Cold Sores - My Home Remedies

Home Remedies for Cold Sores

WARNING: This home remedies site is intended to be archival in nature. The natural remedies here are submitted by numerous people from around the world, and we have no way to test or verify every remedy. As such these home remedies should be used for academic purposes only. Never use any home remedy or other self treatment without being advised to do so by a physician.

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Cold Sores Home Remedies:

Submitted by Michelle at 2008-03-10 15:37:16
OK... so this is a long one...
What we need is a remedy for AFTER the cold sore has came out to visit, am I right? They are SO ugly and uncomfortable, and we really dont think much about them until they have planted their homely faces right on our mouth... for the world to see. Nice, huh?
Its great we have preventatives for cold sores, and suggestions on what to do when you first feel the tingle, but what about to pound them when they are already out and about? Most times, mine form overnight, or while at work and cant tell they are on their way until its too late.
I am quite lucky (as far as COLDSORE luck can be, I suppose) as I only get one every year or 18 months, but that doesnt make them any less ugly, or me any more confident.
Heres what I did with one I got on Friday morning...
1) reached for my Abbreva. The sore still got larger, so Im not sure this worked. I was a tad pissed. The stuff is 20 bucks, and its worked before. Maybe I didnt get it in time.
2) Went to health food store and got something called 'Super Lysine+'. Its in a chapstick tube with a green cap. Its pricey...about 11 bucks, but I applied it to the sore with my fingertip, and to the rest of my lips. Its awesome and soothing. It was more of a preventative for more sores than anything. It kicks the butt of any other balm Ive used and makes your lips look really healthy and full.
3) when I got home that night, I did the ICE CUBE thing...you know, melting the whole cube on the sore? I couldnt do it every hour as suggested (who has time?) but I did it before bed, and when I got up. It helped the swelling, the redness and the soreness. That along with RUBBING ALCOHOL dries right afterward seemed to help.
4) Last night(Sun) I decided to crush a garlic clove in a small sealable container, and tap my fingertip on it to gather some of the juices. I dabbed it on the sore, and by morning it was already looking about 30 percent better. I did it again after I got home from the dentist (yes, dentist with a cold sore... lovely :S good thing it was only a check up) and Ive noticed whrough the day its been getting less red. Use it as often as you can through the day, and a good dallop at night. In a few days, it will be practically gone.
My coldsore was a full blown one, at its largest on Friday night, and its monday afternoon and its already just a small red mark, and very little scabbing.
Garlic,rubbing alcohol and ice are what made my coldsore start to heal fast. They are all cheap and you likey have all of them in your house already.
Ive always liked garlic for cooking, but now its one of new best friends.
rating: 7 (72 votes)

Submitted by Erin at 2007-07-25 14:53:28
I woke up and my cold sore was already open, but this is what I did to have it gone by the next morning...I melted an entire ice cube on my sore, even tho it's a little painful at first..Then dab the sore to dry it and put rubbing alcohol on immediately after with a Q-tip..I did this once every 30 min. to an hour, and by the next morning, you couldn't see a thing!!!
rating: 6 (91 votes)

Submitted at 2005-11-07 17:07:44
When you feel it starting to come out take a Q-tip and soak an end in mouthwash.Next apply the soaked end to it and hold for several minutes.I use this all the time and find it works best.
rating: 6 (48 votes)

Submitted at 2007-11-28 22:00:26
As soon as you start to feel your cold sore coming put ice on it until its num....this works for me every time
rating: 6 (20 votes)

Submitted at 2006-06-15 19:11:41
When you first fell a cold sore coming take Lysine Tablets, 2 tablets 3 times a day. Starts fighting off the cold sore before it forms. Also put the Lysine topical cream on. Helps it from getting really big and helps it heal up really fast!
rating: 6 (65 votes)

Submitted at 2004-07-14 22:19:37
Take L-lysine, found in the vitamin aisle. Take it as soon as you feel the tingle. Take 3 times a day. Usually the cold sore never develops.
rating: 6 (107 votes)

Submitted by Holly at 2004-12-23 20:45:23
Want to dry up and heal a cold sore? Dab rubbing alcohol on it several times a day.This stings a bit for a few seconds...but works like a charm!
rating: 6 (97 votes)

Submitted at 2005-06-15 09:54:27
My great grandmother has always told me to put fingernail polish remover on my cold sores to dry them out and that has always worked for me. It stings a bit at first but then goes away. You have to repeat it a quite a few times each day until it is gone.
rating: 6 (92 votes)

