How to Get Rid of a Cold Sore

How can I get of my cold sore? This is the question asked by everyone who discovers this affliction for the first time. Unfortunatley there is no permanent cure, however there are ways to deal with the symtoms. The downside to all of this is that there is that there is so much info on treating cold sores it's hard to know where to start, so lets start at the basics.

In a nutshell cold sores are annoying, small, painful blisters on the lips and nearby skin, and they are caused by the herpes simplex virus, and when you have one please be careful as they're contagious, especially in the first 2 or 3 days after an outbreak. Now although cold sores are not life-threatening, they can be quite dangerous if left untreated. Don't get too down if you have a cold sore as you are not alone because they are quite common and they can be controlled but unfortunately they cannot be cured.

Treating a cold sore and how long it lasts depending on your health and your choice of cold sore treatments. Of course, it is now commonly understood there is no permanent cure for cold sores. So this means that really you are in a situation of controlling and preventing outbreak rather than curing. There are many different treatment options available. It is really up to the individual what route they want to go down to reduce the discomfort associated with cold sores and to lessen the duration of the outbreak. One of the main things to bear in mind is that treatments may only reduce the duration of the cold sores by 1 to 2 days. But on the positive side, although it does not lesson the duration much, it can help soothe the painful blisters and other uncomfortable symptoms. As always for your treatment you can go down the chemical route or the natural route. Natural treatments may include tropical creams or ointments. Chemical treatments, on the other hand normally come in the form of creams which you can get non-prescription. Or you can even try an antiviral medicine (such as acyclovir or famciclovir). One of the best things you can do for yourself though is learn to recognise and avoid triggers that you know are associated with when you have a cold sore.

As well as looking out for triggers, it is a good idea to familiarise yourself with the symptoms associate with cold sores so that you can start treating it sooner rather than later. Common symptoms are to feel some pain, burning, or itching at the site of the cold sore before it appears. Symptoms are usually most severe 8 hours after the outbreak and can be quite similar to those of other viral infections and may include fever, swollen glands, fatigue and multiple sores in the mouth and on the gums. Symptoms subside after the initial illness runs its course, but the virus remains in the nerve cells until reactivated. Symptoms may last from seven to ten days, but although the symptoms may disappear, unfortunately the virus does not.