How To Treat A Cold Sore With Home Remedies
While prescription and OTC cold sore medication can promote healing and relieve pain, home remedies may also improve your symptoms and possibly reduce the frequency of outbreaks.
These remedies wont fight the virus, but they can help you feel better until a cold sore heals.
To self-treat a cold sore:
- Opt for cool foods that you apply to your mouth area. For example, suck on ice chips or a popsicle to reduce pain in or around the lips.
- Apply a cold or warm compress to painful areas. This can help ease inflammation.
- Avoid trigger foods that may irritate a cold sore. These can include hot beverages, citrus fruits, spicy food, and salty foods.
- Turn to your medicine cabinet. Apply a skin protectant, such as petroleum jelly, to a cold sore and the skin around the sore.
- Wear lip balm with SPF 30 or higher. This protects your lips until a cold sore heals. Applying balm year-round can also help stop recurrent cold sores.
- Tend to your dental health. Use an antiseptic mouthwash when brushing your teeth to relieve pain.
- Drink water. Keep your body hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids.
A few alternative therapies might also promote healing and relieve cold sore symptoms, although more research is needed to confirm the effectiveness of these remedies.
For example, applying synthetic beeswax to a cold sore might shorten the duration of an outbreak and get rid of the blister sooner.
How Are Cold Sores Diagnosed
To see if you have the herpes simplex virus , which causes cold sores, your doctor may simply examine the cold sore or may take a culture from it.
The doctor may also test blood for antibodies to the virus.
A positive antibody test only proves that you have the virus it does not indicate whether or not the virus is active or when you may have acquired it.
How Do Cold Sores Spread
The virus is spread from person to person by kissing, by close contact with herpes lesions, or from saliva even when sores are not present. Infected saliva is a common means of virus transmission.
The contagious period is highest when people have active blisters or moist sores. Once the blisters have dried and crusted over , the risk of contagion is significantly lessened.
HSV can also be spread through personal items that are contaminated with the virus, such as lipstick, utensils, and razors. Despite popular myth, catching herpes from surfaces, towels, or washcloths is very rare, since the virus does not usually survive long on dry surfaces.
Dont Miss: How Can You Live With Herpes
Don’t Miss: How To Relieve Herpes Sores
Herpes Simplex Eye Infections
Herpes simplex eye infections are a potentially serious type of eye infection.
Theyre caused by a virus called herpes simplex usually the herpes simplex virus type 1 , which also causes cold sores.
Its important to get medical help if you think you may have the infection, as your vision could be at risk if its not treated.
What Happens If You Dont Get Herpes Treatment
The good news about herpes is that its not deadly or even very dangerous. It might be annoying, but herpes doesnt get worse over time or cause serious health problems like other STDs can.
If you dont get treated for herpes, you might keep having regular outbreaks, or they could only happen rarely. Some people naturally stop getting outbreaks after a while.
There are a few reasons people may decide not to get treatment. They might not have that many outbreaks, or their outbreaks dont really bother them. Or maybe theyre not having sex, so theyre not that worried about having herpes right now. Whatever your situation is, getting treatment for herpes is your choice.
Having herpes can make it easier to get HIV, because the sores give HIV an open pathway into your body. So always use condomsto help prevent the spread of both herpes and HIV.
Read Also: What Medicine Is Used For Herpes
You May Like: How To Heal Herpes Quickly
Is There A Cure Or Treatment For Genital Herpes
There is no cure for genital herpes. However, daily use of antiviral medicines can prevent or shorten outbreaks. Antiviral medicines also can reduce the chance of spreading it to others.
Though several clinical trials have tested vaccines against genital herpes, there is no vaccine currently available to prevent infection. One vaccine trial showed efficacy among women whose partners had HSV-2, but only among women not infected with HSV-1. Efficacy was not observed among men whose partners had HSV-2. Another trial testing the same vaccine showed some protection from genital HSV-1 infection, but none from HSV-2.
Complementary And Alternative Medicine
Some people use natural therapies to treat herpes, either on their own or to support standard medical care. The research supporting their use is generally weak, with little evidence that they can reduce either the severity or duration of an outbreak. Even so, many people swear by their effectiveness and consider them a vital part of managing herpes outbreaks.
Complementary and alternative therapies sometimes used to treat herpes include:
- Propolis: This is a sticky substance produced by bees that may help speed the healing of genital herpes. A 2017 study found that people who used propolis ointment experienced better healing by the 10th day of treatment compared to those who used a sham ointment.
- Algae extract: Lab studies suggest that algae extract can inhibit the growth of HSV-2 in test tubes. Whether it can do so in humans has yet to be proven.
- Acupuncture: A 2011 study concluded that acupuncture was mildly effective in reducing pain caused by the herpes zoster virus , the type of herpes virus that causes shingles. While this suggests that acupuncture may be useful in easing genital herpes pain, this has yet to be proven.
