I’ve only had a cold sore once. It was on my lip, I would have given anything to know how to get rid of a cold sore fast because I had school the next day, but I didn’t even want to leave the house. Unfortunately, even though she felt sorry for me, my mom still made me go to school. The internet still hadn’t been invented yet and the Encyclopedia Britannica didn’t have anything to say about cold sores so I just had to suffer through it for about two weeks until the sore ran its course.

I have scoured the internet and found many different remedies that work for many different people including some home remedies that make the solution sound worse than the problem. In all of my searching I have found two methods that seem to work fast for a large number of people so that’s what this article will be about If you would like to know how to get rid of a cold sore fast; please read on. I prefer natural treatments because of the possible side effects that can come with prescribed and over the counter drugs. The first remedy I will be talking about is also the cheapest remedy I found. It is plain old ice.

Ice

Ice should be used at the first sign of a cold sore when you feel some tingling under the skin near your lips. Wrap the ice in a towel and hold it against your skin as long as you can, hopefully until the area is numb. This works because the cold forces the virus to return to dormancy in the nerves.

Even better than ice, is a frozen tea bag. The coldness of the teabag will have the same effect as the ice plus the tannic acid in the tea has antiviral properties. The next treatment I’m going to talk about involves tea tree oil.

Tea Tree Oil (Melaleuca Oil)

This oil can be considered to be a miracle drug even though it’s a natural substance. It has been proven to have anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-viral properties. If the ice hasn’t prevented the cold sore blister from popping up, try applying a few drops of tea tree oil on the sore with a cotton swab. Do this twice a day and the sore should be gone in a few days.

Some people get Dermatitis as a side effect so it might a good idea to dilute the tea tree oil the first few times you use it in case your skin is sensitive to it. As I said before, if you want to learn how to get rid of cold sores fast, I would try these two procedures first and see how they work for you because everyone is different.

Disclaimer: I am not a doctor, I an just reporting what I have learned. What I have written here is not meant to be medical advice. Before beginning any regimen of treatment it is advisable to consult a licensed medical practitioner first.

I live in a suburb of Portland, OR. I enjoy snow skiing and water skiing. I would have to say though that my favorite pastime is glider flying (gliders are airplanes without engines). I have a keen interest in health issues and read everything I can about health. I’ve decided that natural medicine is the way to go. If you would like to read more about cold sores, please check out my blog post about cold sore treatments.

Author: Craig Stanford

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Craig_Stanford

Information on Cure Cold Sore and Heal Cold Sores Fast.

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How to heal cold sores quickly and effectively. Worry no longer when you know how to heal cold sores fast. Having a cold sore outbreak can seem like the end of the world if you don’t know how to treat them. You feel shunned by society as some disgusting freak who is sexually active frequently. However, many people get herpes by accident. You can get herpes from drinking out of the same cup as someone who carries the virus. They can still spread the disease when they don’t have any signs of an outbreak.

Fortunately, there are many ways to defeat these beasts from hell. First, you have to figure out what triggers the virus. Some people seem to have far more outbreaks then others. The virus affects everyone differently. Certain individuals carry a stronger strain and get really bad outbreaks, when others have slight unnoticeable outbreaks. The virus is triggered by the amino acid Arginine. There are many foods that you should stay away from because they trigger the virus. Many of these foods are acidic salty foods, such as chips, cookies, crackers, nuts, candy, fast food etc.

Now that you know what triggers cold sores, you need to know how to heal them fast in case of an outbreak. The most important thing you need to do is find a good prevention program that works for you. Find out what foods your body accepts the best. Keep the vitamin C going strong as well. Just remember to act quickly when you feel the first signs of an outbreak this way you can heal cold sores fast.

Being a CS sufferer myself, I take pride in helping others treat their outbreaks in a painless and efficient way. Just remember that Herpes doesn’t run your life, you do. You can check out this article for more information to heal cold sores in less then 1 day. Click Here

Author: Marc J Darinoal

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marc_J_Darinoal

Information on Cure Cold Sore and Cold Sore Heal Faster.

