Simple Tips on How to Cure a Cold Sore

If you are suffering from cold sores, then you probably already know how to cure a cold sore . You know that these painful blisters are caused by a virus and that it needs to be treated before it turns into something worse. But the question is: how to get rid of a cold sore? Do you need to make trips to the doctors office or can a simple over the counter remedy do the trick? Here is a look at how to cure a cold sore using an over the counter remedy and some tips for preventing cold sores in the future.

The first step to learning how to cure a cold sore is to learn about what causes them in the first place. The virus that causes cold sores is known as herpes labialis and while there is currently no cure for this virus, there are medications which can help to reduce the outbreaks. These medications are usually topical creams or lotions which you apply directly to the affected area. Cold sores occur when the herpes fluid is unable to travel properly from the upper lips and gums to the opening of the blister. This is why a topical ointment is often used to reduce the number of outbreaks that occur and to keep the sores from opening fully. Although these medications cannot prevent the virus, they can make the cold sore less likely to develop into a more serious condition.

Learning how to cure a cold sore is also a matter of prevention. If you are susceptible to cold sores and want to take preventative measures, you should make sure to stay away from foods that are high in vitamin C. These include citrus juices such as lemon and grapefruit as well as any other fruits or vegetables that are high in Vitamin C. While this may seem like common sense, the immune system will attack anything that it perceives to be a threat so eating these foods can actually slow down or even stop the onset of cold sores if they are already present. This is important as any outbreak can be triggered by stress so it is always best to stay healthy.

The second aspect of learning how to cure a cold sore is taking care of any medical conditions that you have that can be contributing to the formation of these sores. A common problem is that many people suffer from dry skin which can increase the chances of developing blisters. This means that moisturizing your skin regularly is essential and you should not forget about the sunscreen applied to your skin too. When buying products for treating the sore, choose those with aloe vera as they are effective at healing the skin around the sore and reducing any swelling.

The last part of learning how to cure a cold sore is simply making sure that you do not continue to let the disease progress to an advanced stage. Symptoms of an advanced outbreak of cold sores tend to be a high fever, chills, fatigue, pain, swelling and redness around the infected area. In order to prevent this, it is recommended that you avoid contact with any person who has recently had a cold sore. This means avoiding sexual activity too, but more importantly, avoiding any kind of crowds so as to limit the spread of the disease. By following these simple tips, you can ensure that you can fully recover from a cold sore and return to everyday life as quickly as possible.

Although there are a large number of treatments available to help people learn how to cure a cold sore, prevention is still better. If possible, you should avoid scratching the area where the sore appears. This will only make matters worse and could cause infection or a secondary infection. When the area becomes infected, it will no longer be able to heal itself and will become tender and sore. For these reasons, it is essential that you keep your hands and feet clean at all times to promote speedy recovery.