what is the best and quickest way to get rid of cold sores?

Question

I have three cold sore at once. I hate them and they hurt. What is a quick effective and cheep way to get rid of them?

Answer 1

Lysine helps.

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

Believe it or not, Ambesol. (or other brand, they all work) You know, the over the counter stuff you buy for toothaches? They even sell baby ambesol for teething infants so you shouldn't have a problem finding one in any local pharmacy. I believe you can purchase it for around $5

Ambesol ONLY WORKS when the cold sore is still in its 'Blister' stage. Once the bumps have broken open or have become dry DO NOT USE THE AMBESOL! It is not to be used on open wounds.

Sounds crazy, but it works! It dries them out in 1/4 the amount of normal time and provides instant relief to the pain! Simply apply a small amount to the fresh sore 2 - 4 a day or as you feel necessary.

IF the sores are already past the 'blister' stage and have broken open, dried, scabbed over, I would then recommend a regular lipsol or lipbalm.($1) (The stuff you use for chapped lips) (Don't use any medicated or scented ones, as they may irritate your sore. Buy REGULAR) It won't necessarily take the pain away, but it does bring some comfort and speeds up the healing process.

Answer 4

I really like Abreva. I also suggest that you take an over the counter vitamin called Lysine. It is good for them and if you go to a local Natural Foods Store, they have a vitamin section and someone there can direct you on the best path. Don't pick at them or keep them coated constantly with gunk. They need some air to hit them and the more you mess with them the more likely they will keep spreading. Hope this helps....

Answer 5

They are a virus that willl never go away, just in remission. Herpes Simplex.

You can get a prescription from your Doc for Genital Herpes (a tablet or capsule) that works on cold sores too or you could get an OTC lotion called Abreva that works well too.

Both are Herpes Simplex I and Herpes Simplex II and respond in like manners to the same medication.

One of the answerers mentioned another OTC remedy. I never used it but since I am plagued with cold sores, I will try it too. I have had good luck with Abreva though.

Answer 6

Cure Cold Sores
or Herpes Simplex Type I Naturally?

Answer 7

pls try using acv (apple cider vinegar)
i do not know whether it helps, but is the cheapest and effective way to cure a lot of sickness and decease, and pls buy a book to read how this ACV works wonder from inside and out, you don't have to believe me, pls go online and find some answer, just search ACV....
i would really want to share this with everyone .

Answer 8

the suggestions you have recieved for treatment are good ones. Just remember this, you shed the virus for another three weeks after the outbreak is healed, so do not participate in oral sex during that time or you can transmit the virus to your partner's genitals and I doubt they would thank you for that.

Answer 9

No matter what you hear about Abreva and all the others. The best out there is Zylactin. It also cost half the price of Abreva.