Submitted by Melissa at 2005-09-08 11:10:55
My Doctor suggested this and it works like a charm. Take a tube of chap stick PLAIN flavored , break open a capsule of benadryl and sprinkle the powder on the top of the chap stick , rub on the cold sore so as to make a paste of balm and benadryl powder. First day will dry it up ...and within 3 days no sign of a cold sore at all!!!! taaaaaaaaaaaa dahhhhhhhhhh
rating: 6 (99 votes)

Submitted at 2005-05-20 07:44:23
Dab Tea Tree Oil on it several times a day. Works very good!!
rating: 6 (34 votes)

Submitted by amya ricks at 2004-11-08 14:17:08
Now this might sound horrible, but when you feel a cold sore forming put ear wax on it and it will never grow. My whole family does this and it works great.
rating: 6 (45 votes)

Submitted by Mary at 2005-07-27 14:38:02
I make a salt paste with just plain salt and water and smear it on my cold sores this waorks great for me scabs by the end of the day and you can use it in any phase of the cold sore.
rating: 6 (52 votes)

Submitted at 2006-06-09 14:22:39
hand sanitizer directly on the cold sore. it burns very little bu dries it up quick.
rating: 6 (52 votes)

Submitted at 2005-08-01 17:18:58
My Dad swears blind that putting aftershave on a cold sore a few times a day dries it out and gets rid of it quick.
rating: 6 (53 votes)

Submitted by SG at 2005-01-14 13:42:34
Take a Lysine supplement once a day to prevent cold sores.
rating: 6 (42 votes)

Submitted by shannon z at 2005-10-12 10:29:56
i take the lysine tablets when i feel a cold sore coming on. i take about 3500 mg a day and also i found this new lip balm that is called morgans lysine lip balm as many times a day that i remember. it took my 1 day to get them dried out. this has been a real life saver. i get about 5-10 cold sores about 2 times a month and this has been the best thing for me. good luck
rating: 6 (9 votes)

Submitted by marisa at 2006-09-06 09:25:37
try putting spirit of camphor onto the sore when it has blistered; it will sting and go red but will really dry the sore nicely
rating: 6 (9 votes)

Submitted at 2005-09-08 14:46:13
The two things that i find help if a cold sore has already formed is applying a tea bag to it and using Eucalyptus oil. This seems to dry it out within a day.
rating: 6 (22 votes)

Submitted by EffBee at 2008-11-06 17:46:39
OKAY!!...here goes
so just yesterday around 2 i felt tingling on my lip..and to my thought i was right!! yet ANOTHER coldsore. (Ive been having them since i was about 8?? and im 20 now..)
anyway...i felt so bad because the guy ive been talkin to is coming to visit tomorrow*(out of town). and since i hadnt seen him for about a year i wasnt gonna let a coldsore ruin it.
so as soon as i felt the tingling i quickly grabbed sum apple cider vinigar and dipped a cotton ball n put salt on it.. i kinda poked the little bubbles that coldsores usually pop out ur lip with a needle.(absolutley painless) since its filled with pus/water ??? well in order for the vinegar n salt to take affect i wanted to make sure that it started attacking the root of the coldsore. it immediately stopped growing (yes it was kinda painful but i really want to see this guy..lol)
so after 20 mins i grabbed a lemon n put more salt on it and did the same.. put it on the sore till the stingin stopped. eventually it was night so i put toothpaste n slept on it..
this morning it was already scabbing! yet when i closed my lips together i still felt a bump. so i put vaseline to moistorize it then applied more vinegar w salt.. then dabbed a little milk i let it rest. then rubbed alcohol in it. let it rest. then the nail polish remover..let it rest. and finally got a garlic clover smashed it into pieces grabbed one of the pieces n pressed it on the sore till it stopped stinging(it stings more than the alcohol/or nailpolish remover)but stinging only means that it takin effect. so i just put the clover down and it is 2pm so basically it took me 24 hours to remove it COMPLEATELY.. i can press my lips together n i dont feel not even a tiny scabb!!. YES its a little red but nothin a lil lip gloss cant cover!! =D tomorrow my boy will come and the redness will only get better!!!
HOPE I HELPED!!
yess it was a nonstop prosses but real results only mean REAL work!!
rating: 6 (21 votes)

Submitted by George D. Baker at 2004-07-18 13:31:26
When you first feel the symptom of a cold sore, with your finger swipe, from behind the ear and beside the nose, the natural body oils and apply it to the area where the cold sore is trying to form. Repeat the process as often as you think of it, and the cold sore will not evolve. (I have done this and it works.) You always have the solution with you.
rating: 5 (66 votes)

