Cold Sore Remedies

Effective and Over-the-Counter Fever Blister Treatments

Barb Hacker
Whether you call them cold sores or fever blisters, there's no denying that they are an embarrassing and painful condition. It can be frustrating to suffer with repeat cold sores. Fortunately, there are over-the-counter cold sore remedies, like Abreva and the amino acid lysine, that will not only help minimize breakouts, but will lead to quicker healing for those that do erupt.

Abreva Cold Sore Treatment

Abreva Cold Sore Treatment is effective at minimizing a cold sore. It contains 10% docosanol and is the only FDA approved cold sore remedy known to shorten healing time. The package directions state that Abreva needs to be applied at the first signs that a cold sore is erupting. If used properly, a cold sore may never develop past the initial itching and burning stage. However, even if the sore does erupt, using Abreva may make it smaller than it otherwise would have been. It's also likely to heal faster than it would if the treatment were not used.

Abreva Cold Sore Treatment is available over-the-counter at drug stores and department stores. It can be pricey, at around $20 a tube, but the price is worth it for those that suffer from frequent cold sores.

Try Lysine and Avoid Arginine for Cold Sore Treatment

According to the Herpes-Cold Sore Resource website, an amino acid called lysine can significantly slow the growth and recurrence of cold sores. Lysine is a naturally occurring amino acid that can be found in many foods. It can also be purchased in supplement form. There are many foods that are rich in lysine, including vegetables, fish, chicken, cheese, milk and beans.

On the flip side, the Herpes-Cold Sore Resource website suggests that those that suffer from frequent cold sores avoid foods that contain the amino acid arginine. This amino acid actually encourages the growth of the herpes simplex virus. Foods containing arginine include nuts, chocolate, gelatin and whole wheat products.

You don't have to be plagued by cold sores. Look for over-the-counter treatments, like Abreva and lysine, that stop an outbreak before it occurs. Be sure to check with a doctor before attempting any over-the-counter cold sore remedy.

Sources:

Abreva Cold Sore Treatment: All Help or All Hype? Associated Content, Lucy John

Herpes and Cold Sore Resource, Lysine: Natural Amino Acid Fights Herpes

Published by Barb Hacker

Lucy is thrilled to be realizing her dream of freelance writing. She got her start at AC, has branched out into a few other content writing sites and has now started to expand into print media.  View profile

  • Abreva is the only FDA approved cold sore treatment that speeds healing time.
  • The amino acid lysine can prevent cold sores.
  • The amino acid arginine can encourage growth of the herpes simplex virus.
The herpes simplex virus causes cold sores.

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