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Cold sores can be embarrassing and hard to deal with. When you are looking for a way to cure a cold sore you need something that works fast and leaves you feeling confident and ready to move on with your life. While there is no absolute cure for a cold sore, you can treat the symptoms to help the cold sore heal faster and be less noticeable. These remedies can come in the form of at-home treatments, a trip to the doctor or good old fashioned healthy living. If you live a healthy life with a well-rounded diet rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains your immune system will be operating at the optimal level which will help you ward off the Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV-1) faster.

A trip to the doctor can get you a strong prescription for a medicated cream or other topical agent that will help the cold sore heal faster and help to alleviate symptoms like swelling, itching, burning and fever. The doctor may also recommend a medication in pill form that you would take daily to help suppress the herpes virus and prevent future outbreaks.

You can also use over the counter (OTC) medications to help treat the symptoms and speed up the healing process. These include anti-itch topical creams or gels, like Benzocaine or Lidocaine, as well as pain relievers. You can also use a cold compress to help take down the swelling and decrease the level of pain you are in. When you take the time to learn how to treat the symptoms and keep yourself healthy, you can find a way to cure a cold sore fast. Though the virus cannot be cured, you will feel better and find a way to help you relieve your symptoms to get on with your day and life. This is the best way to deal with cold sores and you should work closely with your doctor to provide the best treatment and care in regards to your HSV-1. With a little consistency and the right treatment plan you may be able to find a way to keep your herpes under control and prevent future outbreaks from happening.

Although the symptoms of cold sores are uncomfortable to deal with, there are many cold sore treatments that can help to reduce the healing time and prevent future breakouts. Visit our website for more information about cold sore treatments: http://ColdSoreTreatments.info

Author: Joleen L Dixon

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joleen_L_Dixon

Information on Cure Cold Sore and Natural Cures For Cold Sores.

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The demand for natural cures for cold sores seems to be steadily increasing and the reason for this is apparently straight forward in the fact that more and more people are looking for natural and alternative treatments and also because having a cold sore is a very common occurrence. If you are a little surprised by the fact that cold sores are very common then don’t be and hopefully if you have a cold sore and are feeling a little self conscious or embarrassed about it then I hope that helps.

The reason that cold sores are extremely common is quite simply because it is a highly contagious virus and is so easily spread, for some people it lies dormant forever whilst for others they get continual outbreaks, but before we get into the treatments themselves lets take a little closer look at the virus so we can understand it better.

The cold sore is actually a herpes virus, or herpes simplex 1 (or HSV1 as its known), and this virus lies dormant in the nervous system and usually is triggered when your immune system is down after an illness, or when you are feeling under the weather or even stress can trigger it. Now if you do have an outbreak one thing to be absolutely aware of is that it is highly contagious – so if you have a cold sore that means no kissing or sharing things such as knives and forks or even towels, in a nutshell anything that touches your mouth should not touch anyone elses (and if you are in a relationship no oral sex until the sore has gone)

Now the bad news is that once you have contracted the virus then it is with you for life as there is no known cure, the good news is that they can be controlled, the best news is that there are natural cures for cold sores and we will cover four quick and easy ones now.

1) Lysine – the herpes virus reproduces by using arginine found in the cells, lysine replaces the arginine and that makes the reproduction impossible. Lysine can be bought as a supplement and about 500mls a day should do the trick.

2) Baking Soda – A paste of baking soda applied to the effected area will help combat a cold sore. This is because it raises the alkaline ph of the skin and the virus cannot grow in that environment.

3) Honey – Honey is one of natures true gifts to mankind as it has so many uses in natural and alternative treatments and one of the things it can help treat is a cold sore. The reason for this is because honey is antiviral, anti fungal and and antibiotic and all this means that germs and fungus cannot survive in this environment.