Submitted at 2006-06-05 21:04:57
I use a fresh clove of Garlic. Dab it on for 10 minutes at a time for like an hour. This works great to diminish an already formed ulcer.
rating: 5 (34 votes)

Submitted by Jessica at 2007-10-23 02:47:04
I'm 20 years old, and boy i hate getting cold sores. i've tried everything, yes lemon balm, rubbing alcohol, ice, abreva, lysine, NOTHING seems to work. Just today i got one. its not as big as the others i have gotten but its sure is jsut as painful and ugly. right above my lip under my nose too..GROSS. i remembered i had proactiv refining mask...it contains sulfur n some other stuff that heals pimples, so i said hey y not. i cleaned it off with some rubbing alcohol n applied the sulfur mask to the cold sore. no more pain.. no itchiness, and the swelling went down sooo much its crazy.. i still have it n n plan to leave it on over night. this is exciting if it works!!!
rating: 5 (17 votes)

Submitted by Commonsensia at 2006-08-16 02:26:30
I have found that once it appears, you can take and melt 1 ice cube on it. Yes it is a bit uncomfortable till the area goes numb from freezing. But it has work many times over for me and those I have told about it as well. It may even work on them before they are truly visable. But it seems that every time I got them it wa to late to hide it 8=/.
Another note, that just come to mind, I haven't had one in a couple years or more now.. Don't know if freezing the are contributes to that or not.
rating: 5 (21 votes)

Submitted by billyboy at 2006-07-30 13:04:31
For those cold sores around your mouth dig up some earwax and shmear it on like chap stick really gross but youll be glad it even feels good
rating: 5 (14 votes)

Submitted by Jess at 2007-07-16 03:51:42
i work in a health food store, and suffer from cold sores myself. They can be caused by stress, low immunity or an imbalance of lysine versus arginine in the body. Arginine is another amino acid found in red meat, chocolate and red wine which is also made in the body. Lysine is found in soy products, cheese, milk, potatoes and torula yeast, and can only be sourced by supplements or food sources as the body cannot make it.
If people who suffer from cold sores ingest too much arginine they need to bring up their lysine intake. Some people need to take lysine daily, and around 500mg is perfect, however getting the lysine in a complex with zinc or olive leaf is much better. zinc helps with healing and olive leaf helps with free radical scavenging and can help with fevers, to raise the immunity in a person's body. Blackmores have a lysine 500mg and zinc complex, and microgenics have a lysine 500mg and olive leaf complex. Both are brilliant products. However i prefer to use 1000mg of lysine to fight my persona cold sores. i know of two brands that carry a 1000mg lysine, Nutrivital and Nutralife. Also brilliant ranges.
To apply topically you can make a lysine paste by crushing a tablet and mixing in water, or you could apply tea tree oil as it is a natural antibiotic and can help with infection, or colloidal silver with is a natural anti-viral liquid. The silver can also be taken orally.
rating: 5 (22 votes)

Submitted at 2007-08-27 09:15:35
I have found that putting a paper-towel or cotton ball soaked with whole milk helps prevent the growth of and speeds the healing time of cold sores.
rating: 5 (4 votes)

Submitted at 2004-08-29 23:53:52
Preparation H: dab on when you feel the tingle and it won't form, or if you don't catch it in time it will keep it from swelling. Works for me.
rating: 5 (18 votes)

Submitted at 2005-03-31 22:00:22
I have tried everything and the only thing that works for me is hydrocotisone.works great!
rating: 5 (18 votes)

Submitted by Mary at 2005-06-14 20:56:59
When you first feel a cold sore coming dab some listerine with a Q-Tip several times a day to dry out your skin.
rating: 5 (12 votes)

Submitted at 2004-12-06 09:32:48
When I feel a cold sore coming on, (right when you feel the tingle), I put a piece of ice on directly on it. Keep it there for as long as you can stand it, and do this for about an hour. The sor will skip right to the end andyou will have a small scab for a bout 2 days. No pain, No weeping, no nasty sore.
rating: 5 (36 votes)

Submitted at 2006-07-26 21:02:24
To dry up an already weeping cold sore, dip a q-tip in Pepto Bismol and put on the sore. It will dry it up and also acts as a barrier.
rating: 5 (26 votes)

Submitted at 2006-07-04 17:44:08
spray the tip of your finger with original right guard deodorant (aerosol) dab it on the cold sore do this 3 or 4 times a day this will dry it up before you know it!!!!!!!!
rating: 5 (11 votes)

