Cold Sores Cure – Do They Exist? Cold sores, also known as herpes labialis, are small blisters which normally develop on your lip or around your mouth. They are caused by the herpes simplex 1 virus, the same virus responsible for sore throats and cold sores. They generally clear up within 7 days without treatment.

Treatments for these sores vary from sufferers to sufferers. Some people opt for over the counter remedies such as over the counter feverfew oil, ice, or tea bags to reduce pain and healing time. Others try laser surgery, dermabrasion, and alternative treatments such as acupressure and homeopathic remedies. Some use over the counter medications and natural treatments in addition to these more extreme treatments.

Many sufferers feel that mainstream treatments don’t treat the root cause of their cold sores. While there is no “one cold sore cure” that works for everyone, there are several ways to speed up the healing process. Treatment of the herpes simplex 1 virus should begin soon after symptoms arise to slow down the healing process. This includes avoiding contact with the sore while it is still contagious. It’s also a good idea to make sure you are eating a healthy diet high in vitamins and nutrients to keep your immune system healthy and help your body fight off cold sores.

As your cold sore cure moves along, you will notice that your blisters will get smaller until they are virtually unnoticeable. If you have had a number of outbreaks already, the fewer the outbreaks, the faster you’ll heal. During an outbreak, you should stay away from rubbing your eyes or licking your lips. This can make the blisters spread, making healing more difficult. If you do need to touch your cold sores, try wearing gloves or an eye shield. Avoiding stress and applying cold cream to your face are also important tactics to reducing the number of outbreaks you experience during your lifetime.

When your immunity has been boosted, you can begin using topical treatments to speed up the healing process. Topical treatments are creams and lotions you apply directly to the area. They contain a protein that helps slow down the rate of viral growth and increase your body’s ability to form a thicker layer of scar tissue. While these lotions won’t totally cure your symptoms, they will improve your condition and prevent new outbreaks from forming. There are some vitamins and minerals that also help boost immunity as well as topical treatments that contain these elements. Your doctor can give you these and other details about your particular case.

Other types of topical and oral treatments include interferon and antiviral drugs. These drugs are designed to treat high levels of inflammation, which cause symptoms such as fever, pain and burning sensations. In rare instances, doctors may recommend green tea extract, a natural substance found in many Japanese and Chinese medicine practices, as a cold sore cure. Green tea extract has been shown to inhibit the activity of the herpes simplex virus type 1, or the virus that causes cold sores.