4) Garlic – Another of natures great healers is garlic, now you may not have many close friends when you use this as a treatment but it will do the trick for you, and what you need to do is slice open a clove of garlic and rub the fresh oil on the sore.

Hopefully you will find that these four tips will help you to make a good start on clearing up your cold sore, however if there is nothing here that takes your fancy then we have got loads more tips for treating cold sores find out more at http://www.howtogetridofcoldsore.com

Author: Peter Barclay

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Cold sores, also called fever blisters, are painful sores that crop up on or around the lip or nasal area. Caused by the herpes simplex I virus, most of the world’s population carries the virus whether they ever have an outbreak or not.

Cold sores typically last for two weeks, and sometimes spread before the healing process begins. Somewhat painful, they can make your child uncomfortable and self-conscious about their appearance.

Cold sores are sometimes confused with canker sores. Canker sores only erupt inside the mouth and have a crater-like appearance. Cold sores erupt outside the mouth, or rarely, just inside the mouth. Although less common, they can also occur elsewhere, such as the face, the chest, hands or fingers. They appear as a blister or cluster of blisters.

The virus is highly contagious, and most children become infected by sharing food, drinking from the same cup, or kissing someone who has a cold sore. Once infected, the virus stays in your body for good, lying dormant until some imbalance in the body causes it to wake up, causing an outbreak.

The most common causes that activate the virus causing the cold sore are emotional stress, fatigue, mouth pain (such as dental work or biting your lip), too much sun or wind, or a lowered immune system due to being sick with a cold or the flu.

If you suspect that your child’s immune system may be in a compromised state due to poor or picky eating habits, be sure to supplement their diet with a high-quality pediatric multi-vitamin. You will find the best quality vitamins at your local health food store or online vitamin retail stores. If triggered from overexposure to the sun, make it a point to apply lip balm with sun block before your child spends time outdoors.

It’s difficult for a parent to see his or her child uncomfortable or in any kind of distress. Through the years working with clients of all ages who suffer from cold sores, I have created a list of what I’ve found to be the best, super-effective remedies for cold sores. This should come as much as a relief to you as it will be for your child.

Although prescription drugs and other over-the-counter remedies are available, I find it’s best to go with an herbal based or natural remedy, especially with children. They can be equally effective, if not more so, are safer, less chance for a side effect, and cost less.

Once your child has had an outbreak or two, if they’re old enough, they will be able to recognize the all-too-familiar early symptoms that cause an itch or tingly feeling where the sore will erupt anytime within minutes or a day. It’s then possible to prevent the outbreak before you can see any sign of the eruption.

Once the skin becomes a little red, the cold sore eruption has already started, so the goal changes to a treatment that will stop it from progressing, keeping it as small as possible, with quick healing.

Choose the one to start with that best meets your lifestyle or is simply more appealing to you.

Menthol or Real Eucalyptus Oil: apply a drop or two to the area. Both of these have proven to be effective against cold sores. Reapply 2 times a day if needed.

Salt: Dip a moist finger in common salt and press it to the sore for about 30 seconds. Repeat a few times a day needed. Warning: don’t use salt if there is any sign of open, raw skin from the blisters.

Red Marine Algae: (RMA Ointment by Vibrant Health) The polysaccharides in this formula have demonstrated the ability to support healthy immune function. It also contains extracts proven to have anti-viral properties. A bit pricey at $17.95 for a one-fourth oz. jar, so be sure to purchase it from a store that offers a refund if it doesn’t work for you.

Echinacea: This is an herb that boosts the immune system and contains anti-viral properties. It works better as a treatment than a preventative. There’s a brand called Childlife that makes Echinacea Tincture for Children, Orange Flavor, Alcohol Free, 100% Organic – 1 fl. Oz, SRP $8.95. Directions: For infants up to 1 year: 5 drops, 3 times daily. For children 1 to 12 years: 10 drops, 3 times daily.

