Treating A Cold Sore Quickly And Easily

Treating a cold sore with these time-proven methods will give you quick, lasting success. Read this informative article now. You will get some proven and excellent techniques for treating a cold sore.

Treating a cold sore is really a pain. They are unsightly and usually quite painful. Cold sores really interrupt our social lives. And they seem to show up at the most inconvenient times.

Unlike many diseases that do their damage internally, cold sores only occur on the surface. Because of this, they can be easily cured. If this same damage occurred internally, cold sores could be a threat to your life.

Treating a cold sore successfully means you must adjust the treatment based on the stage of your cold sore symptoms.

Here are the best treatments for your cold sore based on the symptoms.

1. The first stage of a cold sore is the tingling stage. The herpes virus has become active and is moving to the surface. When it gets there, it will infect thousands of nerve cells in its effort to replicate.

A quick application of ice is most successful at this early stage. Put the ice in plastic zipper bags to avoid a mess. The herpes virus cannot replicate when the area is cold. Often, in fact, you will either delay or prevent further development of a cold sore.

2. Once the virus actually enters the cells, swelling begins to occur. Cold application is still the best treatment at this stage. Apply for 15 minutes at a time. This always helps swelling, and does give some comfort.

3. If you did not stop the virus before this point, the cold sore will now break open and start weeping fluid teaming with new virus. This is caused by the destruction of thousands of nerve cells. From now on, your cold sore is in the healing phase.

Ice will still provide great comfort, and reduce swelling. But, unfortunately, it slows down the healing process by driving blood away from the area.

Treating a cold sore at this stage primarily requires you to cleanse the wound as often as possible with alcohol or peroxide. I prefer peroxide because it also adds some extra healing oxygen to the sore.

Instead of ice, from now on, use products that have a nerve-deadening ingredient. One of the oldest, time-proven products on the market is Campho-Phenique. They now offer several different formulas to choose from.

4. The healing period for your cold sore is now through the final red spot disappears. Treating a cold sore, during all the healing period, should include applying heat. This will bring additional blood to the area for very fast healing results.

Continued cleansing of the sore will speed healing and help prevent re-infection. Keep using the comfort treatment of your choice. These drug store treatments may not speed up the healing process, but do provide blessed relief.

HOW TO APPLY HEAT. To apply healing warmth, you can use a washcloth or paper towel dipped in hot water. You also can dampen the washcloth and warm up in your microwave. Just be careful not to burn your skin.

You might want to try treating a cold sore by applying a warm, wet tea bag. You get the benefit of healing warmth to shorten the cold sore duration. You also will find the tea plant has ingredients especially good for quickly healing cold sores.

CAUTION. Cold sores, and the herpes virus that actually causes them, are extremely contagious. This is true, not only for infecting your friends, but other spots on your body as well.

Cold sores can easily be spread to other areas of your body including your fingertips. Anywhere the herpes virus can get through the skin will be a new cold sore trouble area. Especially dangerous is getting the virus in your eyes. This actually happens, and it can cause damage to the cornea.

When treating a cold sore, be careful not to touch the sore with your fingers. Use cotton balls or tissues to cleanse and apply any treatment. Always wash your hands after working on the sore. Hand sanitizing gel is great insurance against spreading the cold sore.

In conclusion, keep in mind to apply cold when the sore is being created and heat during the healing phase. Continue to cleanse the wound and wash your hands often when treating a cold sore.