Heather Arranie 
Cold sores, also known as fever blisters, are a common infection. They’re the groups of tiny fluid-filled blisters you may find on your lips. And while it may not be a fatal condition to most people, it’s certainly a massive annoyance.
After all, touching them ever so slightly can cause a great deal of pain, and it also doesn’t help that these patches of blisters are located on or around the lips.
That’s why it’s important to have a treatment option ready, so you don’t simply have to wait for it naturally clear up. With that said, here’s a look at six cold sore treatment options to consider:
Freezing
Cold has been established as a way to numb an affected area, reducing the inflammation or pain it induces. Ironically, freezing or extremely low temperature works perfectly with cold sores. It helps reduce the pain, as well as the swelling around the area if there’s any.
There are a variety of ways you can freeze or apply low coldness to cold sores. You can opt for cryotherapy, dry ice, or cold compress. However, make sure that you don’t apply the ice or any cold object you wish to use directly on your skin, as doing so may damage it when exposed long enough.
Luminance RED delves into this subject deeper. You can check them out to learn more about how you can freeze a cold sore without hurting yourself.
Antiviral Medication
Cold sores are the result of a viral infection. Hence, it makes sense that one of the best treatment options involves an antiviral medication to remedy the condition. It’s what doctors and other practitioners would recommend as well. Antiviral medicines like valacyclovir, famciclovir, and acyclovir are highly advisable.
Pain Relievers
Taking pain relievers is another good treatment option since it can provide quick relief to any pain or discomfort that you may be feeling. Over-the-counter medication like acetaminophen should do.
Aside from oral medications, you can also get pain relief creams or oils to aid you in managing the pain of a cold sore. There are topical ointments and creams that you can use to help with the discomfort and fast recovery of your cold sores.
Supplements
There are a variety of chemical compounds, nutrients, and amino acids that can help relieve pain from cold sores and accelerate its healing. Examples include lysine, vitamin E, and vitamin C. Lysine supplement, in particular, is an excellent treatment option as it can both help relieve pain and accelerates healing from cold sores. It can come in the form of a cream or oral supplement.
While you can absorb such compounds and vitamins naturally through the food you consume, it’s also recommended to take supplement products. That way, you can have an immediate supply of nutrients in your system, helping speed up your recovery and healing of your cold sores.
Home Remedies
On top of the aforementioned methods, there are also natural remedies that can help calm the flare-ups of your cold sores and shorten the duration of the outbreak. One of the most prominent remedies you can opt for is aloe vera gel. It has anti-inflammatory properties that can help reduce the redness or swelling of your cold sores. You can also soak a cotton or cotton swab in water with lemon balm and apply it on the affected area to aid in fast healing.
Proper Diet
There are certain foods you should avoid when you have a cold sore, as there are those that can prolong the duration of your cold sore outbreak. For instance, arginine-rich food such as sunflower seeds, flax seeds, sesame seeds, chocolate, and peanuts since the virus responsible for cold sores feeds on arginine for its duplication.
On the other hand, it’s also recommended to steer away from acidic food to avoid irritating your cold sores. Processed foods are also best to be avoided, as they can weaken your immune system, preventing you from healing your cold sores quickly.
Stress Reduction
When a person is under mental stress, their immune system tends to suffer. In such a case, your body may struggle to protect you against viruses and bacteria, triggering cold sores. Hence, it’s essential to stay stress-free while nursing a cold sore. This way, your immune system is in its best shape, allowing fast healing of fever blisters.
You can explore relaxation techniques, ensure you get as much rest, and take vitamins to boost your immune system to combat viruses, including a cold sore.
Final Words
Though having several treatment options is certainly an excellent way to go about it, the best approach would be to simply prevent cold sores. Of course, there’s no surefire way to prevent it, but you can at least take steps to minimize its likelihood.
Moreover, when you have cold sores, there are certain things you mustn’t do. Otherwise, they may only get more intense or bigger. For one, you shouldn’t touch or pop the affected area as it may spread to other parts of your body.
