Health Tips: Treatment for a Cold Sore

A cold sore, a painful blister around the lip or mouth, is incurable. Herpes Simplex 1, a virus that remains in a person's body forever, causes this ailment. As a result, your only option is to treat an outbreak. You can do this by . . .

Tip 1. Taking L-lysine.
L-lysine is an amino acid that maintains collagen in the mouth. Consume 1,000 milligrams a day and reduce the side effects and appearance of a cold sore. Also, improve the color of your lips and manage other illnesses like shingles.

Tip 2. Dabbing on balm.
Treat the pain associated with a cold sore by dabbing on a medicated balm such as Carmex. These kind of products sooth your skin immediately, you will feel a sensation. In addition, they are relatively inexpensive.

Tip 3. Applying peroxide.
Dry out a pus-filled bump by applying hydrogen peroxide. Place this solution on the affected area with a cotton ball every 2 to 4 hours. Hydrogen peroxide will help a scab form and end the infectious stage of your cold sore. Another liquid concentration, alcohol, does the same trick, but stings.

Tip 4. Catching some z's.
Stress and a low immune system can cause an outbreak. Address each of these factors by catching up on your sleep. A little r&r will treat these underlying sources of a cold sore along with giving you more energy.

Tip 5. Controlling urges.
Until the symptoms of your cold sore disappear, you'll naturally want to pick at any bump or blister. Unfortunately, this type of behavior can cause permanent scarring. Do yourself a favor and keep your fingers to yourself until your cold sore heals.

Tip 6. Using Preparation-H.
Preparation-H shrinks skin tissue. You can treat your cold sore with this medication in order to reduce the size of your bump. If you have to go to a party or business meeting and want a quick fix, apply this product. In minutes, your cold sore will be less noticeable.

Tip 7. Throwing away lipstick.
The germs from your cold sore can contaminate anything that touches your lip. What does this mean? Your lipstick, toothbrush and Carmex can re-infect you. Toss these products after your bump scabs and reduce your healing time.

These 7 tips can help you treat a cold sore. For the best results, combine all of them. Obtain more information about Herpes Simplex 1 by visiting WebMd.