Don’t Miss: How To Treat Herpes Simplex 2
How Does Aciclovir Work
If you begin to take Aciclovir 400mg as soon as symptoms appear, the outbreak will often disappear within 1-2 days. Recurrent outbreaks are usually preceded by a tingling or itching sensation.
Aciclovir targets the enzyme that is necessary for the HSV to replicate and grow. By stopping further production of this enzyme, the virus cannot reproduce and create more blisters. This allows the immune system to fight the remaining virus and end the outbreak.
After taking Aciclovir, you should wait until the affected area has healed before resuming sexual activity. Once the virus has fully gone into remission, it will no longer be contagious.
Drug Treatment For Genital Herpes
If you are infected with genital herpes, your doctor may prescribe oral antiviral drugs to help ease your symptoms during both a first episode and recurrent episodes. Your doctor may also suggest taking antiviral drugs daily as a suppressive therapy to reduce symptoms and protect partners.
Remember, though, that antiviral drugs do not wipe out the virus completely. It continues to live in your body, so if you stop taking the drugs that suppress it, you may have more frequent or more intense symptom outbreaks, and the risk of your transmitting the virus to others rises.
Three antiviral drugs, all taken by mouth, are used to treat genital herpes:
You May Like: How Do I Know If Its Herpes
How To Read Your Results
Your HSV test results will likely be reported as negative or positive :
- Negative. The herpes virus was not found. However, you may still have an HSV infection if your results were negative. It may mean the sample didnt have enough virus to be detected. If you still have symptoms of herpes, you may need to order another test.
- Positive. HSV was found in your sample. It may mean you have an active infection or contracted the virus in the past .
If your test results are positive for HSV, talk with a doctor about your next steps.
Read Also: Can You Give Plasma If You Have Herpes
How Is Herpes Simplex Treated
Some people have few to no herpes outbreaks and choose not to have treatment. But many people prefer to use medications that shorten outbreaks and reduce symptoms.
During an outbreak, you may use an antiviral ointment or cream to help lessen your symptoms and help them go away faster, but it only works if you start it soon after you start an outbreak. Many people with HSV-2 take daily oral medications to keep outbreaks at bay.
Your provider may prescribe a topical medication or oral medication such as:
You May Like: Can Herpes Turn To Hiv
Herpes Medication And Treatments Available
There is currently no cure or vaccine for either HSV-1 or HSV-2.
However, if you are diagnosed with herpes, your doctor may prescribe you certain kinds of treatments and medications during an outbreak or to suppress the virus.
One area where medications can help is pain management.
For genital herpes outbreaks, doctors may recommend prescription-strength pain creams with ingredients like benzocaine or lidocaine.
These can help to reduce discomfort caused by especially inflamed, or acute, herpes lesions.
For oral herpes outbreaks caused by HSV-1 infections, your doctor might similarly prescribe topical creams containing painkilling ingredients like benzocaine .
Over-the-counter pain treatments can also help with milder oral herpes outbreaks.
These include NSAIDS like ibuprofen , as well lower-strength gel formulations with numbing ingredients like benzocaine .
None of these numbing or painkilling options work to actually speed up or heal the herpes outbreak, however.
They may reduce discomfort, but they do not lessen the time it takes a herpes outbreak to move from emerging, to active, to dormant. For that, doctors turn to antiviral treatments.
Antiviral medications can both speed up the rate of healing, as well as reduce the severity of outbreaks.
For genital herpes, when taken as suppressive therapy, antiviral medications can also reduce the frequency of outbreaks.
Acyclovir creams can also be used to treat genital herpes.
How And When To Use It
Always read the instructions that come with your medicine first.
Wash your hands before and after using the ointment, gel or liquid.
Ointment, gel, liquid or spray for mouth ulcers
After 3 hours you can use it again, if you need to.
Gel for teething
You May Like: How To Get Rid Of Herpes In Your Mouth
Don’t Miss: Same Day Results Herpes Test
Before You Start To Take Them
You must tell your doctor if:
- you are allergic to foods, dyes, preservatives or any other medicines
- you have a kidney or liver condition
- you are anaemic .
Care should be taken to ensure adequate fluid intake in patients who are risk of dehydration, such as the elderly.
If you have not told your doctor about any of the above, please do so before you take Valtrex.
How Our Service Works
- Start an order by selecting the Start order button above.
- Fill in a short questionnaire about your health and lifestyle.
- A Superdrug doctor will check your answers and approve the treatment if its right for you.
- Well then post your order directly to you or you can pick it up the same day at a Superdrug store near you.
Read Also: How To Clear Herpes On Lips
Order Antiviral Treatments For Herpes
If you have genital herpes, you can get an online prescription for antiviral herpes medication discreetly and easily. Our doctor’s prescribe aciclovir, valaciclovir or famciclovir via our online service.
