Why Is Cold Sore Treatment So Difficult?

The herpes simplex virus is a lurker. It hides in the root or base of the nerve cell. The hiding makes it difficult for treatments whether natural remedies or drugs to actually get down and inside the root of the nerve.

The drug used most by medical doctors is one called Acyclovir. This doesn't cure the cold sore but does shorten the time span the cold sore is visible. It also can decrease the pain and itching.

Natural cold sore remedies work by boosting your body's defenses so you are less apt to reactivate the herpes simplex virus. Makes sense if your body's defenses are strengthened you're not going to be as run down so are able to fight off the potential reactivation of the virus.

Remember "prevention is worth a pound of cure" and definitely with the cost of treatments today less expensive.

Photo courtesy of Esther Seijmonsbergen

Stress And Cold Sores

If you suffer from cold sores then it's no surprise to know stress and illness are the most frequent cause of cold sores. How many times have you had a job interview, test, important date or prom and had a cold sore pop out?

Stress and cold sores go together because stress affects your entire body, including hormones and resistance to disease. Remember the herpes simplex virus, HS-1 lives in the root of your nerve cell.

Because of its location the herpes simplex virus can quickly sense any changes in the body. This means changes in temperature, pH, stress or hormone levels. The HS-1 virus sensing the opportunity to erupt wakes up and moves along the nerve cell to start reproducing.

As it reproduces it takes over the reproduction system of the nerve cell it has been using as its hiding place. The virus continues replicating itself until the nerve cell swells and then eventually bursts. The viruses then find another nerve cell to hide in.

Your body does have the ability to defend itself against the cold sore inflammation. But for those of us who have suffered from cold sores know it takes several weeks from the initial tingle through the final healing stage to be totally cold sore free.

Most of us don't want to wait that long. The sooner the cold sore vanishes the sooner you can look in the mirror again without shaking your head. Then you can go back to enjoying your life without the cold sore.

It's almost impossible to make your life totally stress free. But if you're someone with frequent cold sore outbreaks you may want to investigate ways of decreasing your stress level.

Next time some ways to minimize the connection between stress and cold sores


Photo courtesy of Bob Smith

Is It A Cold Sore Or A Canker Sore?

What’s the difference between a cold sore and a canker sore? While both sores are painful, only one is both contagious and attracts people’s attention.

With a canker sore inside your mouth most people aren’t going to see it. You’ll definitely feel it as the sore tends to be quite tender. Canker sores begin with a red bump with a kind of tingly feeling. As the canker sore progresses it opens up with a red edge and whitish center. According to WebMD these tiny yet painful sores heal by themselves in a little over a week.

Medical research has not found the cause of canker sores. Some question an auto immune disease while others think family history plays a part. Certainly canker sores appear when someone is stressed or tired.

Treatment of canker sores means avoiding foods irritating the sore. Spicy or hot foods can really increase the pain level. You may want to stick with bland or cold foods to ease the pain. Gels used for teething pain can often numb the area for short periods of time. Be sure follow directions on the gel package.

Cold sores are also very painful. But unlike cankers cold sores most often appear on the lips or around the mouth. But cold sores are contagious, very contagious.

Cold sores are caused by the Herpes Simplex virus, which comes in two types. Most people with cold sores have Herpes Simplex type 1. As I’ve mentioned before the initial or original Herpes infection most often happen when someone was a child.

The Herpes virus lays sleeping until it senses a weakness in the body’s defense system. This could be fatigue, stress or an infection elsewhere in the body. As the virus duplicates itself it causes painful lesions or fever blisters around the mouth and lips. Cold sore treatment choices are mostly limited to pain control.

Cold sores last about two weeks from the first red spot to the scab finally falling off. Some people have found local numbing gels, or prescribed anti virus medications help with the pain of the cold sores. Other people use more natural approaches to cold sore treatment.


Photo used courtesy of Cris Watk

Does Any OTC Cold Sore Treatment Really Work?

