Monday, November 24, 2008

The Cold Sore Cure Explained!

By Tom Mulligan

While cold sores are a pretty common complaint, knowing this isn't going to make too many people feel better about having this unattractive, uncomfortable condition. Even if you happen to suffer from cold sores, you can cut down on the length of time it sticks around; and you may even be able to prevent one form happening in the first place.

A cold sore will usually heal in seven to ten days all by itself. However, this is a lot longer than most of us would like to have a cold sore. This is particularly true given the kind of timing that cold sores seem to have - they seem to know when you have a social obligation coming up and choose that time to appear. To cut down on the healing time, here are a few tips which can help. The first step is to know how cold sores work.

You can't cure this condition. It's caused by a viral infection caused herpes simplex that sets up housekeeping inside your body. If you've noticed that you mostly get cold sores in the same spot, it's because the virus is concentrated there. Since antibiotics don't work on viruses, all we can do is treat the symptoms and encourage our bodies to heal more quickly.

While you can't cure the viral infection, you can help to prevent outbreaks by taking some simple steps. You can also heal outbreaks in as little as 24 hours in many cases. This is why we started this website in the first place ? we know how inconvenient cold sores can be and want to help everyone fight off these annoyances.

About 40 million people have an outbreak of cold sores every year. These sores appear on or around the mouth; while there are several things which can contribute to an outbreak, it basically comes down to a weakened immune system. If you have stress, fatigue, poor diet or a cold; this can increase your odds of having a breakout.

The first sign of an outbreak is an itching or tingling sensation. The area then becomes red and swells. This leads to the eruption of the cold sore. The sore will ooze briefly, then dry out and scab over. However, if you scratch or otherwise break the scab, it will take longer for the sore to heal.

Most people would rather not have to use prescription medications for their cold sores. They're costly and in many cases are no more effective than are non-prescription remedies; and of course, they require a trip to your physician. There are some home remedies which can make a cold sore's stay a much shorter one.

A cold sore can be kept at bay with vitamin C, which is very helpful in strengthening your immune response. Aloe vera gel and lip balm can help keep your cold sore from splitting and L-Lysine can be used to promote rapid healing.

To prevent cold sores, take good care of yourself. Watch your diet, and get enough sleep. Be on the lookout for these sores if you've been feeling ill or tired - take extra measures to treat yourself well. Hopefully, you'll be able to avoid these inconvenient blemishes entirely! - 15995

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