Cold Sores Begone: This topical formulation contains powerful anti-viral herbs. Very effective as a preventative (aborts the infection). If the cold sore has already started, apply several times a day, then kaput after a few days. It comes in a one-half oz. pocket-sized bottle you can throw in your purse or diaper bag when you’re away from home. SRP $10.99.

If your child is plagued with cold sores but is too young to recognize and report the early symptoms, consider applying either the RMA Ointment or Cold Sores Begone® routinely once or twice a day to stay ahead of it. It’s safe to do, and the child shouldn’t develop a tolerance to either remedy.

Remember that every child is different, so if one remedy doesn’t seem to work, simply try another. It is well worth the time and effort to find just the right product for your child and ultimately you, the loving, concerned parent.

You can find the herbs and vitamins recommended in this article at health food stores, and at most nutritional online retailers, such as http://www.vitacost.com or by phone, 800-570-8840. Canker Sores Begone® can be purchased online at http://www.csbegone.com or by phone, 888-877-6315.

Author: Janet Malley

Janet Malley is an expert in the field of natural solutions. Her authoritative voice offers alternative options to those who seek a more natural approach to their health. Contact her at janetmalley@gmail.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Janet_Malley

Information on Cure Cold Sore and Best Treatment For Cold Sores.

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Cold sores are caused by a herpes virus called the Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV-1). Since the herpes virus in any form is incurable, you instead need to turn to ways to treat and prevent herpes outbreaks in order to maintain a quality of life while suffering from the condition. A good treatment for these sores is to simply treat the conditions and the affected area in a way that allows the sores to heal faster. There are many ways to do this and if you are working with your doctor on managing the virus, then you is likely aware of a few of them, but if you are suffering from cold sores for the first time you may need a little help. The most common symptoms associated with cold sores are fever, swelling, redness, dry skin, cracked skin, pain and puss.

An over the counter (OTC) pain reliever can help with the pain, swelling and fever symptoms and a topical cream or gel, like Benzocaine or Lidocaine, can help with the swelling, redness, itching and other skin irritations. While, these all offer only temporary relief they can be the difference between being able to function and not getting through your day. You doctor can prescribe you something stronger to help with the symptoms, but it will just be a stronger version of these things listed above. You are better off to try some OTC and a simpler approach that doesn’t require a visit to the doctor or expensive prescription.

When you are looking for a treatment for sores you need to understand the condition and what the outbreak is like in order to understand the best methods for treating your specific problem. This can be done with easy to find items and allow you the opportunity to take control of the situation without feeling self-conscious and out of control. You can have beautiful skin and keep your cold sores from happening by taking great care of your skin. Treat the outbreaks when they occur and be confident in the beautiful person you are.

Although the symptoms of cold sores are uncomfortable to deal with, there are many cold sore medications that can help to reduce the healing time and prevent future breakouts. Visit our website for more information about cold sore treatments: http://ColdSoreTreatments.info

Author: Joleen L Dixon

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joleen_L_Dixon

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What Is A Cold Sore Blister?

A cold sore blister is the external symptom of an active outbreak of the herpes simplex virus (HSV), most likely the type 1 strain (aka "HSV-1"), although both the type 1 and type 2 strains can cause both genital and oral herpes. Most genital herpes is caused by HSV-2, although HSV-1 accounts for about half of new cases in developed countries such as the U.S.

Active outbreaks are often preceded by what’s known as "prodrome" or "prodromal symptoms", the most common of which is "paresthesia"–the tingling or prickly sensation at the site of the oncoming cold sore before it actually shows up. This is actually a very reliable indicator that a cold sore is imminent and any preventative measures you can take should be taken at this point (anti-virals, OTC creams, ice, etc.). If you have a prescription from your doctor for anti-viral medications such as acyclovir or valcyclovir, you should begin taking them as soon as prodromal symptoms begin–the sooner you start the more effective they will be and the shorter and less painful your outbreak will be.

How Often Will I Get Cold Sores and Can I Ever Get Rid of Them?

