Cold sore is a single or a group of small blisters which appear on the lips or around the mouth during or after having a fever. The affected area becomes red, swollen and sore and causes irritation in the area. The blisters, when broken release a clear fluid and may be healed in a couple of days. In some cases it may take several days for the sore to disappear. But until then, one has to undergo some discomfort like itching around the blisters and mild pain.
Probably one of the worst medical conditions that one could have is cold sore. Not only that you have to endure the pain but you also have to prevent yourself from scratching here and there because of the itch. Cold sores are caused by herpes simplex virus. They normally disappear on their own within a few days. But if there is prolonged discomfort, it is better to opt for various cold sores treatment. There are many kinds of treatments available for getting rid of cold sores like creams, ointments and pills along with many home remedies. It is very important that you know the best cold sore treatment that would help you get well as fast as possible.
Over-the-counter medicines are probably the first option for cold sores treatment. There are already thousands of cold sore treatments that can be availed easily in drugstores even without prescription. Some of the most common cold sore treatments include Anbesol, Abreva, L-Lysine, and many others. Unfortunately, some of the cold sore treatments that you can get from the store shelves may cause allergies. Instead of becoming a treatment, it may even worsen your already-worse condition.
Even if there are different medicines that can be used for treating cold sore, you can always still rely on the homemade cold sore treatment. Compared to the cold sores treatment that you can get from the drugstores, these are not just effective but inexpensive at the same time. Some of these home remedies for cold sore include ice, tea bags, lemon balm, and aloe. Compared to the cold sore medicines in the drugstores the natural cold sore treatment works better and safer.
Applying warm and mist tea bags to the cold sores will reduce the soreness and swelling as the tannic acid in tea works as an anti-virus agent which fights the herpes simplex virus which causes the sore. This is also known to be a very effective cold sore treatment. Application of ice around the sore area is also one of the most common cold sore treatments used by many. The ice when applied, decelerates metabolism, reduces spreading of the virus and numbs the area. This gives a very soothing effect and helps faster disappearance of cold sores.
Cold sores can also be treated by regularly applying a pinch of salt to the affected area. This gives a lot of comfort and enables healing at a faster rate. One can also use tea tree oil, olive leaf oil, yogurt, aloe vera and zinc as other effective cold sore treatments. If the sore appears inside the mouth, Listerine mouthwash can be used to rinse the mouth which also helps to cure cold sores.
But aside from the mentioned home remedies for cold sores, your diet can also be the best way to treat as well as prevent this annoying health condition. Start taking vitamins such as Vitamin E, Vitamin C, and Vitamin B to strengthen your immune system. It is also advisable that cut down on caffeinated drinks including coffee, cola, and even tea. And don't forget to include fruits and vegetables in your diet to treat and prevent cold sores as well.
How Do You Get Rid Of Cold Sores
Herpes cold sore is a common illness caused by the herpes simplex viruses. One can easily characterized this infection by noticing a bunch of fluid filled blisters that appears either on red area of the skin or the mucous membrane. After activation, these blisters heal fast, however, they have tendency to reappear.
Viruses of cold sores are of two types, one is herpes simplex type I (HSV I) and other is herpes simplex type II (HSV II). HSV I cause the cold sores and HSV II causes genital herpes that comes on the genital organs of the body.
However, both types of viruses can infect any area of skin and mucous membrane. Almost 80% of the adult peoples have antibodies against HSV I in their body where as about 25% of adult peoples have antibodies against HSV II. Usually viruses transmit through close personal contact with active lesion. These viruses will attack the body in childhood but will never shows symptoms until teen age.
Entry of the viruses in the body is through mouth and then attacks the nerve cells. From there they travel towards the ganglia via nervous system. In ganglia viruses lays in dormant state. In the positive situations viruses comes in active stage and cold sores will out breaks. Weak defense of body to viruses lead to reactivation of the viruses and blisters will again out breaks.
Infection of these viruses can progress in different ways. Some of the peoples have mild or no symptoms. When the viruses gets active they will out breaks the blisters. First out break of blisters starts one to two weeks after the activation and collapse few weeks later. Afterward whenever the viruses will activate blisters will return. Symptom of out breaking is unpleasant tingling feeling in the skin; subsequently number of fluid filled blisters will appear on the skin. Later on scab will cover all the sores and will fall within 8 to 10 days. Until scab covers the sores viruses spreads infection continuously.
Therefore, to avoid the infection by the viruses avoid direct contact with the sores. If such contact occurs, viruses will spread the infection every part of the body that includes fingers and genital organs. You have to wash your hands regularly particularly when you touch lips. Picking at the sores need to be avoided, as this will lead in spreading the viruses as well as it will result in bacterial infection of the sores. To avoid the reactivation of the viruses body need to healthy and therefore try to include healthy food in your regular diet. Key to avoid the infection is varied diet, regular exercise and enough sleep.
Major triggering that activates the viruses is fever, long exposure to sunlight, pregnancy, and menstruation. However, triggering varies from person to person. Therefore, while going out apply sunscreen lotion to the body and also consume healthy and nutritive food. This will help you in shielding the body from infection and reactivation.
Both Gen Wright & Muna wa Wanjiru are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Gen Wright has sinced written about articles on various topics from Terrier Dogs, Acne Treatment and Lose Weight. Learn more about effective and perhaps you could learn more about. Gen Wright's top article generates over 1220000 views. to your Favourites.
Muna wa Wanjiru has sinced written about articles on various topics from Recreation and Sports, Birthday Party and Jewelry. Muna wa Wanjiru Has Been Researching and Reporting on Cold Sores for Years. For More Information on Herpes Cold Sores, Visit His Site at. Muna wa Wanjiru's top article generates over 301000 views. to your Favourites.
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