At The Nest

A cold sore can be a huge inconvenience due to the pain, embarrassment caused, and difficulty to get rid of. Cold sores are an extremely common condition due to being highly contagious and are actually caused by the herpes simplex virus, which is currently incurable. Although the virus does not yet have a cure, it is possible to cure a cold sore using both natural remedies and over-the-counter products. It is best to treat the cold sore at its first sign, since a cold sore can last a week or longer if it is not attended to. Salt water works great at cleaning out the sore, and is especially beneficial if it is located inside or on the corner of your mouth. You can even try rubbing a small amount of salt water on the sore if it is located on the lips, but salt water works best when it pink guitar strap is swished around the mouth. There are various over-the-counter ointments that provide pain relief and promote healing, as well as many prescription medications that require a doctor’s visit beforehand. Lysine ointment is very effective in treating cold sores, and can actually reduce the time a cold sore is present by up to 50 percent. It is fairly inexpensive and is available at your local pharmacy, and can diminish the signs of a cold sore in as little as three days. Regular Chap Stick is also beneficial for those with a cold sore, since it can provide pain relief when applied on a regular basis. It can, however, prevent the cold sore from healing, so it should be cleaned off after about an hour, and a salt water solution should be used to reduce swelling and clean out the sore.