Home remedies for cold sores still are you best bet. Medical scientists are working hard at the problem, to develop a good drug therapy, but so far have not had great success.

Fortunately, you do not have to suffer the agony and embarrassment of these unsightly sores any more. There are many really good home remedies cold sores that you must try. This article will look at a few of the most useful.

Some people confuse cold sores (aka fever blisters) and canker sores. A canker sore is different. A canker sore is inside the mouth and is a wound in the mucous soft tissue. There is no clear cause of a canker sore. Canker sores are not caused by a viral infection and are not contagious.

Cold sores, on the other hand, are caused by herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). They are extremely contagious and spread to other people through saliva. Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) is known as genital herpes but can cause facial sores too.

Both herpes types can be sexually transmitted. If you have a cold sore, precautionary measures are necessary to avoid passing it on to any part of your partner’s body.

Once a person has had one cold sore, they are likely to have other outbreaks throughout their life. The virus hides in the nerves and activates periodically.

If you have frequent or severe cold sores, your doctor may prescribe an antiviral, however these have not proven to be of significant help. The anti-viral pills are also quite hard on the liver.

For intermittent cold sores, you can purchase many different kinds of cold sore treatments over-the-counter.

These generally are comfort remedies. Many of them contain numbing ingredients to help reduce the pain. Do not expect them to speed recovery and healing by very much.

Let us look at a few of the more common home remedies for cold sores that folks are using today. Remember, this is not medical advice. Talk to your doctor if you have concerns or questions about your cold sore.

Earwax and/or oils from your own body are said to completely stop cold sores in their tracks. Advocates of this method advise putting earwax directly on the cold sore when you first feel it coming on.

If you prefer to use body oils, the suggested method is getting them from behind your ear, or alongside your nose, and then applying it to the cold sore. Some people swear by this method.

Another method recommends using drying agents ranging from alcohol to hydrocortisone to nail polish remover to white stick deodorant to hemorrhoid cream to the bubblegum pink medication you take for a sour stomach.

According to this method, you are supposed to apply the drying agent two or three times a day. It is said to work best when you begin quickly, at the very first sign of a pending sore.

Then there are the dietary methods of home remedies cold sores.

People who use dietary treatments repeatedly suggest taking lysine tablets at the first sign of a cold sore coming on. At the same time, avoid foods high in arginine, such as chocolate, grains and peanuts.

Some people claim to put a garlic and salt mixture on the cold sore and say they get good results. They recommend you apply it two or three times a day.

Others insist that melting an ice cube on your cold sore reduces the swelling. After the ice cube melts most people use one of the methods discussed above.

Some apply Tea Tree Oil, warm, wet tea bags or facial masks on the sore.

As you can see the home remedies cold sores methods are quite varied. What most of them have in common is the use of a drying agent. Often this is in combination with other remedies.

It is likely you will need to try some of these home cures to see which one works best for you. Keep in mind that your exact needs are unique. What works for others may or may not work for you.

What is most important is to develop your own plan. You must find, by trial and error, which treatments work best for you and build your own personal home remedies cold sores care plan.

Author Bio: Great News! You do not have to be tortured with Cold Sores anymore. There are many effective FREE home remedies for cold sores that cure this agonizing problem. Stop by Denny Bodoh’s excellent web site right now and you will be smiling again before you know it. http://www.3DayColdSoreCure.com

Category: Medicines and Remedies
Keywords: home remedies cold sores,cold sores,cold sore,cold sore remedies,cold sore treatment