Sometimes the best offense against cold sores is a good defense. Since these sores are caused by the herpes virus, once you become infected with one it is very likely you will have continuous occurrences throughout your life time every now and then as this virus is not something that can be cured. Home remedies for cold sores should focus first and foremost around taking every precaution possible to reduce anything that may “trigger” an outbreak, such as being in the sun too long (you should always use lip balm or chap stick to protect against the sun and dry, chapped lips), sharing food or other plates or utensils with people, being too stressed out, catching the cold or a flu or anything else that may weaken your immune system. Over the counter cold sore medicine can be used to help relieve pain and discomfort and should always be used as directed.

Natural cold sore remedies focus on strengthening the immune system and taking extra precaution to keep the virus in check. Simple things such as changing your toothbrush after each instance and washing your hands during one can help to not only reduce your chances for a reoccurence but also reduce the chances of you spreading the virus to others. The best cold sore treatment is always going to be the one that works the best for you, and that your doctor recommends you try. When it comes to cold sores, there are numerous ways to reduce the infection time and even reduce the amount of pain felt during the instance.

What Are Cold Sores?

Cold sores are caused by a form of the herpes virus named herpes simplex virus type 1 (herpes simplex virus type 2 is more commonly known as genital herpes and is far away from type 1) and is transmitted primarily between saliva that has originated from an infected individual. Cold sores appear visibly as a small group of white blisters before transitioning into large, painful red blisters; these should not be mistaken for canker sores which are caused mainly by bacteria in the mouth and appear as white, disc-shaped regions with a distinct “red ring” surrounding them. The best cold sore remedy is not going to necessarily work for canker sores as one is caused by a virus while the other finds its cause originating from bacteria. Canker sores also are not contagious while cold sores are considered highly contagious. Cold sores generally last anywhere from one to two weeks.

The Best Remedies for Cold Sores

The best remedies are not going to be what you think, however, they are effective and can help prevent you from getting future outbreaks and even help to cut down on the amount of time your existing sores tend to last for.

Preventive Approach – prevention is key as the herpes virus lays dormant in your nervous system and waits for something to trigger the outbreak before it can begin doing its dirty deeds.
– Change your toothbrush after an outbreak to ensure that none of the virus is left behind and causing chronic reinfection of the mouth.
– Do not touch them; this seems straightforward enough and just like mom always used to say, “dirty hands cause colds!”. Keeping your hands out of your mouth is not only going to keep other forms of bacteria and viruses out of your mouth, but if you happen to touch something contaminated with herpes simple 1, you can spark another cold sore outbreak. Avoiding sharing things such as drinks and food with others is key to prevention, you should always be washing your hands after touching your own sores or handling anything else on the mouth of another person. Stress, colds, the sun, immune and other drastic bodily changes such as PMS that can cause the immune system to weaken may also be responsible for outbreaks. Having new dental work done or existing work maintained is also notorious for causing cold sores.

Home Remedies for Cold Sores

Aside from over the counter numbing products and painkillers such as ibuprofen (Advil, Tylenol etc) some home remedies have shown really promise is helping to reduce infection time and future outbreaks.
– Amino Acid L-Lysine has been shown in studies to prevent the spread of the herpes simplex virus as a whole. This amino acid is not readily made by the body so we must take in it from outside sources, either by supplementation or lysine rich foods such as red meat, eggs and fish.
– Petroleum Jelly – When applied orally it has shown to promote a faster recovery time and suppress the virus in a way that also inhibits the spread of the herpes simplex virus. It helps also to sooth the dry and irritated skin that forms as result of the sore.
– Ecinacea – This is one of the biggest home remedy products for the common cold caused by all sorts of viruses and is believed to also be effective against the virus that causes cold sores.
– Lemon Balm – Lemon balm has been shown to reduce symptoms, inhibit the virus and speed up recovery time.
– Ice – Nothing like good old fashioned ice either. Ice is best used when you feel the cold sore first coming on as the coldness supplied by the ice will act to inhibit the virus and potentially cause it to move slower from the nerves to the skin, giving your immune system more time to act and eliminate the virus before it hits full strength.

The best cold sore treatment is going to be the one that works the best for you. It is always best to consult with your doctor before trying anything new and discuss whether or not he feels your decision is right for your health. Experimenting with different solutions may just be what you need to do, but always remember that doing this under the guidance of a medical professional is the smartest thing you can do for you and your health. We all want fast cold sore remedies, but we should not need to sacrifice our health in order to get the fastest results.