If you are having a cold sore the last thing you want to do is to worry whether or not the treatment you pick is going to work. Unfortunately that can be difficult, as not every treatment works for every individual. Over the counter or OTC cold sore medications come in three different groups:

Type 1 treatment: stops itching or pain

Type 2 prevents the cold sore from spreading

Type 3 a combination of types 1 and 2

Here are some of the more common OTC cold sore treatments:

1. Abreva: approved by the FDA is considered a Type 2 treatment. It is considered to be helpful in healing.
2. Anbesol: is a Type 1 treatment and helps with the pain. The Vitamin E and aloe help in the healing
3. Cold Sore Rescue: is a gel with anti-viral and anti-inflammatory properties.
4. Zilactin Cold Sore Gel: This medication is a Type 1 medication putting a protective sealant on the cold sore. It helps to reduce irritation during eating.
5. LipClear Lysine Cold Stick: is a type 2 treatment. The moisturizing parts of the stick helps prevent further cracks in the skin. The lysine also helps the spread of the cold sores.

None of these treatments is an instant cure or magic wand to heal the cold sore. These treatments can help in healing but they don’t work for everyone. But even though they may not stop the spread of the cold sore, they will make the 7-11 days a little easier to deal with.

If you’re going through a cold sore outbreak protect yourself and others. Cold sores are highly contagious. Make sure you thoroughly wash your hands after treating or touching your cold sore. You don’t want to spread the cold sore to other parts of your body or to other people.

Don’t share towels, toothbrushes, wash cloths with anyone else. Again you don’t want the virus to spread. Preferably only use the wash cloth or towel once before putting in the wash. You may find a product like travel wash cloths by Dove or another company a good way of avoiding contamination.

OTC cold sore treatments can be helpful in treating the pain of cold sores. Find a cold sore treatment which works for you.

Cold Sore Treatment: Part 2 Increasing Your Knowledge

In my previous post, I talked about some of the triggers or things which increase the need for cold sore treatments. Here are some more.

3. Local Irritants

Sunburn or physical irritation such as burns, excessive cold have also been identified as leading to outbreaks of the lesions.

4. Sharing of Common Items Such as Eating Utensils, Towels, Etc

Since the sores are contagious, the sharing of eating utensils, towels, or any common item easily spreads the virus from one person to another.

5. Physical Contact with Recurrent Herpes Labialis Sufferers

Physical contact such as touching, kissing and having sex with a cold sore sufferer is a frequent cause of an initial outbreak of the cold sores. It is thought most children acquire the infection initially as a result of a kiss from an infected relative.

6. Diet

Diets high in arginine when combined with other triggers can lead to outbreaks. Arginine is an amino acid used as a necessary building block in the herpes simplex reproduction or replication process. Foods high in arginine include nuts and chocolate.

People with a less than healthy diet also have increased numbers of infections. This is probably due to a stressed body’s defense system as a result of the poor dietary habits.

7. Immune System

People who have weakened immune systems (undergoing cancer treatment, kidney or other organ transplant, HIV, or other autoimmune disease) are more likely to have cold sores. Their bodies are unable to fight off or discourage the herpes simplex from reproducing or replicating and causing the lesion.

Cold Sore Treatment – Many Remedies For Cold Sores Available

Recurrent herpes labialis usually disappear without treatment after going through their life cycle. But most people are unwilling to put up with the pain and unsightly lesions while waiting for the natural cycle to complete.

As mentioned earlier there is no cure for recurrent herpes labialis. However natural remedies for cold sores can relieve the pain and discomfort associated with the lesions.


Over-The-Counter Creams and Medications As Remedies For Cold Sores

Walk through a pharmacy and you will see the many cold sore treatments including creams, salves and drops sold over the counter (OTC). All of these treatments are for symptoms only and decrease the pain of those suffering from the fever blister.

Naturally Easy Remedies For Cold Sores

When you look at natural remedies, the focus is on changing the life of the sufferer to minimize the outbreaks. All natural remedies for cold sore ingredients are natural, not manufactured chemicals. And the ultimate goal of the remedies is to speed healing and relieve pain and itching.

Natural remedies come in three main categories: diet, exercise, and supplements such as vitamins.

Finding the right choice of remedies for cold sores can be a challenge, as not every cold sore treatment works for every person.


Graphic courtesy of Yoshi Aka

Cold Sore Treatment - Understanding Cold Sores, Causes and Treatments

Easy Remedies For Cold Sores-When You Know What's Happening You Can Take Control of Your Treatment for Cold Sores

Cold sores are known by several names including fever blisters, cold sores and in the medical community they’re known as recurrent herpes labialis. Highly contagious and caused by the herpes simplex virus it's important to find a cold sore treatment to decrease outbreaks.

