Cold sore home remedies wikihow, alternative therapies for cancer - For Begninners

Cold sores are caused by a viral infection known as type-1 herpes simplex virus.[1] Cold sores can occur on many different parts of the body but are most common around the lips, cheeks, nose, and, on rare occasions, in the eye. Soak a cotton ball or cotton swab in one teaspoon of hydrogen peroxide and hold it directly over the cold sore for five minutes. Peppermint oil can target viruses that escape from the site of infection, making it useful against cold sores. For a topical ointment, you can make a paste by crushing two to four cloves of garlic and applying it to your cold sore with a cotton ball for 10 to 15 minutes.
You could also try a zinc ointment to sooth the cold sore and speed up the healing process. One option is to keep a hand sanitizer or moist wipes with you when heading out of your home or at work so you can keep your hands clean on the go. Replace your toothbrush every three to four months, and immediately after you recover from a cold sore, cold, cough or sore throat. Meet Daniel, a wikiHow author, editor, and Admin from Belgium who has been involved in the community for over 2 years. Some home remedies advocate keeping the cold sore dry rather than moist, but there have been success stories using both methods. You could also try buying some licorice powder and sprinkling it on the sore, or mix up a cream with a pinch of licorice power and a smidgen of pure vegetable shortening, then apply to the sore. Note that styptic pencils tend to hurt upon application, but the pain fades and reduces the overall amount of irritation or pain associated with cold sores.
It's a good idea to have hand sanitizer with you in case you accidentally scratch your cold sore and there's no wash basin handy. Aloe Vera sap is said to help relieve pain associated with cold sores and also reduce cracking around the lips. Meet Genavieve, a wikiHowian of over three years who has made over 2,900 edits and has reviewed over 22,000 changes by other editors. Protect your cold sore by covering it with medicated petroleum jelly, such as Vaseline, after it has drained.
Honey has antiviral and antibacterial properties that can protect the cold sore against additional threats while also fighting the underlying virus. Hold an ice cube or ice pack directly on the cold sore for a few minutes to reduce inflammation and numb pain. If the cold sore has already broken open, ice could actually hinder the healing process by slowing down blood flow (with its corresponding healing properties) to the lesion. Echinacea tea is believed to strengthen the immune system, thereby assisting your body's natural immune response as it fights the cold sore. Research widely supports the use of lemon balm as a remedy for reducing redness and inflammation in cold sores while also decreasing the risk of recurrent infections. Certain natural oils and extracts have antiseptic properties, and when applied directly to the cold sore, can combat the virus causing it. Soak a cotton swab in one teaspoon (5 ml) of witch hazel and apply it directly to the cold sore.
Dab this cream onto the cold sore, covering it completely, and let it sit for several hours or even overnight, ideally.

