Over The Counter Medications For Cold Sores And Fever Blisters
- Brand names listed as examples do not imply better quality over other brands. Generic equivalents may also exist.
- Use only as directed on the package, unless your healthcare provider instructs you to do otherwise.
- OTCs may interact with other medications or be potentially harmful if you have certain medical conditions. Talk to your pharmacist about options that are right for you.
example:L-Lysine®
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Canker Sore Vs Cold Sore
The term canker sore and cold sore is often confused for the same thing, but theyre actually different conditions. Canker sores only occur on the inside of your mouth and can be found on the gums, the inside of your cheeks or lips, on or below the tongue, or in the soft palate near the back and roof of your mouth. Canker sores present a burning, tingling feeling before they appear, similar to cold sores. However, cold sores are usually on the outside of your mouth near the lips and under the nose. Cold sores fill with fluid and can be painful. Eventually, cold sores can turn into scabs that can last for a week or longer until the sore is fully healed. The location of the sore is the easiest way to tell whether you have a cold sore or a canker sore. However, each one is caused by different things. Canker sores can be a result of a mouth injury, deficiency in nutrients like B12 or iron, or fluctuations in hormones. Some people get canker sores from a reaction to spicy foods, nuts, or chocolate. Cold sores are caused by infection from certain strains of HSV . This virus is quite contagious, and cold sores can transmit from person to person if oozing sores are present. Do not share utensils, cups, or toothbrushes if you have cold sores since this can cause it to spread to others. If you are unsure if you have a cold sore or canker sore, always consult your doctor or health care provider.
How To Treat A Cold Sore
Although they will usually heal on their own after around 2 weeks, they can be uncomfortable, so you want them to disappear as quickly as poss. Over the counter antiviral creams containing penciclovir or acyclovir tend to work the fastest. “To be effective, these treatments should be applied as soon as the first signs of a cold sore appear when you feel a tingling, itching or burning sensation around your mouth. Using an antiviral cream after this initial period is unlikely to have much of an effect,” states the NHS. You’ll need to keep applying them 4 to 5 times a day for about a week.
If you’re cringing at the thought of going about your daily life with a big chunk of white cream on the corner of your lip, cold sore patches are your guy. Not only are they invisible, they foster the perfect environment for super speedy healing, and act like a shield, reducing the risk of contamination to others. Plus, you can pick them up on the high street.
In-between outbreaks, it’s imperative to keep your lips in tip-top condition. These balms and ointments contain anti-inflammatories and natural ingredients proven to clear cold sores, so don’t leave the house without one.
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Can You Prevent Cold Sores
Basically, it is not possible to prevent an infection with the herpes virus. However, you can help to strengthen your immune system in such a way that it can at least reliably fight possible viral attacks.
- A healthy diet if possible even before pregnancy is a very good prerequisite.
- Furthermore, a relaxed lifestyle helps to counteract the risk of cold sores or herpes in the mouth.
- Avoid too frequent sunbathing and be careful not to expose yourself to excessive UV radiation. Depending on your physical constitution, this could weaken your immune system.
- As soon as you feel a slight tickling or itching, you should apply an anti-herpes cream. The same applies to the first sign of burning or tightening on the skin. Even then, an anti-viral cold sore cream can be very effective and prevent the outbreak.
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What Causes Cold Sores
Cold sores are caused by herpes simplex virus. There are two types of herpes simplex virus, called type 1 and type 2. Either type can be caught on any part of the body: lips and genitals are the most common places. This page is about facial sores which can also be called fever blisters, facial herpes or herpes labialis.
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Can My Cold Sore Appear Anywhere Else
This is unlikely. If you caught your cold sore on your lips, it might reappear elsewhere on your face, but it cannot reappear elsewhere on your body. You make antibodies in response to the virus, and they prevent you from spreading it to another area. They also make it unlikely that you will catch it again.
Awareness Information Is No Substitute For A Doctors Care
Cold sores, also called fever blisters, present an annoying problem from the standpoint of their unpredictable breakout pattern and the eyesore they create.
There are two herpes viruss that cause herpes type sore outbreaks. Herpes Simplex is responsible for outbreaks of lesions mainly on the lips , while Herpes Simplex2 is responsible for genital herpes.
Treatments for both conditions do not cure the problem. Rather, they help make the duration time of the sores be shorter and the severity less. In both instances medicine must be applied at the first sign of an eruption . This article will focus on Herpes Simplex1 and cold sores of the mouth.
The literature on the subject frequently describes the beginning of a cold sore as eliciting a tingling sensation near the mouth. It is at this time that anti-viral medicine for cold sores should be taken. This is important as a fever blister is something one is usually very self-conscious about. Facial outbreaks are hard to hide. It is a difficult problem to handle in the work a day world. Most cold sores last anywhere from 10 to 14 days. Complete healing is required to prevent the spread of the virus through contact.
