Friday, December 5, 2008

Tips and Tricks For Curing Cold Sores

By Tom Mulligan

While cold sores are a pretty common complaint, knowing this isn't going to make too many people feel better about having this unattractive, uncomfortable condition. Even if you happen to suffer from cold sores, you can cut down on the length of time it sticks around; and you may even be able to prevent one form happening in the first place.

A cold sore will usually heal in seven to ten days all by itself. However, this is a lot longer than most of us would like to have a cold sore. This is particularly true given the kind of timing that cold sores seem to have - they seem to know when you have a social obligation coming up and choose that time to appear. To cut down on the healing time, here are a few tips which can help. The first step is to know how cold sores work.

You can't cure this condition. It's caused by a viral infection caused herpes simplex that sets up housekeeping inside your body. If you've noticed that you mostly get cold sores in the same spot, it's because the virus is concentrated there. Since antibiotics don't work on viruses, all we can do is treat the symptoms and encourage our bodies to heal more quickly.

You can prevent outbreaks even though you can't actually get rid of the virus. Outbreaks can be healed quickly; sometimes as fast as 24 hours. We started this website in order to help people treat and prevent cold sores - we know what a hassle they can be.

There are around 40 million people who have a cold sore outbreak each year. Cold sores tend to appear on or near the mouth. There are many factors which can increase the likelihood of an outbreak, however, all of these factors have to do with a weakened immune system. Stress, lack of sleep, a poor diet and an immune system compromised by fighting off another disease (the common cold, for instance) can all lead to an outbreak.

An outbreak is often preceded by a tingling sensation or itching. This is followed by swelling and redness and then the sore itself emerges. There will be a brief period of oozing after which the sore will scab over. Try not to scratch the scab as this will slow down the healing process.

Most of us don't want to resort to prescription drugs to deal with our cold sores. They're expensive, may not be much more effective than other remedies, and require a trip to the doctor. However, there are a few simple things you can do to make having a cold sore a lot shorter and easier.

Vitamin C can boost your immune system, and topical creams like aloe vera, lip balm, and salve can reduce the chance that your cold sore will dry out and split painfully. If it does, try an analgesic. To make your cold sore go away faster, consider taking L-Lysine. This substance promotes the healing of tissue and occurs naturally in the body.

To prevent cold sores, take good care of yourself. Watch your diet, and get enough sleep. Be on the lookout for these sores if you've been feeling ill or tired - take extra measures to treat yourself well. Hopefully, you'll be able to avoid these inconvenient blemishes entirely! - 15252

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