If you're feeling that the itchy, tingling, feeling you get when a cold sore first appears, don't worry. It is so painful, and you may be embarrassed by how big and red it looks. The over the counter treatments, while they may work, are sometimes inconvenient and expensive. There are some home options to consider.
Vitamins
Vitamin B-5 reduces stress, and since cold sores are often aggravated by stress, it is a logical choice. It helps fight fatigue, stress and injuries, and if you combine it with Vitamin C, it will strengthen your skin by speeding the healing of cuts and cold sores.
Zinc
If you apply a water-based zinc solution, the second the tingling cold sore appears, you may speed up the healing process. Continue to apply the zinc solution every 30 to 60 minutes to help heal your sores within five days. Zinc ions crosslink with the DNA of the Herpes virus and stop the double helix from tearing, which means the virus can not reach the DNA to keep spreading.
Lysine
If you suffer from more three outbreaks a year of cold sores, you should try to consume 2000 to 3000 milligrams of the amino acid lysine daily, and double that dose the minute you feel a cold sore come back. You can get good sources of lysine from dairy products, potatoes and brewer's yeast.
Acidophilus
Take four acidophilus capsules with a glass of milk at the first sign of a cold sore outbreak. If you catch it early enough and repeatedly take two more acidophilus pills every two hours, you may be able to prevent a full blown blister, or at least drastically reduce the size and swelling of it.
Witch Hazel
If your sore has been broken, adding some witch hazel or rubbing alcohol can dry it out and make it less painful.
Tags: cold sore, cold sores, zinc solution