Cold Sore Treatment: What Are the Different Types of Treatment Avaliable in the Market?

There is no permanent cure for cold sores. Cold sores are usually healed on their own within ten to twelve days. As in the common cold, once a person is infected with herpes virus, the virus stays in the body of the infected person for at least one week. Cold sore does not produce big problems in the body; however, in the body of the people with any immune disorders like AIDS, the herpes virus causes dangerous problems.

The herpes virus infected people have any immune system disorder, and then they should immediately discuss their physician. The physician may give any cold sore treatment for the infected people. The medication should be started before the formation of the blister for better effectiveness. This medication controls the multiplying ability of the virus. This medication catalyzes the antibodies to fight better against the herpes virus.

Cold sores treatment would take at least 7 to 20 days. There are many cold sore treatments are available in the market. Gently applying ice five to ten minutes an hour on cold sore affected area reduces pain and promotes healing. Application of ice should be done only during the tingle stage; this will reduce the temperature of the affected tissues. Reduction of temperature in the affected tissues will result in the reduction of metabolic rate of the affected tissues. This represses the development of cold sores. Intermittent application of ice on the cold sore can give better result in reducing pain and itching. The affected person should not rub or scratch the blisters.

The affected people can take pain reducing drugs to reduce pain and discomfort. They can also apply cold sore blister creams and ointments to reduce the pain. Moisturizing agents like petroleum jelly can be used against cold sore scabs. This will moisturize and soften the sores and prevent the sores from cracking and bleeding. If the blisters are due to the infection of bacteria, antibiotic drugs can be taken. If the infection has been caused by herpes simplex 1 virus, antiviral cream or ointment must be applied on the infected areas. Oral antiviral medicines such as Denavir�, Famcidovir�, Valacyclovir�, or Zovirax� can be taken when you feel that you have been infected by cold sores. These medicines can reduce discomfort and give better relief against cold sores.

There are some other cold sore treatments are also available. Some times sunlight triggers the development of cold sores. In such case sunscreen lip balm can be used as the cold sore treatment. This is successful in some people against bouts of cold sores. To reduce the pain persist during the cold sore, the analgesic ibuprofen can be taken. Soothing gels can also be applied on the cold sore areas to reduce the pain. The above described medicine, gels, and creams do not kill the virus; however, they put off the virus from replicating.

These medications have small effect on developed blisters; however, they can prevent blisters from getting worse. If the medication is taken as soon as symptoms develop then the cold sore may not persist, and it may not be severe.