So, I know how to prevent a cold sore attack, but I would now like to know if there is any way of shortening the time a person has a cold sore. It would be great if there was some miracle cure because at the moment my cold sores stop me from going out socially for weeks at a time.
Whilst researching, I have discovered that a topical antiviral is only effective if applied during the early tingling phase of a cold sore. If used any later than this then they are of no use. They are also a little inconvenient because the ointment is messy, expensive and also won’t stop the cold sores recurring.
Over the counter treatment for cold sores can help but only temporarily. These treatments only help to relieve the discomfort caused by cold sores but they won’t prevent them recurring.
For antiviral medication for cold sores you need a doctor’s prescription, which of course means a visit to the doctor's and it is worth being aware that sometimes there can be a negative drug interaction so they are not suitable for everyone.
Natural remedies for cold sore treatment are becoming increasingly popular. The main benefit of natural home cold sore remedies is that they boost your body’s immune system and have no bad side effects. Things to try include:
Ice – ice is believed to minimize the size of the cold sores and relieve the burning sensation, you can place ice into a plastic bag and dab it on the cold sore.
Tea - tea contains tannic acid which contains special antiviral properties. Simply press a warm tea bag onto your cold sore.
After my research I have come to the conclusion that natural remedies do appeal to me. This is because after many years of suffering with coldsore attacks I feel the medications are no longer working for me, maybe I have become immune to them so I am going to do some further research to see what else I can find and I will keep you posted!