Order for a herpes outbreak: if you have a flare-up of symptoms, you can get a short course of medication to help control the outbreak.
Order to prevent outbreaks: if you get outbreaks more than 6 times a year or find your symptoms are hard to deal with, you can have suppressive treatment. This is where you take a low dose of antiviral medication every day to help prevent outbreaks.
Order a herpes test: if you need to check if youre a carrier of herpes, you can order a herpes test online now.
| 1st outbreak – up to 10 days | £25.00 |
| Repeat outbreaks – 5 days each, 1/2/3 courses | from £25.00 |
| Suppression treatment – 3 months | £49.00 |
| 1st outbreak – up to 10 days | £70.00 |
| Repeat outbreaks – 3 to 5 days each, 1/2/3 courses | from £40.00 |
| Suppression treatment – 3 months | £220.00 |
| Outbreak – 1 day each, 1/2/3 courses | from £95.00 |
Click & Collect: free Next Day Delivery: £3.99Dispensing and standard delivery included.
How To Take Tablets And Liquid
You can take aciclovir tablets or liquid with or without food. Drink plenty of water while taking this medicine to help keep your kidneys working well.
Swallow the tablets whole with a drink of water.
If you find tablets difficult to swallow, you can dissolve them in water. Add a tablet to a small glass of water and stir. Drink all the liquid to make sure you get the full dose.
Aciclovir liquid will come with a measuring spoon or plastic syringe to help you measure your dose. If you do not have a measuring spoon or syringe, ask your pharmacist for one. Do not use a kitchen teaspoon as it will not measure the right amount of medicine.
You May Like: What Causes Genital Herpes Outbreaks
How Herpes Outbreaks Occur
Once it enters a human cell, the HSV virus penetrates the cell’s nucleus and begins the process of replication. Even though cells may be infected, you probably will not experience any symptoms at this stage.
During the initial infection, the virus is transported through nerve cells to nerve-branching points, known as ganglia. There, the virus will stay in an inactive, dormant state, neither replicating nor presenting any signs that it’s even there.
On occasion, the dormant virus may suddenly reactivate, starting the replication process anew. When this happens, the virus will travel back through the nerve to the surface of the skin. With this, many of the infected skin cells are killed, causing blisters to form. The eruption of these blisters creates the characteristic ulcers that are recognized as cold sores or genital herpes.
Dosage: How Much Valtrex Should I Take
The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor’s orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.
The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.
- For oral dosage form :
- For treatment of chickenpox:
- Adults and children below 2 years of ageUse and dose must be determined by your doctor.
- Children 2 to 18 years of ageDose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. The usual dose is 20 milligrams per kilogram of body weight, taken three times a day for 5 days. However, the dose is usually not more than 1000 mg three times a day.
- For treatment of cold sores:
- Adults2000 milligrams every 12 hours for one day.
- Children 12 years of age and above2000 milligrams every 12 hours for one day.
- Children below 12 years of ageUse and dose must be determined by your doctor.
- For treatment of genital herpes, first outbreak:
- Adults1000 milligrams two times a day for ten days.
- ChildrenUse and dose must be determined by your doctor.
Read Also: How To Clear Herpes Outbreak Fast
When To Contact A Doctor
A person should consider contacting a doctor if their cold sores are large, feel painful, and keep coming back.
The AAD recommends that people seek medical help if they have other health conditions, such as cancer or HIV, or take medications that suppress the immune system. This is because cold sores may not clear without treatment, and they may spread to other parts of the body.
A doctor can advise on treating cold sores and whether or not prescription medications are most suitable for the persons needs.
Recommended Reading: Can Abreva Be Used On Genital Herpes
Simple Treatments For The Relief Of Discomfort
- Wear loose underclothes, preferably cotton , to help minimise discomfort and allow healing.
- Use plain water or saline solution with cotton wool to clean and soothe the area. To make a saline solution, use 1 teaspoon of salt in 600ml of water or a handful of salt in a shallow bath.
- Dont use scented soaps, bubble bath, etc in the area, as these may irritate it.
- Using a hairdryer on its lowest setting to dry the area may be more comfortable than using a towel.
- Pain relief medication such as paracetamol and ibuprofen may ease the pain. Check with your pharmacist or other health professional whether taking these is suitable for you.
- Ice wrapped in a face cloth or flannel and placed over the sores for 510 minutes may be soothing. Dont apply ice directly to the sores as this can cause ice burn.
- If you find peeing painful, try applying Vaseline® to the area or sitting in a warm bath before urinating or using a pump bottle full of water and spraying water on yourself while peeing.
- You can also try applying a pain relief cream such as lignocaine cream to the painful area. This is applied 5 minutes before peeing and should be used for a maximum of 12 days.
- Drink plenty of fluids as this dilutes your pee and may help reduce stinging.
You May Like: How Can I Get Rid Of Herpes Simplex