The recurrent herpes labialis sores generally appear where mucous membrane and skin meet-like at the corners of the mouth. However, cold sores can be found on the gums as well.

Symptoms
The first symptoms are a tingling sensation or pain at the location. The virus takes over several nerve cells in its effort to reproduce or replicate itself. As the virus reproduces it breaks down the cell leading to the eruption we see as a fever blister.

From start to completed healing the life cycle is about 14 days. There are two types of herpes simplex virus-Type 1 and Type 2. Type 1 causes cold sores, and Type 2 causes genital herpes. Of note, both can cause cold sores on the face or the genital area.

No Cure Only Cold Sore Treatments
With all the advances in healthcare, there still is not a cure for recurrent herpes labialis. The cold sore treatment either treats the symptoms or decreases or minimizes the number and severity of outbreaks.


What Causes Cold Sores?

Some people have repeated outbreaks while other individuals never do. This is surprising given 9 out of 10 people have been infected with the herpes simplex virus during their life.

Certain factors have been identified as triggers for recurrent herpes labialis outbreaks. These triggers include:

1. Stress

Stress whether physical or emotional has been identified as the leading cause of outbreaks.

2. Menstruation

Menstrual cycles and its hormonal changes predispose women to cold sores reoccurrence.


In part 2 I'll cover more ways so you can understand cold sores so you can decide what cold sore treatments can work for you.


Graphic courtesy of Yoshi Aka

Self Confidence One Of Best Remedies For Cold Sores

If you’ve ever had a cold sore on your lip, then you know how self-conscious you can be. You want to call in sick to work, cancel meetings basically anything to avoid having people see you. You search for remedies for cold sores-everywhere.

During your search for a cold sore treatment, you feel like everyone is staring you at you. Your thinking spins out of control. You think other people are judging you and you stick out in a crowd.

Bad Days Happen
Now we all have bad days. Whether it’s a bad hair day, a pimple on your nose like Rudolph or a cold sore. The important part is to remember others have gone through this and we will too.

Cold Sore Treatment: Self Confidence
If you have a cold sore, go for the presentation. People will say you have spunk and know you are someone special who goes no matter what. You will be seen as courageous. Doing this will gain you respect.

Realize people are in their own zones their own worlds. They are also worrying if people like them, if they are going to succeed or why someone didn’t smile at them this morning.

We all have our own worries. Now I’m not minimizing the pain and suffering which goes with cold sores.

If your friends make fun of you; consider if these are the people you want to have as friends.

Find Your Best Cold Sore Treatment Plan
Continue to find ways to reduce your cold sore triggers. Build your immune system with a healthy diet and supplement as needed. You can find a cold sore treatment which will work for you.

Don’t hide. Let people see you know the real you. Remember self-confidence is one of the best remedies for cold sores.

Photo courtesy of Adriana Herbut

Remedies For Cold Sores: Old Time Remedies Work

Wondering which of the remedies for cold sores will work for you? Here are some home remedies you can try.

Vitamin E Capsules For Cold Sore Treatments
Cold sore relief happens for many cold sore sufferers with vitamin E capsules. For price and effectiveness vitamin E can’t be beat. Check out local value stores such as dollar stores in the vitamin section. Buy capsules filled with liquid vitamin E.

Once you get the capsules home take a sterilized needle and poke a hole in the capsule. Squeeze the liquid out of the capsule and apply it directly to your cold sore. Repeat a couple of times a day until the cold sore goes away.

Lysine Stops Cold Sores Where They Start

If you want to stop cold sores from getting worse, then lysine is one of the remedies for cold sores you should know. Lysine is an amino acid used as part of the building block for all cells.

When the cold sore virus tries to reproduce or replicate itself, lysine steps in and stops the process. Lysine supplements should only be used when a cold sore starts the tingling. It is not a preventative supplement.

Remedies For Cold Sores From Bees

Many people use raw honey to heal cold sores faster. Place some honey in a spoon or dish and gently dab on the cold sore. Honey has been used as a healing remedy for thousands of years dating back to Egyptian times.

