Ok, so you have a cold sore. No one's judging you. You could have gotten that from a multitude of places or events and who knows how it happened. What's important now is that you know about it and that you do something about it. However, sometimes there's really just no time to go to a doctor, where you would wait half the day just so to get a prescription that may or may not get rid of the cold sore, so why not try home remedies to cure cold sore?
Exhaust all Possibilities
Of course, there are plenty of home remedies to cure cold sore, however you shouldn't just doesn't jump straight to one or try it without knowing a little bit about it and use something that could potentially make your cold sore worse.
Getting your cold sore diagnosed first is the best first step before you take any action, as your cold sore may not be a cold sore at all. The Herpes Simplex Virus that causes the cold sores shares a lot of similar symptoms with other types of diseases and what you think may be a cold sore may just be a simple lesion, allergy, upset stomach or even stress. So let's look at some of the home remedies you can try.
Try this at home
Among the more conservative and better-known solutions is to apply ice to the affected area as soon as you feel the first tingling symptoms of a cold sore. Simply holding an ice-cube on the sore intermittently for 5-10 minutes is enough to reduce the swelling and slow down the spread of the virus. This can alternatively be done in combination with applying aloe or lemon balm extract - two ingredients that are known to reduce the size of cold sores and the spread of the virus. A chilled tea bag can also be used as a substitute for the ice.
Sometimes changing your diet will be what you need to do to cure your cold sore problems. If you are a big coffee drinker then reduce the amount that you drink to lessen your breakouts. Also adding vitamins and supplements to your diet is a good idea to combat cold sores and garlic is an exceptional supplement that has been proven to assist with many areas, as it is a natural antibiotic and germ killer. Green tea is another item that is great for curing cold sores, it is known to kill bacteria causing germs. Placing a green tea bag on the affected area can help to reduce the time you have the breakout as well as reduce the pain experienced.
Tea Tree Oil is another of the home remedies to cure cold sore, just dab it on the affected area throughout the day. You can look to your cupboards and fridge for many items that can help to alleviate problems with cold sores, items such as Red wine, grape juice, strawberries, apples and apple juice. The natural tannins and bioflavonoids from these foods can be applied directly to the affected area to help eliminate your cold sore woes.