Thursday, January 29, 2009

Top Five Solutions to a Cold Sore

By June Murray

A core sore is no laughing matter. If you have one, you would want to get rid of it as soon as possible. Strictly speaking, you can't really get rid of the herpes virus that is the cause of your periodic sores. You can however, manage to eliminate cold sores when they come out.

Follow the Doctor's Advice

People with severe cold sores may have little choice but to seek medical attention. If you have a particularly aggressive sore, your doctor will prescribe anti-viral medication to control it. Some analgesics or pain relievers may also be recommended to help you bear the irritation of a severe sore. Some individuals though may have issues about taking man-made medication and prefer to consider natural options instead.

Consider Using Natural Solutions

There are many natural remedies that can be used on cold sores. These include aloe vera, tea tree oil, coconut oil and lemon balm. These remedies are believed to contain both anti-viral properties and nutrients to help heal and soothe sore spots. Aside from natural herbs and extracts, supplements with lysine and vitamin B12 are also believed to help against cold sores.

The only problem with using natural remedies though is the lack of standards. There is no absolute guidebook that will tell you how much to use, what to mix and how to apply. You may have to experiment on a couple of recommended procedures from different sources before finding an effective solution.

Maintain a Healthy Diet Everyday

It is commonly believed that a core sore will most likely break out when immunity is low. If you don't want to get stubborn sores, you therefore need to make sure that your immune system is kept strong. The only full proof way to do this is to keep healthy and balanced eating habits. This simply means that you need to make sure that your meals have the right amounts of vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates and proteins. Always prefer vegetables, whole wheat and lean protein sources over processed and saturated fatty foods. Keep away too from foods that are too acidic or salty. These are known cold sore triggers.

Clean the Sore Properly

You will be doing yourself a favor by keeping your sore clean and moisture free. Clean it everyday with lukewarm water, soap and a washcloth. Make sure afterwards that your sore is dry throughout the day. Do remember though to refrain from touching and rubbing your sore. This can lead to an outbreak of sores in other parts of your skin.

Don't Let it Get Triggered

Your food options are not the only factors to be wary of. People may also get cold sores because of stress. A sore that is already around while you are in a lot of stress may not go away quickly. In other words, one key to quick healing is to manage stress. There are many ways to deal with stress but you should try the basic solutions first such as hitting the sack on schedule or taking a break from work.

A core sore can be pretty nasty. There is no need for you to endure for very long though. There is always a way for you to get rid of your cold sore. - 15438

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