HSV cycles between periods of active outbreaks that last between 2 and 21 days where there are blisters on the skin containing infectious virus, then followed by a remission period–this is the state the virus is in almost all the time. During remission the virus stays contained completely inside the sensory nerve cells in its latent form where it will remain for the rest of the your life. Over time the frequency of active disease lessens. So no, sorry, there’s no cure for cold sores, although there are several vaccines currenly in Phase III trials, such as Herpevac and Zostavax, that have shown very promising potential in dealing with the herpes simplex virus.

Treatments For Cold Sore Blisters

There are three main prescription treatments available that are prescribed for cold sore sufferers, they will all roughly produce the same result of reducing healing time by 1-2 days and decreasing the pain and irritation of the cold sore(s):

• Acyclovir: Acyclovir was the original, and prototypical, member of this drug class; it is now available in generic brands at a greatly reduced cost. Acyclovir is the recommended antiviral for suppressive therapy for use during the last months of pregnancy to prevent transmission of herpes simplex to the neonate in cases of maternal recurrent herpes.
• Valacyclovir: Valacyclovir was approved by the FDA specifically to reduce cold sore duration in people who are at least 12 years of age or older, and it’s also been noted that Valacyclovir is absorbed much easier than other anti-viral medications such as Acyclovir. Valacyclovir and famcyclovir-prodrugs of acyclovir and pencyclovir, respectively-have improved solubility in water and better bioavailability when taken orally. Possible side effects include allergic reaction, headache, skin rash, insomnia, dizziness, and fatigue.
• Famciclovir: This medication is sometimes used to treat the herpes virus that causes cold sores as well as genital herpes (it acts on both the HSV-1 and HSV-2 strains, in other words), and studies have shown that it can work as well as Acyclovir in treating oral herpes outbreaks. Possible side effects include itching, fever, headache, fatigue, nausea, or diarrhea. Several studies in humans and mice provide evidence that early treatment with famciclovir soon after the first infection with herpes can significantly lower the chance of future outbreaks of herpes (Source: Journal of General Virology–See: http://vir.sgmjournals.org/cgi/content/full/81/10/2385 )

Cold Sore First Aid Basics

1. Do not itch or scratch! This can cause you to spread the virus to other areas of the body, particularly the eyes which can be very dangerous–herpes keratitis (herpes infection of the eye) is a leading cause of blindness in the United States.

2. Start applying ice–I’d recommend 10 minutes every 2 hours. Just apply an ice cube directly to the affected area, this will reduce inflammation and slow the replication of the virus. It also reduces irritation and itching.

3. Start anti-virals if you’ve got them, see your doctor for them if you don’t and would like to try anti-viral therapy.

4. Keep the area clean and dry by washing it with a clean, new washcloth every couple of hours; just use normal soap and water.

5. Apply a benzoyl peroxide based acne cream such as Clearasil to keep it dry until you wash it again.

Home Treatments and Remedies for Cold Sore Blisters

For much more detailed information I highly recommend you see my friend’s blog (click here: Cold Sore Blister) where she posts data about various cold sore remedies that herself and her friends have tried over the years, the results they’ve come up with, and the conclusions that they’ve reached about various prescription treatments, OTC (over-the-counter) medicines, and home remedies.

Author: Andrew Kawaski

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andrew_Kawaski

Information on Cure Cold Sore and Cold Sore Home Remedy.

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Cold Sore Home Remedy Overview

Cold sores or fever blisters are nasty uninvited guests that start with one or two painful, fluid-filled blisters on the lips or surrounding area.

These pesky blisters tend to cluster together causing a sore the size of Rhode Island. To make matters worse, everyone within twenty paces immediately notices the blemish.

