It seems that every time we have something important coming up like a wedding or a really hot date, we get a cold sore. Yep, I said it. Cold Sore. That hideous red blister that pops up and tells everyone HELLO. Well if you feel that tingling that signifies that little red monster is on its way, here is a list of ways to get rid of a cold sore fast!
This might surprise you, but ice is one of the best ways to get rid of a cold sore. At that very first tingle take a piece of ice and apply it directly to the area for 5 to 10 minutes as much as you can. The ice will help with the inflammation of the cold sore causes and reduce the redness. Ice will also help take away the pain and the burning sensation that cold sores are known for and most importantly the ice can help reduce the length of the cold sore and can even stop the cold sore before it even rears its’ ugly head.
Abreva is the only FDA approved cream that is sold in pretty much every drugstore made to get rid of cold sores. The cream works by protecting the surrounding cells in your lip from getting infected by the cold sore virus and thus not allowing the cold sore to spread and it to heal faster. It is recommended to start using Abreva as soon as you feel the tingling of an oncoming cold sore for best results. Apply Abreva 5 times a day and until the cold sore is completely gone.
Moist skin heals faster than dry skin. If you keep your old sore covered in petroleum jelly (like Vaseline) it will promote healing and the cold sore will go away faster. As you probably know, during the scabbing stage of a cold sore it’s very hard from keeping the cold sore from cracking and bleeding. Every time the cold sore cracks the healing process is delayed. Your body heals itself at night so I recommend using a generous amount of petroleum jelly every night before bed and you will be surprised by the progress your cold sore makes overnight.
Tea Tree Oil is known for its healing qualities so there is no reason why it cannot help with a cold sore. Applying some tea tree oil daily to your cold sore will promote healing and will reduce the length of your cold sore. When applying the oil use a clean cotton swab and cover the cold sore. Tea tree oil has many properties such as antiseptic, antiviral, and inflammatory properties that really help reduce the size and symptoms of a cold sore.
This tip may seem silly but it is so important! Cold sores are very contagious and keeping the cold sore and its surrounding areas clean can make all the difference. Before applying anything to the cold sore make sure you thoroughly wash your hands to eliminate the possibility of introducing any bacteria to the cold sore and causing an infection. Also, after applying your medicine to the cold sore ALWAYS wash your hands and throw away anything you used as an applicator because the last thing we want is for the cold sore to spread! This is one of the best ways to get rid of a cold sore (and prevent others from getting one as well).
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