Aloe vera can soothe the pain of a cold sore (among many other skin irritations) and fight the bacteria threatening to infect the sore and worsen your condition. Simply put a small amount onto a cotton ball and apply to the cold sore for three to five minutes, up to two to three times daily.
If you have a cold sore, prop a few pillows behind your head at bedtime to let gravity help the blisters drain. Exercising several times a week or - even better - every day can help boost your immune system, thereby reducing the risk of recurring outbreaks of cold sores. When you experience pain due to inflammation, you may want to squeeze or pick at your sore.
If you ice a cold sore as soon as it first arrives, it can help reduce inflammation and ease pain.
Covering a cold sore with petroleum jelly will speed healing and help protect it from secondary infection with bacteria.
Studies show that Glycyrrhizic acid, an ingredient in licorice, stops the cold sore virus cells dead in their tracks -- so try chewing a licorice whip.
Tea tree oil has antiseptic, antiviral, anti-fungal, and antibiotic properties and backers of the tea tree oil treatment claim that it can reduce the duration of a cold sore by nearly 50 percent, greatly minimizing the size of the sore overnight.[4] Try dabbing several drops of the tea tree oil on the cold sore twice daily using a sterile cotton ball. Several teas are thought to contain antiviral properties that are useful in the treatment of cold sores.
The anti-oxidants in tea also help to boost the immune system, making your body more capable of fighting off cold sores immediately and and in the future. Directly rubbing a fresh clove of garlic onto the cold sore 2-3 times daily may help to speed up the healing process by three to five days. Certain essential oils can be applied externally to the cold sore, drying it out and speeding up the healing process. Cold sore creams made with docosanol, also known as behenyl alcohol, are approved by the FDA for use as a cold sore treatment.[6] Docosanol relieves cold sore discomfort and is commonly reported to heal the sores faster.
If you need something a little stronger to beat your cold sore, consider a visit to your doctor who can prescribe an anti-viral cream. If your cold sore is causing you a lot of pain, perhaps you should try an anaesthetic cream or ointment. If your cold sore is especially painful or irritating, your doctor may prescribe an antiviral oral medication to speed healing and prevent recurrence. Cold sore outbreaks can be triggered by stress.[9] You might notice an outbreak during finals season, or when it's time to go home for the holidays.
Cold sore outbreaks tend to occur when your immune system has been compromised.[9] You might see them when you've got a cold or have been under the weather for another reason. Applying sunscreen to your lips and around the mouth may help prevent sun-induced recurrences of cold sores. Avoid acidic and salty foods like potato chips or citrus fruits as they can further irritate cold sores and add to the pain. Cold sores are extremely contagious, so you should avoid sharing anything that may come in contact with the cold sore, such as cups, towels, utensils, razors or make-up. She spends her time on wikiHow writing, adding tips to articles, reviewing recent changes, playing games in the forums, and adding videos.

Cold sores usually heal on their own within two to four weeks, but since they can be both painful and embarrassing, you might find yourself wanting to speed the healing process up as much as possible. Simply squeeze a pea-sized amount of the ointment onto a cotton swab or cotton ball and apply to the cold sore. Milk contains immunoglobulins, special antibodies that can fight off viruses, and lysine, which can fight arginine, a certain amino acid that can cause cold sore outbreaks. These should especially be avoided by people with autoimmune diseases, people taking medications for heart, lung or digestive conditions and those who have recently had a cold, cough or fever.
Experts suggest that reducing the intake of arginine-rich foods from your diet may help control the occurrence and recurrence of cold sores, while also reducing inflammation in existing cold sores.[18]. However, one of the most common triggers of cold sores is sunlight, so regularly using sunblock and a lip balm with an SPF (sun protection factor) when you head outside can help reduce the risk of cold sore breakouts. Touching your cold sore or making skin-to-skin contact with others can cause the viral infection to spread to your fingertips, known as herpes whitlow.
Bacteria and viruses quickly bind to surfaces and are transferred to and from others this way, making your cold sore last longer or making the symptoms worse.
Those who do experience symptoms will know that cold sores can be very painful and unsightly. Better yet, if you feel the tell-tale tingling before the cold sore surfaces, go straight to the cold milk. Simply apply a few drops of pure vanilla extract to the cold sore using a sterile cotton ball or q-tip three to four times per day.
Taken in adequate doses, lysine has been scientifically proven to slow down the growth of the cold sore virus, as well as inhibit viral replication. She’s proud of teaching herself how to design wikiHow Talk pages and now puts those skills to use regularly, helping out other users. While most home remedies do not have the support of firm scientific evidence, there are many that are anecdotally considered effective in treating a cold sore. Press the icy surface to the cold sore until the cold has numbed the pain and remove it shortly after. Additionally, you can put 1 teaspoon of lemon balm tea on a cotton ball and apply to your cold sore. This natural treatment will help strengthen your immune system and reduce the likelihood of recurrent sores. People who have more than three cold sores a year should supplement their daily diet with 2000–3000 mg of lysine to reduce the occurrence of cold sores over the long term.
Although there is no cure for the cold sore virus, you can help to alleviate pain and reduce the appearance of cold sores using several different methods.
He appreciates that wikiHow is a great place to connect and collaborate with others, and overall have fun while doing it. The antiviral properties provide instant relief from the pain and may shorten the duration of the sore.

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