Answer 10

Make sure you have cold sores. A cold sore is the same as a fever blister, but it is not the same as a canker sore. Canker sores are mouth ulcers that occur inside the mouth. While cold sores may on occasion develop inside the mouth, they are usually smaller than canker sores, and they start as blisters. Canker sores are not contagious, and they are not caused by a virus, so treatment differs from that for cold sores. Check with your doctor, who can determine which problem you have either by looking at it or performing a test.
Recognize the signs of an impending outbreak. Before you can actually see a cold sore, you will probably be able to feel a slight tingling or burning somewhere around your mouth where the cold sore will erupt. You may also be able to feel a small bump or hardness in the skin at this point. The earlier you can detect an outbreak, the quicker you can take action to hasten your recovery.
Quarantine your sore at the first sign of an outbreak. The herpes simplex virus is highly contagious, so avoid kissing or other mouth-to-body activities at any time during an outbreak. Also avoid sharing utensils, cups, or straws with other people, and wash dishes and utensils thoroughly with disinfectant soap. Wash your hands frequently, and try to avoid touching the sore. If you touch the cold sore, you can then spread it to other people or to other places on your own body, such as the eyes and genitals. Gently washing the blisters with soap and water may also help to prevent the spread of the outbreak.
Change your toothbrush at the onset of an outbreak. Your toothbrush can keep reinfecting you, so throw it away when an outbreak starts. Use another toothbrush for the duration of an outbreak, and then throw that one away as well.
Take an antiviral medication. A few prescription antiviral medications, such as Penciclovir, Acyclovir, and Famciclovir, have been approved for treatment of herpes simplex outbreaks. These medications do not cure herpes simplex, and they have not been shown to be effective in preventing outbreaks, but they can speed up healing and reduce the severity of an outbreak. They are generally most effective if you start taking them as soon as you notice the first signs of an impending outbreak. If you have very frequent outbreaks, your doctor may prescribe these medications to be taken daily, even in the absence of symptoms, to suppress future outbreaks. Suppression therapy may be effective for some people, but clinical studies have not shown widespread success.
Treat the fever. As the name fever blisters suggests, cold sores are sometimes accompanied by a fever, particularly in younger children. If fever is present, use fever-reducing medications such as acetaminophen, and monitor the fever carefully. Antiviral medications may also reduce fever.
Ease the pain. Over-the-counter cold sore creams may help to ease the pain of cold sores, as may painkillers such as aspirin, acetaminophen, and ibuprofen. It's important to note, since cold sores often affect young children, that aspirin should generally not be given to young children because of the risk of Reye's syndrome, a rare, but potentially fatal disorder.


Icing the sore can be an effective temporary pain reliever. Use an ice pack, rather than touching ice directly to the sore, and keep moving the ice around. Do not ice for more than 10-15 minutes at a time. Applying heat to the sore may also provide relief.
A room-temperature compress of whole milk may ease the pain and speed healing. Be sure to wash the area after applying the compress.
Be patient. The outbreak should go away in 2 weeks or less, and until then, there's not much you can do. Avoid squeezing or picking at the sores, as this will only slow their healing.
Seek medical advice if you have a compromised immune system or if you experience a particularly severe outbreak, a fever that won't go down, an outbreak lasting more than 2 weeks, or irritation of the eyes. Some outbreaks can be serious. People with already-weakened immune systems are at particular risk of long-term complications or even death from a herpes outbreak. Herpes infections in the eyes are one of the leading causes of blindness in many countries, so be very careful not to spread the infection to your eyes, and if you have any irritation in the eyes, see your doctor at once.



[edit] TipsHerpes simplex outbreaks, and hence cold sore outbreaks, are believed to be triggered by certain things in certain people. It has been determined that wearing sunscreen on the lips and other vulnerable areas help prevent outbreaks in people whose outbreaks are triggered by sun exposure. It is also believed that stress may cause outbreaks in some people, and so practicing relaxation techniques to reduce stress levels may ward off outbreaks for these people. A weakened immune system probably allows outbreaks in general, so it's a good idea to try to stay as healthy as possible by eating right, exercising, and avoiding allergens, drugs, and excessive alcohol consumption.
Some research has connected herpes outbreaks with the amino acid arginine, which is found in foods such as chocolate, cola, peas, cereals, peanuts, gelatin, cashews and beer. The evidence isn't conclusive at this point, but if you have frequent outbreaks, you may want to try limiting your consumption of these foods and eliminating consumption during outbreaks.
It is possible that the amino acid lysine may help prevent outbreaks. If you experience frequent outbreaks you may want to try taking a lysine supplement daily. While the scientific tests are still inconclusive, it does seem to work for some people.
An internet search for cold sores or fever blisters will turn up a multitude of home remedies, from vitamin supplements to poison ivy! As with any condition, naturopathic remedies may indeed be effective for some people, but they can also occasionally be dangerous. Use your common sense, and consult your doctor when in doubt.
A mud-mask product is excellent for an oozing cold sore. Apply it to the sore at night to help dry it up. It will heal faster as well. To hide it during the day, use a lip liner brush (which you disinfect afterwards) and mix a bit of lipstick with the mud. It will cover your sore quite easily and keep it from oozing during the day, often one of the most unpleasant aspects of having a cold sore.