But medicines may slightly reduce the duration of cold sores and sometimes prevent a future outbreak. Treatment with medicines depends on whether you are having a first outbreak or a recurrent outbreak or are trying to prevent future outbreaks.
When treating a first outbreak of cold sores, oral antiviral medicines may reduce pain and slightly improve healing time. For treatment of recurrent cold sores, the following medicines may reduce the severity and duration of the outbreak: footnote 1. Oral antivirals may also be taken daily to prevent recurring cold sores, especially in people who have frequent and painful outbreaks. If you have a weakened immune system and develop cold sores, you may need medicines to control your symptoms or daily doses to prevent outbreaks.
The first episode of cold sores can be so painful that you may have trouble eating, drinking, and sleeping. A child who has a fever and many mouth sores may need to be encouraged to drink water and other fluids to prevent dehydration. Adults and older children who have a painful first episode of cold sores may sometimes need a prescription-strength medicated mouth rinse to reduce pain.
Several complementary medicine treatments are available if you wish to try an alternative way to ease your symptoms. Although some people find relief from the symptoms by taking zinc or lysine there is little research to support this treatment. Before you try a complementary treatment, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about the possible value and potential side effects. Most cold sores heal on their own.
But you can manage your symptoms at home by:. Ask your doctor if you can take ibuprofen such as Advil or Motrin or acetaminophen such as Tylenol to reduce pain. Do not give aspirin to anyone younger than 18 because of its link to Reye syndrome , a serious but rare problem.
Be safe with medicines. Read and follow all instructions on the label. You can reduce the frequency of cold sore outbreaks by taking the following steps:. These measures may help prevent the spread of cold sores in children:. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Learn How this information was developed.
To learn more about Healthwise, visit Healthwise. All rights reserved. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. Top of the page. Topic Overview What are cold sores? What causes cold sores? What are the symptoms? How are cold sores diagnosed? How are cold sores treated? How can you prevent cold sores? Avoid coming into contact with infected body fluids, such as kissing an infected person.
Avoid sharing eating utensils, drinking cups, or other items that a person with a cold sore may have used. Avoid the things that trigger your cold sores, such as stress and colds or the flu. Always use lip balm and sunscreen on your face.
Too much sunlight can cause cold sores to flare. A more recent study showed zinc oxide may also have a role in preventing the herpes simplex virus from entering cells. How to use: A pilot study saw a reduced frequency of outbreaks when participants took zinc sulfate supplements. They took Shop for zinc cream online. On a cellular level, oregano oil is shown to inhibit different animal and human viruses, including herpes.
How to use: Apply diluted oregano oil to a cotton ball and apply to the affected area. Repeat several times throughout the day, and continue treatment until your blisters heal completely. Licorice root is gaining popularity as a treatment option for cold sores. Talk to your doctor before taking licorice root orally, as it may cause unintended side effects. A review of tea tree oil studies suggest that it may be a useful antiviral treatment.
It may also help to speed up the healing process and limit plaque formation. How to use: Use topically by adding diluted tea tree oil to a cotton ball. Dab it on the sore spot several times per day, and continue treatment until your skin is completely healed.
Shop for therapeutic-grade tea tree oil online. A study found witch hazel may be effective in fighting the herpes virus and in reducing inflammation. Witch hazel is also an astringent and dries out the area, which may help with healing. How to use: Apply witch hazel such as Thayers Organic directly to the skin using a moistened cotton ball.
Hold it onto your skin using light pressure, and be careful not to rub. Continue treatment until your skin is fully healed. Some people report benefits using apple cider vinegar ACV for fever blisters. However, it should be used cautiously on wounds given its acidic properties and potential damage to tissue. How to use: Use a cotton ball and apply diluted ACV to the affected area several times per day. You can hold it there for a few minutes at a time.
Continue treatment until healed. Avoid using essential oils on children or older adults. Learn how to treat cold sores in babies. Always begin with a small amount of your chosen remedy to see how your skin reacts, and discontinue use if it irritates your skin with a prolonged burning sensation.
Discontinue any home treatments if the outbreak gets worse. It can also create a bacterial skin infection. After the weeping stage, your blister will dry. This begins the crusting stage. When the blister dries out, it will look yellow or brown. You should be careful to not aggravate the crusted blister. Using cold and warm compresses and zinc oxide ointment may help at this stage.
The final stage of the cold sore is the healing stage. This is when the crusted blister scabs over. To keep the scab soft and to reduce irritation, try using emollients containing zinc oxide or aloe vera. If you experience cold sores only on occasion, home treatment may be enough to minimize discomfort and speed up the healing process. But if you have regular cold sores, you should see your doctor for prescription medication.
It may help limit the frequency and severity of your sores. Using lip balm with an added sunscreen is important as well. HSV is most contagious when cold sores are open and unhealed. However, the virus may also be contagious before or after the sores appear.
Cold sores look like blisters that appear around the mouth or on the lips. They can break open, ooze, and crust over. Flare-ups can occur at any time…. Cold sores are red, fluid-filled blisters that usually form near your mouth or other areas of your face.
Once you have the virus, it stays in your skin for the rest of your life. Sometimes it causes a cold sore. Most people are exposed to the virus when they're young after close skin to skin contact, such as kissing, with someone who has a cold sore.
It does not usually cause any symptoms until you're older. You will not know if it's in your skin unless you get a cold sore. Page last reviewed: 20 July Next review due: 20 July Cold sores.
0コメント