How to Get Rid of a Cold Sore
Cold sores appear over night in most cases. They seem to pop up out of nowhere or with any type of warning. They do this since a virus that is triggered by stress, illnesses, and extreme weather causes them. The virus lies dormant only waiting for the chance to make an appearance when the body’s immune system is stressed or low.
Cold sores are extremely contagious. They are painful to the touch, which makes eating and drinking hard to do while the cold sore it raw and sensitive. As the cold sore heals, the skin seems to crack leading to another type of irritation and pain. The cold sore can be a very unsightly sore that will be seen by anyone since any sore on the face is hard to conceal.
There are ways to reduce the time you have a cold sore. One of most important steps to take to fight the cold sore is to consume enough water to keep the body hydrated. The liquids are needed to keep the body hydrated for smoother softer skin and to heal. If drinking from a cup hurts too much, use a straw to reduce the pain. Use aloe to keep the skin soft around the cold sore. As the sore heals, the skin will crack, and then the virus will have new territory to move to and spread. Keep the skin soft and avoid spreading the virus.
Apply antibacterial ointment to the cold sore to help kill the virus and reduce spreading. The ointment will speed healing as it kills the virus in the sore. Wash your hands every time you touch or wash the cold sore. The virus is highly contagious and will easily spread to other areas of the body or other people.
Take a multipurpose vitamin with amino acids to boost your immune system. The virus thrives in low immune systems. Boost your immunity and fight the virus where it lives, in your system. Take Echinacea, Vitamin E, Vitamin B, Vitamin C, and Lysine. These natural supplements add to your ability to fight off the virus.
Get plenty of sleep. Sleep is essential to your immune system. As your body fights with the virus, it becomes fatigued. You need energy to heal the sore effectively. Eat a healthy diet filled with grains, fibers, vitamins, nutrients, and calcium. The food you eat will add to the battle of the cold sore.
Some home remedies to help relieve the pain include placing an ice cube on the cold sore to numb it for temporary relief. Apply a warm damp tea bag on the sore. The natural contents of tannic acids will reduce the virus from spreading. The warmth of the tea bag is also soothing.