The following are medicines commonly prescribed by physicians for cold sores: acyclovir 5% cream , penciclovir 1% cream , famciclovir , valacyclovir , and oral acyclovir. These medicines actually work against the Herpes Simplex1 virus.
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What Are The Strongest Over The Counter Options For Cold Sores
There are many over-the-counter options available for cold sore relief. Abreva® and Orajel are the two strongest OTC options.
Orajel provides instant and targeted pain relief in and around the mouth. For herpes simplex cold sores, the Orajel Cold Sore formula includes six active ingredients shown to treat the pain, itching, and dryness caused by cold sores. It can be applied up to four times a day to help you stay comfortable through an outbreak.
Abreva® is also an over-the-counter cream used to treat cold sores and fever blisters, but it works differently. Abreva® contains the only non-prescription ingredient approved by the FDA to accelerate the cold sore healing process. This OTC treatment can be used up to five times a day, or as directed by your doctor.
Use A Lip Lacquer To Provide Protection
Its harder to lick off than a regular lipstick and it can help keep the area moist. If you prefer to use lipstick, consider using a coffee stirrer to shave off a portion of the lipstick so you dont contaminate your makeup.
Now that you have these helpful tips on how to hide cold sores, youll be able to conquer the day the next time a cold sore pops up. Share this with any of your friends who may be prone to cold sores, too.
*Median healing time 4.1 days. 25% of users healed in 2.5 days.
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Extra Quick Tips For Healing Herpes Lips:
- As we believe in preventing than curing, we bring some cool tips to identify herpes before they surface on lips.
- If you started to feel the burning, tingling and itching sensation on the lips, you should know that you can be a victim of lip herpes in near future. Your cold sore might be forming soon.
- You will feel augmented salivating when lip herpes is on its way.
- Herpes occurs due to excessive sun rays all the time. So try to apply lip balm whenever you leave from home. The lip balm should conclude SPF 15 to SPF 40 and reapply this process throughout the whole day.
- Never share your personal items like toothbrush, utensils and beverages, razors and towels.
- Take rest and get plenty of sleep for at least 7 hours a day to get rid of swollen lips and make your food habits healthier.
Cold Sore Treatment : Essential Oils
If youre looking for a natural way to zap your cold sore, try an oil with anti-viral properties.
Tea tree, coconut, peppermint, eucalyptus or lemon balm oil are well known natural healers. Theyll help get rid of cold sores, quickening the recovery process too.
‘Tea Tree Oil is particularly effective as it has a triple action being an antiseptic, antiviral and anti-inflammatory all in one,’ suggests Dr Denning. ‘It works best if you dilute tea tree with coconut oil to protect your skin from drying out,’ she adds.
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Endnotes About How To Get Rid Of Genital Herpes Fast
I hope this article about treatments for genital herpes in men and women has met your expectations for the information you need to get rid of the disease.
The most useful information in the article refers to the cure for genital herpes using The Ultimate Herpes Protocol.
If you have read the full article you will have taken an important step because knowing about the diseases that affect us is the first step to a cure.
I only need to ask you to share this article with your friends on social networks, if you have found it useful, because then they can benefit from the information it contains.
References:
What Causes Herpes Simplex Virus 1
Herpes Simplex Virus 1, also called HSV-1, herpes labialis or oral herpes, is the main virus that causes cold sores. Oral herpes can also be caused by HSV-2, but this is less common.
HSV-1 is caused by transmission of the virus from an infected person. Oral herpes is called oral because the lesions associated with it are mainly found in and around the mouth.
The virus is most often transmitted from close contact with the someone who has an infection. This can occur by kissing, sharing a drinking vessel, makeup, razor, towels, etc.
Oral herpes can also be transmitted to the genitals of an uninfected partner through oral sex, so avoidance of this activity is important while experiencing any symptoms of an outbreak.
Like many illnesses, viruses and diseases, people can carry HSV-1 without showing signs. Herpes goes dormant within the body in between outbreaks. The virus is most contagious during an outbreak, but it can also be spread when the host is asymptomatic through what is called viral shedding.
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Cold Sores: Common And Contagious
Cold sores are common and mostly harmless. Theyre caused by the herpes simplex virus, which spreads easily from person to person.
In some lucky people, the virus might cause a cold sore onceor twice and never rear its head again. But for other people, they come backagain and again, sometimes several times a year. And that gets old real fast.
They tend to go away on their own in 10 to 14 days, says Dr.Beers. But that doesnt make them any less annoying.
How To Hide A Cold Sore For Guys: The 3 Best Techniques
Its tempting to cover up your cold sore as soon as it becomes visible, but that may not be the best choice. In their earliest stages, cold sores are open and vulnerable to infection. Applying products to a fresh cold sore may slow the healing process or trigger an infection. Its important to use the right techniques at the right stages to keep from prolonging your cold sores healing.
