold sore. Apply the compress three times a day for up to 10 minutes. Wrap a cloth around the ice and apply the cold compress to the lesion. Don’t apply ice or gel packs directly to skin. Use a gel ice pack or place ice in a plastic bag. How to use a cool compress on a cold sore Research on lysine for cold sores isn’t conclusive, so talk with your doctor before using it to treat a cold sore. Lysine may also help reduce healing time. Lysine is an amino acid that may help prevent the herpes simplex virus from being more active.Īccording to a small 1987 study, lysine tablets may reduce the number of herpes simplex virus outbreaks and their severity. In this article, we review eight products for treating cold sores in the early stages, and explain how you can use them to potentially shorten the duration of an outbreak. This stage can last for a few days before the blister becomes visible, and it’s the best time for treatment. Symptoms of a rising cold soreīefore a cold sore erupts, you may notice a tingling or burning sensation on your mouth or face. The herpes simplex virus is passed through contact, like kissing, using contaminated cosmetics, or sharing food. The blisters stemming from both forms of the virus tend to look similar in appearance.Ĭold sores are contagious once they’re visible, but they can spread when they’re not visible too. Herpes simplex type 1 usually causes cold sores, while herpes simplex type 2 usually causes genital herpes. Causes of cold soresĬold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus. These red lesions often appear in clumps and can linger for up to 2 weeks. What is a cold sore?Ī cold sore is a fluid-filled blister that appears near or in the mouth and sometimes on the fingers or nose. These symptoms may happen a few days before blisters appear. The best time to begin treating a cold sore is as soon as you feel tingling or itching around your mouth. While you can’t heal cold sores overnight, some treatments can shorten their life spans. If you have a healthy immune system, they usually clear up in about 10 days. These painful blisters that show up on or near your lips are caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV-1). There’s currently no cure for cold sores. Getty Images A quick look at cold sore remedies But people with weakened immune systems can experience complications and should speak to a doctor for the best treatment. Over-the-counter creams with lidocaine or benzocaine may offer some pain relief.Using home remedies early can help heal a cold sore faster. A cool, damp cloth may reduce redness, help remove crusting and promote healing. If your lips become dry, apply a moisturizing cream. Protect your lips from the sun with a zinc oxide cream or lip balm with sunblock. Some over-the-counter preparations contain a drying agent, such as alcohol, that may speed healing. It must be applied frequently and may shorten an outbreak by a few hours or a day. Docosanol (Abreva) is an over-the-counter cream for cold sores. To ease the discomfort of a cold sore, try these tips: Antiviral medications can help cold sores heal more quickly and may reduce how often they return. ![]() There’s no cure for HSV infection, and the blisters may return. Hormonal changes, such as those related to menstruation Once you’ve had an episode of herpes infection, the virus lies dormant in nerve cells in your skin and may emerge as another cold sore at the same place as before. ![]() Oral sex can spread HSV-1 to the genitals and HSV-2 to the lips. Shared eating utensils, razors and towels, as well as kissing, may spread HSV-1. But you can transmit the virus to others even if you don’t have blisters. Cold sores are most contagious when oozing blisters are present. Cold sores are contagious even if you don’t see the sores. Both of these viruses can affect your mouth or genitals and can be spread by oral sex. They’re caused by a herpes simplex virus (HSV-1) closely related to the one that causes genital herpes (HSV-2). Cold sores usually heal in two to four weeks without leaving a scar.Ĭold sores spread from person to person by close contact, such as kissing. After the blisters break, a crust forms over the resulting sore. These blisters are often grouped together in patches. They are tiny, fluid-filled blisters on and around your lips. Cold sores - also called fever blisters - are a common viral infection.
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