Cold sores or fever blisters are formed when a kind of viral infection hits the skin and nervous system. This skin condition is usually caused by herpes virus, which remains in a passive state till such times it is triggered into action, this could be infective. This skin condition should not be confused with impetigo which shows up between the nose and upper lip. The impetigo discharge is usually cloudy and looks like honey. Canker sores are a type of ulcers that do not spread and which grow in the soft tissues of the mouth where you do not get to see the sores.
As prophylactic step for the management of cold sore, always wash your hands well. Acyclovir (Zovirax) is a drug effective in reducing the duration of stay of this skin condition. However, treatment may include topical creams or ointments or sometimes antiviral medicines (such as acyclovir or famciclovir). If you have to manage accompanying pain, take paracetamol or take the help of witch hazel and apply on the sores. This local application medicine is a good anesthetic too. It is important to have a hearty yet balanced diet which is in no way deficit in vitamins A, C, E, zinc and iron, as this helps in boosting your immune system and combating this skin condition. You also need to do away with overtly salty, spicy or acidic foods and drinks which could harm the sores.
Prevention is more preferred than cure any day so do without spicy or salty foods. It is best to have no or very moderate quantum of foods which are as follows: chocolates, peanuts, grains, peas, seeds, oatmeal and whole-wheat rich in arginine. Your focus should be a diet high in vitamin content and saying no to tea and coffee.
Rubbing ice on the infected skin for few minutes, repeated this every hour, is a very good home remedy for this skin condition. Alternatively you can apply a tea bag for few minutes on the blisters, repeating this every hour. A warm tea bag compress on the blisters for about half an hour could also be another option.
Applying witch hazel on this skin condition has a miraculous relief effect. Take cover from sun-related cold sores by using sunscreen on the lips and arrest its recurrence.
For guaranteed results mix 100ml of coconut oil, 2ml of disinfectant, and 3ml of carbolic acid Apply twice daily directly on your cold sore - some people say this formula also works on other skin conditions such as boils and mosquito bites.
A tried and tested home remedy for cold sores is having tea tree oil as a drink with herbal sage and violet. These ingredients are mixed together with a couple sage leaves and ginger powder, and put in with a cup of boiling water. If you want this skin condition to simply go away in a short span of couple of days, drink this at least 2 to 3 times a day.
When everything fails for you, 3 acidophilus pills twice a day in the morning and evening could work wonders and dry and clear up. When this skin condition bothers you often try taking 2 pills a day. Of course this by no means is an exhaustive list of home remedies for cold sores, but some of the commonly used methods.