Cold sores progress through five distinct stages during every outbreak:
Knowing where your cold sore is in this cycle can help you determine which method you should use to reduce or cover up its appearance.
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How To Recognize Herpes
This article was medically reviewed by Lacy Windham, MD. Dr. Windham is a board certified Obstetrician & Gynecologist in Tennessee. She attended medical school at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis and completed her residency at the Eastern Virginia Medical School in 2010, where she was awarded the Most Outstanding Resident in Maternal Fetal Medicine, Most Outstanding Resident in Oncology, and Most Outstanding Resident Overall.There are 16 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 646,027 times.
Herpes is caused by the herpes simplex virus. It has two variations, the HSV-1 and HSV-2. HSV-1 usually manifests as a cold sore, or oral lesion, but may sometimes appear on the genitals. HSV-2 refers to genital herpes. HSV-2 is the most common viral sexually transmitted infection in the US and causes infections of the skin and mucous membranes, rectum, eyes, and central nervous system. Herpes is a lifelong and incurable STI.XResearch sourceA Wald, Genital HSV-1 Infections, Sexually Transmitted Infections, 2005 June, 82, 189-190 If you think you may have the virus, follow a few simple steps to recognize if you have herpes.
Cold Sore Home Remedies
There are also some home remedies you can try to help clear up or at least ease the discomfort of your cold sore a more natural way.
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Ice: Ice can help numb the area of the cold sore to help reduce pain and inflammation. Wrap the ice in in gauze, paper towel, or something to avoid direct contact with your skin. Then gently press the ice against the cold sore for a few seconds. This should help reduce pain and inflammation caused by the sore.
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Apple Cider Vinegar: Many people use apple cider vinegar as a treatment to help fight off bacteria, viruses, and other germs, which makes it a great option for helping treat a cold sore and fight off the herpes simplex virus. Be sure to dilute the apple cider vinegar with water prior to use as the vinegar alone is too strong. Dab the diluted apple cider vinegar with a cotton ball or cotton round directly on to the cold sore one to two times a day.
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Aloe Vera: Applying aloe vera to your cold sore or fever blister may help soothe and cool down the area.
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Kanuka Honey: Honey in general has been found to help heal wounds and other skin injuries, and it is no different when it comes to cold sores. Kanuka honey, from the manuka family, can be applied directly to the sore to help fight off bacteria.
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Home Remedies For Herpes On Face
There are several home remedies that have emerged from popular wisdom. Among them are the application of ice on the blisters, the washing of the sores with infusion of moringa and the application of infusion of green tea on the sores.
Although these treatments do not eliminate the virus, they help to relieve pain and some of them make the outbreaks lighter and shorten their duration.
What Are The Symptoms Of Oral Herpes
The symptoms of herpes vary a bit based on how long someone has had the infection. Newer infections tend to be more intense than those present in someone for a longer period.
Initially, symptoms of a herpes outbreak might include headache, swollen lymph nodes, and flu-like symptoms. However, some people contract herpes and experience no symptoms other than sores.
Subsequent infections can include milder flu-like symptoms, but this often isnt the case. The primary symptoms of a herpes recurrence are sores in the mouth or around the edges of the mouth.
In general, symptoms include:
- Itching or tingling around the mouth at the site where a sore eventually develops
- Fluid-filled blisters that leak and develop into crusted over sores
Not everyone experiences sores after their initial outbreak. The severity and duration of symptoms all depend on how your body responds to the virus.
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Dealing With Cold Sores
Here are more things that a patient can do to be proactive with cold sores:
1. It has been reported that cutting a vitamin E capsule and rubbing the contents on the sore can shorten healing time. Remember to wash hands.
2. Your toothbrush can re-infect you. Upon an outbreak, get another toothbrush. When the fever blister is healed, throw that toothbrush away and get a new one.
3. Heat has been reported to reduce the pain of a cold sore.
4. For immediate relief, applying a wet tea bag to the sore has been reported effective in promoting healing and helping with pain.
5. Eating garlic in capsule form or fresh from the market can help. Garlic is a natural antiviral.
6. Witch hazel in cold compress has been reported to help.
7. Some people hasten healing by opening the blisters and draining them at the site. They claim this results in faster healing.
8. Anbesol Cold Sore Therapy is an anesthetic that can help with pain reduction.
9. Campho-Phenique can be applied to the sore by finger or sometimes an applicator included with the medicine. I have seen reports that it reduces pain, helps dry out fever blisters, and stops itching if present. Camphor Essential Oil can also be used. It is available at herb stores.
10. Rub aloe vera oil or gel on the sore.
11. Trying to cover the fever blister with makeup can actually cause more harm than good. The stuff in the makeup can irritate the lip, unnecessarily increasing the time to heal completely.