Submitted at 2005-02-04 00:43:22
for a cold sore...when you feel it starting, alternate ice and a damp tea bag, 10 minutes each. Do this as often as possible the first day and it should not even appear
rating: 5 (17 votes)

Submitted by Bryce at 2006-04-28 06:46:07
Mix dried instant coffee to a paste with a little water and put it on cold sore. (Remedy tested and reported in New Scientist in the 70's - only works with instant coffee)
rating: 5 (14 votes)

Submitted by Duane at 2005-11-13 10:47:52
cold sore cure you will not get them as long as you use this suplement to your diet. Take L-Lysene in 1000 mill. capsules once a week. If you are having an out break at the first sign of tingling sinsation in the lips take 3 1000 mill capusels once aday and chances are the sore will not develope. It does not take very much of this product to keep the problem under controll. The L-Lysene mutates the herpes virus and because of the mutation the virus cannot repoduce itself and cause and outbreak. I use to get these horribly and sence I found this fix I no longer get them and have not had any problem with it as long as I manage to take 1 capsule a week. Try it it works and it is not exspensive.
rating: 5 (4 votes)

Submitted by Ken at 2006-03-16 07:16:16
Wet cold sores dry up in 24 hours if you take three grams of vitamin C spread out over a day. Take with food is best. Then take 1 gram per day for 5 days to help boost your system.
It works for me.
rating: 5 (7 votes)

Submitted at 2006-07-26 12:48:53
for cold sores, prick a fresh green papaya and apply the sap every hour
rating: 5 (9 votes)

Submitted at 2006-10-15 04:13:24
To dry up cold sore use ear wax. It'll dry out the sore and help heel.
rating: 5 (11 votes)

Submitted by Shannon at 2006-12-19 07:55:33
Want to get rid of that nasty cold sore in just 3 days?!? As soon as it starts, or even if it has already broken out, start putting a rubbing alcohol dorectly on the cold sore and hold it there for as long as you can stand it (it will start to burn). Apply some Vaseline to the cold sore and repeat this 3 to 10 times per day.
rating: 5 (21 votes)

Submitted at 2006-10-28 00:23:17
Coldsores
When you feel a coldsore coming on, rub your finger behind your ear to collect body oils, then apply to affected area on mouth or lip. Do this over the course of a day whenever you think about it, no kidding, you will never have a coldsore again!
rating: 5 (22 votes)

Submitted by Vix at 2007-12-08 07:50:34
iv been having cold sore for years and they usually last for weeks now what id do is at the first sign of one get a cotton bud dip it in nail varnish remover and hold on for five minutes and repeat 4 times that day. Then for the next to days apply zovirax and the cold sore dissappears in a good way with no scars or marks. its amazing!!!
rating: 5 (10 votes)

Submitted by Me at 2007-12-01 15:19:09
if you get one on your lip use one of those drying lipsticks, the ones that are suppose to last all day..Any of them will work but it has to be the kind that dries up. Apply it to your lips, be careful not to actually touch the cold sore otherwise you will contaminate your lipstick.. so if you have one on your upper lip, apply the lipstick to your lower lip and rub your lips together to cover the cold sore- or vise versa.. it will dry up the sore almost on contact and your cold sore will only last a few days.. maybe two.. if you catch it early enough, it will be gone the next day- it will not grow either when you apply it so if you apply it when you have hardly any or no blisters you won't get anymore.. same as if you apply it when you have some blisters, it won't keep growing once you apply the lipstick..
rating: 5 (7 votes)

Submitted at 2007-12-27 06:24:48
I used Abreva. It made it WORSE!!! What worked for me is hydrogen peroxide. I swab it with a q-tip for about 5-7 mins about every other hour and it has totally shrunk. I swab it until the bubble action is very minimal or gone.

Yes, it stings a little, but it's the good-it's-finally-going-away sting.
rating: 5 (2 votes)

Submitted at 2007-12-10 22:57:08
Ingredients: Abreva, Lysine pills, rubbing alcohol, Zilactin-B, shea butter

As soon as you feel the sore, apply ABREVA to it. Abreva prevents healthy cells from becoming infected, and will keep the sore from getting too large and staying too long. Keep it with you always and use it ASAP when you feel the sore.

Also take LYSINE PILLS, 2 pills 3 times the first day.

There are many ways to dry out the sore. My preferred way is to open it if it isn't already open, then hold a cotton ball with rubbing alcohol on the sore until it is dry (when it is dry it should not weep). Hurts like hell. There are lots of ways to dry out the sore that are reported on this site, rubbing alcohol is just one of them.

