Do you know how to heal cold sores quickly? Read this short article now and you will see how to heal cold sores in less than half the normal time using proven cold sore treatment techniques.

Without any help from you, your immune system knows how to heal cold sores. But, without a good cold sore treatment program, it could take three weeks or longer.

You do not want to suffer any longer than necessary. Greatly speed elimination of your cold sores by using one or more of the below listed cold sore treatment methods.

The culprit virus that causes cold sore lesions is the herpes simplex virus. Once you are infected, you will carry this virus for life.

Wherever this virus first enters your body, it will choose the closest nerve as its permanent residence.

This virus will normally remain dormant in the root cells of its chosen nerve. If it senses the opportunity to replicate, it rushes to the surface and forces the cells there to create new virus.

The cells swell up as the new virus is created. Then the invading virus destroys them to release hordes of new herpes particles.

Cold sore treatment methods can either be internal or external - or both. External usually gives the fastest results but internal ones are very effective also.

1. HOW TO HEAL COLD SORES BY INTERNAL METHODS.

Internal cold sore treatment can help heal a cold sore faster. And internal treatment is the best way to be cold sore free for life.

First of all, anyone who is susceptible to cold sores should be taking a good quality multi-vitamin and mineral supplement.

Look for the top brands at a store that specializes in nutritional supplements. Do not waste your money on those drug store one or two per day pills. Honestly - you are better off eating one bite of a carrot.

Don’t even consider any vitamin-mineral supplement that the daily serving is less than three to six capsules. Therapeutic doses of nutrients take room.

Important vitamins to get are vitamin A, C, D and E and all the B vitamins. Important minerals are calcium, magnesium and zinc.

All these nutrients are important, but the most critical one is calcium. This is the key mineral for keeping your body alkaline. As long as you are alkaline, you are very resistant to cold sore attack.

Also, get some lysine supplements. Lysine, an amino acid, is a very powerful internal cold sore treatment. It stops the herpes simplex virus from replicating - effectively stopping a cold sore.

Many folks take about 2000 to 5000 milligrams daily during an outbreak, and 500 milligrams for prevention purposes.

2. HOW TO HEAL COLD SORES USING EXTERNAL TREATMENT.

A cold sore always appears on the surface where you can get at it directly. External cold sore treatment is usually the first and quickest way to deal with a cold sore.

Special oils that are excellent for cold sore healing are garlic, oregano, tea tree or mint oils. These all are commonly available and very powerful against cold sore outbreaks.

My first choice would be garlic oil. It will travel right through the skin, so you can use it from the very beginning to the very end. Many folks combine the oils to create their own powerful cold sore treatment.

Once the cold sore has opened up, apply heat using warm tea bags. This rushes healing blood to the scene, plus tea contains strong anti-viral properties. Use on top of the oils or other topical treatments.

Also, try using a salve containing zinc - be sure it contains the sulfate form of zinc. Other forms will not absorb.

Keeping the sore area clean is critical. Use alcohol or peroxide for this. Be cautious to not spread it elsewhere on your face or eyes.

There are some more advanced cold sore treatment techniques you could try, but use the above mentioned ones first. They are powerful and may be all you need.

And here is your key to quick success. Combine both the internal and external cold sore treatment methods and supercharge your success.