Cold Sore Treatment From 1930’s Still Works Today

Carmex is an old time cold sore treatment still used today. Invented in the 1930’s Carmex is a blend of 3 ingredients: menthol, camphor, and phenol. The menthol stops the itching. The camphor relieves the pain. And phenol acts as an anesthetic numbing the cold sore.

Myrrh As A Cold Sore Treatment

You may have heard of myrrh as one of the gifts the Wise Men carried in the Christmas story of the birth of Christ. Another remedy from long ago, myrrh is a gum resin and still used in many of the OTC medications you can buy in the store. It's another one of the remedies for cold sores which is effective in speeding up healing.

But you can buy myrrh yourself in many health food stores. Mix 2 teaspoons of powdered myrrh with 1 cup of boiling water. Dab the liquid on your cold sore throughout the day.

There are many choices you can use as one of the many remedies for cold sores. Find the one which works for you.

Remedies For Cold Sores: Protect Your Family By Knowing The Facts

Bottom line cold sores interrupt your life and are a pain. Generally found at the edges of lip or nose, these lesions can grow anywhere there is a break in the skin.

The virus herpes simplex is responsible for cold sores, fever blisters and oral herpes blisters. The lesions happen when the virus is reproducing or replicating itself.

The virus is a sneaky one. It hides in the root of nerve cells waiting for the time to strike and cause a cold sore. It sits in the nerve fiber ready to pounce during stressful points in our life.

Until you know more about how a cold sores virus works it is almost impossible to discover remedies for cold sores.


What Triggers Cold Sores?

It can be caused by fever, which is why the cold sore is often called a fever blister. Often aggravated by sunlight, the lesion can be a result of sunburn. And the herpes simplex blister can also be triggered by menstruation.

Minimizing the stress in your life is a good start for your life and leaning how to get rid of the virus effects in your life.

The virus herpes simplex does not reproduce like bacteria. The virus reproduces by taking over or conquering the internal workings of a nerve cell. So the conquered nerve cell becomes a factory for reproducing new herpes simplex viruses.

Replicating viruses is tiring for the nerve cell. Eventually the cell becomes exhausted and explodes. This causes more virus particles to go out and infect other surrounding cells. The cell destruction is the open lesion call a cold sore.

Why Are Cold Sores So Painful?

The pain is a result of the herpes simplex building the cold sores on the end of a nerve.


How Do People Catch Herpes Simplex?

This virus is extremely contagious. That’s not to say it flies through the air attacking people, but is easily passed by touch. So kissing an infected person or shaking their hand if they have touched a cold sore is an easy way to catch the virus.

Your first line of defense and one of the best remedies for cold sores is to protect your family is to limit the family's exposure to be with active herpes simplex outbreaks. by limiting exposure you teach kids not to kiss people with mouth lesions or touch hands with body parts.

Herpes virus is contagious from the first tingling sensation till the lesion is completely healed. It is especially contagious during the weeping or drainage phase.

The defense system attacks the cold sore virus and discourages the virus from becoming active. The virus is able to take over the nerve cell when the body is stressed.

Normally the immune system can protect the body from herpes simplex. Triggers for the sleeping virus can be fever. This is why the cold sore is often called a fever blister. Sun exposure and menstruation can also trigger an attack of the herpes simplex.


Prevention And Prompt Treatment Key Steps To Get Rid Of Cold Sores

There are many remedies for cold sores available today. Your body often will take care of a sore by itself. In essence your body has found its own remedies for cold sores. Discover how you can find the cold sore treatment treatment which works. So before you choose look at this
ebook today.

How To Get Rid Of Cold Sores

If you ask ten people how to get rid of cold sores you’d probably get 10 different answers. But to really know how to get rid of cold sores you need to know more about them. Cold sores are caused a virus called herpes simplex.

It can affect anyone who is exposed and is highly contagious. Unfortunately once you are infected the virus stays in your body. This means you will have occasional or repeated episodes. These colds sore episodes are annoying and you need to learn how to quickly regain control.

A few people are fortunate not to have recurring colds sores once they have been infected with the virus. But most of the time those affected end up with repeated episodes of outbreaks.