It never fails. Murphy’s law states that a fever blister will always appear just before an important event, such as a presentation, a blind date, or that long awaited class reunion…

Before getting into the home remedy details, we should first understand the nature of the beast:

• The herpes simplex type I (or sometimes type II) virus is responsible for a cold sore on lip, nose, chin and sometimes the eyes.
• Most people contract the type I virus during childhood.
• It’s incurable.
• It lurks in the nearest nerve cluster (ganglion), where it lies in ambush, just waiting for your immune system to let down its guard.

Are Cold Sores Contagious?

You bet! In fact, you can even catch one from yourself if you pick at the sore.

The result? Perhaps a nasty, very painful herpes whitlow on your finger; or an outbreak down there if you happen to use the bathroom before washing your hands.

Worst case scenario?

If you touch your eyelid with an infected finger, it could result in Herpes Keratitis. And that could make you lose your eyesight.

In rare cases, it could even infect the brain.

First lesson:

Don’t touch that cold sore! And if you do, wash your hands thoroughly with an anti-bacterial soap. In fact, you should become a compulsive hand washer during a cold sore outbreak.

Avoid skin-to-skin contact with other people, and that includes kissing and shaking hands.

Cold Sore Symptoms:

Many people experience an unpleasant tingling or itching sensation at the site of an imminent outbreak. This "prodrome" can occur a couple of days or even hours before redness or that first tiny blister appears.

If you experience a prodrome don’t complain, rejoice!

Why? Because you can start your cold sore home remedy immediately and take steps to speed up the healing process… or even stop that sucker before it gets out of hand.

Home Remedy Steps:

Topical ointments such as acyclovir (Zovirax) and valacyclovir (Valtrex) are effective, but they only work after the blisters have burst open.

The problem is, they will only reduce the outbreak by a couple of days. Since cold sores usually last from 7 to 10 days – and these medications are expensive, many people think they are hardly worth the effort.

It’s your call.

So how do we speed up the process?

Initial steps:

1. At the very first sign of a prodrome or redness in the usual cold sore area, take 3000 mg of an L Lysine supplement (obtainable from health food store). Follow up with 1,000 mg taken three times a day.
2. Swallow a good multi-vitamin containing Zinc. Follow up with a vitamin B12 capsule. Repeat daily.
3. Hold an ice cube against the suspect area until it melts. Repeat several times during the first day.

These cold sore home remedy steps will often stop the infection in its tracks. However, if blisters form and then burst open, stop applying ice and switch to warm tea bags.

Getting Rid of Cold Sores Quickly:

• Keep them clean. Wash the area with warm water 3 or 4 times a day.
• Using a q-tip, swab sores with hydrogen peroxide immediately after washing.
• Cover the sores with a thin layer of petroleum jelly. Do not attempt to disguise with make-up. The chemicals in lipsticks and make-up could aggravate the sores.
• Change your toothbrush after the blisters pop. Discard the toothbrush after the scabs fall away.
• Avoid direct sunlight and wind.
• Relax. Stressful situations will exacerbate the infection.
• Continue with the vitamins and suck a few zinc lozenges daily. This will boost your immune system.

Ian R Kelly draws his ideas both from research and from life’s experiences. He has traveled extensively and gained valuable insights through working his way around the world.

The subject of Natural Home Remedies fascinates him. Because of this, he gets a huge kick out of doing in-depth research, and then writing about his findings.

He is a prolific writer and webmaster, currently in the process of designing and developing his own information website:
http://www.home-remedy-site.com/

He also builds historic man-o-war tall ship models for fun and profit. You can view his latest project at:
http://modelshipbuilder.blogspot.com/

Author: Ian R Kelly

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ian_R_Kelly

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Abreva is a nonprescription medication used in the treatment of cold sores. Abreva is manufactured by the Avanir Pharmaceutical Company, and while it cannot cure the herpes simplex virus that causes cold sores or prevent future outbreaks of cold sores, it has been shown to reduce the healing time and duration of symptoms for many cold sore sufferers. Abreva is applied directly to the blister, and like all cold sore medications it works best when used at the first sign of an outbreak.

