How to Prevent and Treat Cold Sores

Cold sores, or fever blisters, can be painful and embarrassing and tend to come during high stress times. Although there is no cure for herpes simplex virus, there are simple steps you can take to prevent cold sores and shortening their healing time.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Chapstick with sunscreen in it
• Clear nail polish
• Sunscreen
• Abreva
• L-lysine vitamin supplements

1. To prevent the recurrence of cold sores, avoid being exposed to the sun and elements for too long. Even if you are wearing enough sunscreen to prevent sunburn, you may still end up with a cold sore if you spend an entire day in the sun.

2. Wear chapstick with sunscreen whenever you will be in the sun for more than your normal amount of time.

3. If you feel yourself getting stressed or over tired, take some L-lysine tablets to prevent a cold sore.

4. If you feel a tingling, itchy sensation, a cold sore may be coming. Take two tablets of L-lysine and apply Abreva or a similar medication to the cold sore. Abreva is the only medication that I have found to actually shorten the duration of the cold sore. I have tried all the medications on the market and even one of the prescription medications.

5. Apply ice to the cold sore to reduce swelling, but be sure to dry the area well. Some people suggest you coat the cold sore with clear nail polish. This seemed to work the few times I tried it.

Tips & Warnings

• Try not to be embarrassed about your cold sore. It seems much more noticeable to you than it is to others.
• Ask your doctor about suggested treatments at your next checkup.
• This advice is primarily for the beginning stages of a cold sore. Do not apply these techniques to broken skin (Ouch!).