Breakouts are stressful as the cold sore is unsightly and people tend to either focus on your mouth or just ignore you. And the only thing you want is for the cold sore to go away.

Some Tips For Getting Rid Of Your Cold Sore

Keep your hands away from the cold sores. The most common symptoms are itching and a burning sensation. It’s difficult to totally avoid touching, but keep your fingers away from the infected area. This lets the irritation calm down and prevents the spread of infection.

Keep the infected area clean. Take a clean washcloth and soak in warm water. Using antibacterial soap gently clean the infected area. Once you are done cleaning put the washcloth in the laundry. Do not reuse it. You don’t want to spread the infection.

By keeping the infected area clean you will speed up the healing process
Medications: Many cold sores spontaneous go away. But if your cold sore last for longer than two weeks it’s time to get some additional help from your health care provider. There are a variety of anti-viral medications which often give immediate relief from the burning and itching.
Even though some of the medications only provide temporary feeling better is definitely worth the time invested.

Stay healthy. If you are not eating well, and exercising you are going to have an increased change of getting an infection. So eat healthy nutritious food, get some good sleep, and take vitamin supplements especially if you life is stressful or you are unable to eat healthy on a regular basis.

Living a healthy life means your body will be ready to protect you against diseases and viruses.

If the healthy living alone does not get rid of the cold sores, then I suggest you read this ebook . You’ll discover a natural holistic way to treat your cold sores.

How To Get Rid Of Cold Sores Using Home Remedies

If you ever wanted to get rid of cold sores, did you know you could do so at home? Expensive medicines or creams aren’t the only way to get rid of the itching and pain of cold sores.

Cold sore home remedies are probably the first step in taking action against the painful and ugly looking herpes simplex sore. Some of these remedies work best when applied to the sore. Other cold sore remedies need to be swallowed to be effective. In combination your cold sore home remedies can be even more powerful.

Lysine an answer to “How to get rid of cold sores?”
Lysine is the most widely discussed cold sore home remedy. Almost every article will suggest giving lysine a try to either treat or prevent cold sores. Lysine has the ability to keep the herpes virus from reproducing.

Lysine is most effective when swallowed as the lysine cream or salve is poorly absorbed through the skin. And unless lysine gets into your body it cannot stop the herpes virus from reproducing.

Grandmother’s remedies for cold sores still work today
Your grandmother probably would suggest you eat a pound of fish to get rid of cold sores. Not any fish, but flounder. Why flounder? Well flounder has the highest level of lysine naturally than any other food.

For some people a pound of steamed flounder is enough to end a herpes outbreak without doing anything else. Not bad, enjoy a great fish dinner and discover how to get get rid of cold sores at the same time.

Walnut butter one of the home remedies for cold sores
You’ve mostly likely heard of homemade peanut butter. By grinding up peanuts in a blender you get peanut butter. Well you can do the same thing with walnuts. I’m not talking about making a walnut butter sandwich.

Put ¼ cup of walnuts in the blender with 2 tablespoons of water. Blend till mixed. Apply the butter to the cold sore. Store the remaining butter in the refrigerator. Use within 2-3 days.

Aloe Vera is one of the potent remedies for cold sores

Aloe Vera has so many uses. It can help chapped skin; ease dry skin and yes even show you how to get rid of cold sores. Get a live Aloe Vera plant and apply some of the sap from the leaves.

Acidophilus Bacteria One Of The Effective Remedies For Cold Sores
You’ve probably heard of yogurt with live acidophilus bacteria cultures. Acidophilus can be used in its pill form, in yogurt and also applied to the cold sore. Combining it in multiple ways stops the virus from reproducing or replicating itself.

Look for yogurt drinks in the grocery store as an easy way to drink one of these delicious home remedies for cold sores. Make sure you read the label. You want to have live acidophilus cultures.

You can buy acidophilus capsules at any health food store.

Finally one of our surprise remedies for cold sores. One of the remedies you’d least expect for cold sores is clear nail polish. Not on your nails, but on the cold sore. At the first sign of itching, apply a thin coat of nail polish. Use clear polish. Colors work but who wants to have a blue spot?

Discover for yourself how to get rid of cold sores now. You can live without the ugly painful sores. What are you waiting for? Click Here! .


Photo courtesy of Hannah Boettcher