Open Your Cabinets for Some Cold Sore Home Remedies

Cold sores can be a pain; actually, they can be itchy, painful, and unattractive. If you suffer from reoccurring cold sore outbreaks, you may have tried all of the over-the-counter creams and lotions. While these can help to numb the sores, cold sore home remedies cost less and may work as well, if not better!

Cold sores look like little red blisters on and around your mouth, and are caused by the herpes simplex virus type one. Not only is this highly contagious, it cannot be permanently cured. If you have had one cold sore outbreak, chances are you will have more in your lifetime. Luckily, there are some cold sore home remedies that can help deal with the pain and itchiness as well as shorten the time of the outbreak.

The first of these cold sore home remedies is to keep the sores clean. Wiping the spot with warm water, soap, and a washcloth can help keep the virus from spreading and keep the itch at a minimum. Be sure to immediately clean the washcloth, however, as the virus can be spread if anyone touches it later. You may also want to use benzoyl peroxide, which will clean the sore, allow it to breathe, and help neutralize the virus in that area. Use a cotton ball or disposable tissue whenever possible when touching the affected area, so it can be thrown away to avoid spreading the virus.

The only time you should touch or rub a cold sore is when you are cleaning it or adding anesthetic ointment or petroleum jelly as one of your cold sore home remedies. Any other touch will aggravate the cold sore, causing it to burst, spread, or scar. And no matter how bad the itch gets, don’t scratch it! A numbing or anesthetic ointment can help ease the discomfort without the damage.

Vitamin supplements, such as vitamins B and C, can help to avoid outbreaks or lessen their impact. Lack of vitamin B in the body has been found to have a link to cold sore outbreaks. The antioxidants in the vitamins can also help your body defend itself against the herpes virus.

And as long as you are keeping healthy by taking your vitamins, you may as well get in a little exercise. This bolsters your immune system and helps you to fight of stress, which is a calming trigger of cold sore outbreaks. These cold sore home remedies are inexpensive if they cost anything at all, and can really help reduce the number of cold sore incidents.

Other cold sore home remedies can include cold packs to cut down on inflammation. Aspirin, acetaminophen, and ibuprophen have also been found to be effective to reduce the swelling and pain of a cold sore. Many have used witch hazel as a rinse for the sores, which is available at most grocery stores and pharmacies in the skin care section.

Finding effective cold sore home remedies can be as easy as a quick Internet search. You will probably be surprised by how many are in your home right now!