Once a person has been infected with the virus that causes cold sores, the infection will never go away. It remains dormant in certain nerve cells of the body until an outbreak is triggered, which is when cold sores or fever blisters will develop. While it is unclear exactly why an outbreak occurs, possible triggers include too much exposure to the UV rays found in sunlight, stress, and a weakened immune system brought on by a cold or flu or other illness. As currently there is no cure for cold sores, using Abreva as a method of treatment does not kill the virus or prevent any future outbreaks. In fact, Abreva is not even an antiviral medication, and does nothing to attack the virus. Abreva works by rearranging the cell membranes of healthy, uninfected cells. This limits the infection as it keeps the cold sore virus from infecting healthy cells.

When using Abreva, it should be applied up to 5 times per day. Abreva is applied directly to the sore and should not be taken internally or applied to the inside of the mouth, gums, or tongue. It should also not be used inside the nose. You should begin the use of Abreva at the first sign of an outbreak, which is the distinctive tingling or burning sensation you feel before a fever blister appears. Abreva is a cream-based medication that is applied with a fingertip. If you put make-up over Abreva, you should use a disposable applicator to apply the make-up.

As with most drugs, Abreva comes with side effects, however they are minor and not everyone who uses Abreva experiences them. The most common side effects are headaches, a stuffy or runny nose, and painful menstrual periods.

If you suffer from cold sore outbreaks and think Abreva may be the treatment you are looking for, speak with your healthcare provider for more information. Although Abreva is available without a prescription, it is important that your doctor knows which treatments and medications you are using in case of any future problems.

Author: Jeremy Lieber To learn more about cold sores, please visit MouthSore.net where you’ll learn about Abreva and much more, including canker sore relief. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeremy_Lieber Information on Cure Cold Sore and Cold Sore Medicine.

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Many treatments can provide you with some relief when you are constantly struggling with pain and itchiness surrounding your cold sore. Treatment that you can obtain over the counter is usually placed into 3 categories or groups.

One of these groups will provide pain and itching relief and will work effectively if it is applied when you first feel the tingling sensation. The other 2 groups of cold sore medicine can prevent the inflammation and aggravation of the sore and can also promote healing by stopping the virus from spreading. Some specific treatments will contain ingredients that can treat all the stages that a cold sore goes through, from the first sign of tingling until the scab has formed and disappears.

Before choosing any medicine it is important to remember that everyone responds to treatments differently. One cream may work for you and not for another. The remedy used will also need to directly relate to the severity of the condition.

These are the most common types of medicines used in the treatment of this problem:

Anbesol Ointment – this contained Aloe and Vitamin E and is good for pain relief.

Abreva – approved by the FDA and reports claim it is effective in the healing process.

Cold Sore Rescue – this is an anti-viral and anti-inflammatory gel that can also promote quick healing.

Zilactin – is a gel that assists by coating the area with a protective layer and is also good for pain relief.

LipClear Lysine – this remedy can prevent the skin from cracking or splitting as the sores dry up and starts to heal.

These products have relieved many sufferers of their symptoms although they are certainly not a miracle cure or magic potion.

You will find that some treatments are great to stop the infection spreading, however will not necessarily speed up the healing process. If you usually suffer from a nasty looking cold sore for 7-10 days, then even with these treatments sores will still remain for the same amount of time.

Always keep in mind that this is a contagious condition so you will need to be extremely hygienic when you are applying these creams and ointments. Wash your hands thoroughly after each application and refrain from touching other parts of your body, or other people, until you have done so.

Forgetting to wash your hands carefully is the reason so many people suffer one cold sore after the next.

Over the counter medicines can be a great way to obtain pain relief, however if you are looking to find a complete cure for cold sores, then you may need to look for some natural remedies.

Want To Know More?

Click Here For Free Information and Reviews: Natural Cold Sores Treatment.

http://www.cold-sores-treatment.org

Author: Nicole Ellis

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nicole_Ellis

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