Cold sores
, also known as fever blisters, are the result of a form of herpes virus and, as a virus, must be allowed to run their course. You often will feel a cold sore coming on a couple days before the actual blister appears, usually on the skin around the mouth. Eventually, the blister pops, oozes, crusts over and heals with no scarring. You can't cure cold sores, but you can speed up the recovery process.
Leave It Alone
Fight the urge to pick, squeeze or pinch the cold sore. Cold sores will heal relatively quickly on their own (within one to two weeks) without leaving a trace, and picking at them may slow down the healing process and potentially cause scarring. Leave well enough alone and let nature run its course.
Cold and Warm Compresses
Applying ice to the cold sore is an effective remedy for relieving pain. Try rubbing or holding ice on the cold sore for a few minutes, repeating once an hour for a longer-lasting effect.
You can find similar pain relief by applying a warm compress in the same manner as ice. You could use a warm tea bag instead of a compress, held on for roughly 30 minutes at a time.
OTC Medications
Over-the-counter medications also can provide relief from the pain caused by a cold sore. You can use ointments--the most effective contain topical lidocaine or benzyl alcohol--or oral tablets such as aspirin, acetaminophen and ibuprofen.
Alternative Remedies
Conventional treatments aside, you can try different alternative remedies, too. Ask your doctor's opinion on applying witch hazel for pain relief. Rubbing aloe vera gel or oil on the cold sore is another option. Some have found lemon balm extract helpful in minimizing symptoms and speeding healing.
Prevent
Preventing a cold sore from developing is, perhaps, the best way to combat the problem. Beware of what triggers your sores, and take proper precautions. Common triggers include stress, lack of sleep, overexposure to the sun without sunscreen, illness, hormone changes, cosmetic surgeries, dental work or mouth injury. Since cold sores are spread virally, avoid kissing or other forms of skin contact when cold sores are present. Keep your hands washed, avoid sharing lip balms, towels and eating utensils, and use caution when touching other areas of your body, especially the eyes and genital area, as these are highly susceptible to the spreading of the virus.
Tags: cold sore, cold sores, Cold sores, pain relief
