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Control Cold Sores Quickly |
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It starts as a tingling sensation on your lip. Next it becomes an itchy, painful blister that wreaks havoc on you face. That’s right. You have a cold sore.
To the millions of Americans who suffer from cold sores, their arrival is immediately recognizable before they are seen. Also known as fever blisters, cold sores aren’t harmful, but they can make your life temporarily miserable.
Caused by the Herpes Simplex virus (HSV), type 1, cold sores last seven to ten days before crusting over and disappearing. Although the lesion is gone, the virus resides in the nerve cells and lies dormant until the next flare-up.
The first episode is usually the worst and may be accompanied by a fever, enlargement of the regional lymph nodes, headache and feeling unwell. After the initial occurrence, some people never have another one. However, most people have recurrent flare-ups over their lifetime. Stress, sunlight, chapped lips, fatigue, specific foods, fever or a viral infection may trigger these episodes. Pinpointing your trigger can decrease the frequency of outbreaks.
Cold sores are contagious. While you have one, don’t kiss others, share utensils or rub your eyes. Replace your toothbrush, wash your hands frequently and refrain from touching the lesion.
To prevent a cold sore, identify your triggers and take steps to avoid them. HSV thrives on the amino acid arginine, so cut back on foods that contain it such as nuts, seeds, peas and chocolate. Another amino acid, l-lysine, may prevent or minimize outbreaks. If you suffer from several cold sores a year, try taking 500-1,000 milligrams daily on an empty stomach.
During an outbreak, supplement the lysine with 250 milligrams of vitamin c with bioflavenoids four times a day along with 15-30 milligrams of zinc daily. Try a topical preparation containing lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) or the essential oil itself as it was found to shorten the duration of cold sores in German studies.
If you don’t find the natural products helpful or appealing, there are over-the-counter and prescriptive alternatives. Medicines such as Anbesol and Orajel numb the cold sore and provide pain relief. Abreva cream shortens the duration of the outbreak.
Prescriptive anti-viral tablets and creams, such as Famvir, Valtrex, Zovirax and Denavir, have been proven to heal cold sores faster. To be most effective, they should be used as soon as you suspect a cold sore is rearing its ugly little head.
Cold sores are annoying and painful. Prevent outbreaks by identifying and avoiding triggers as well as keeping your immune system strong. Have a plan for treating cold sores and implement it at the first sign of trouble. These strategies will help you face the world cold sore free.
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