Then apply a product called ZILACTIN-B (be sure to completely cover the sore with it). It is for mouth sores and keeps the sore sealed. The virus needs moisture, so the key is to keep it dry, and this product will keep it dry. It also has a pain reliever so it will help you to not think too much about it. The first day you may need to repeat the alcohol/zilactin-b process, every three hours or however often you need to keep the sore dry. When you do this, wash off the zilactin-b, repeat alcohol process, apply more zilactin-b.

Once the sore has scabbed over, use some kind of product to keep the scab soft. I like %100 SHEA BUTTER (you can get this at L'Occitane). But you can also use vaseline, neosporin, etc. I put a glob of shea butter on and don't rub it in all the way. This step isn't critical, it just keeps the sore from cracking and makes it a little easier to deal with in the scab phase.

Good luck to you.
rating: 5 (2 votes)

Submitted by Cerbs at 2007-04-15 06:15:44
I use 1500 Mgs a day of L-Lysine, and nearly 3,000 mgs of Vitamin C. The sore will stop growing; perhaps a bit of weeping; not much. But it will remain painless; but an eyesore.

Also; I was recently prescribed Valtrex because of frequent outbreaks. I have terrible skin and am prone to dry skin, especially chapped lips even with alot of balm use. However, the Valtrex combined with my normal treatment was nearly amazing. It didn't scab immediately; but was completely painless. Even as it scabbed it remained soft and did not hurt a bit. Shortened my normal healing time from about 5 to 3 days.
rating: 5 (2 votes)

Submitted at 2007-05-22 02:09:24
okay so....after dealing with what started out as a cold sore and just turned into a 2 month long headache because i'm a picker and have very thin skin at the corners of my mouth i decided to try calamine lotion and it worked!!!!! just dip a q-tip into a bottle of calamine and dab it on the sore (i do it at night so no one sees but you can get caladryl which is a clear gel form of calamine)...i did this for about 3 nights and it completely cleared up. it dries out the sore just like it would for chicken pox, poison ivy, or a REALLY bad sunburn. the calamine doesnt burn and surprisingly causes minimal crusting and peeling.....unlike some products meant for healing cold sores....campho phenique or abreva for example...plus calamine is A LOT cheaper and you probably already have some in your medicine cabinet :)
rating: 5 (7 votes)

Submitted by Jakob at 2007-09-28 17:59:25
Garlic Essence

I tried just about everything on this site with very little success. Everything from alcohol to ear wax to honey, to steroid creams. I had a recent outbreak of coldsores after an illness, one after another, and none of these seemed to work. (although the ice cube method worked to lower swelling and prevent them from getting too much worse).

Finally I discovered something that worked for me. I remembered reading that garlic is anti-viral, and since cold sores are caused by viruses I decided to try something new.
I mashed up several cloves of garlic into a paste. I then put a bit of this paste into a small funnel. I dusted it with sugar, and put more paste. I alternated layers of garlic paste and layers of sugar until it filled a substantial portion of the funnel. I put the funnel over a glass and left it overnight.

In the morning I discovered a thick green(?) liquid in the bottom of the glass. 'Essence of Garlic' I dubbed it. I smeared it on my cold sores, and the next day my older cold sores just seemed to almost fall off. The newer one that had been forming went immediately into the scabbing phase, and now I'm just waiting for the scab to fall off.

Like I said, some things work for some people, but out of all the things I've tried, this is by far the best for me. (smells awful though)
rating: 5 (10 votes)

Submitted at 2007-08-08 11:41:55
Noone gets cold sores as large as mine! They are monstrous. I have battled with every remedy possible and have now perfected the art. I can't catch mine in the tingling stage because that never happens. However, the best thing to do is rub surgical alcohol on the spot until it burns, followde by aloe vera gel to keep it from scarring. Tea tree oil also dries up the scab and kills bacteria. Apply whenever you remember. In terms of your diet, do not eat any chocolate, coffee, nuts or oats. Take vitamin B tablets, lysine, zinc and vitamin C. Do this religiously 3 times a day and the cold sore should be gone within 3 days from start to scab falling off!
rating: 5 (8 votes)

Submitted by LM at 2008-01-30 18:40:54
When you feel a tingle (or even when blisters appear), apply sauve (or any other white deodorant) on cold sore. Within hours cold sore (tingle) or (blister) dries up! (Info. was given by dermatologist).
rating: 5 (2 votes)

Submitted at 2008-02-16 21:30:29
Dissolve a berocca in a small amount of boiling water and dip a cotton bud into it. Hold it to your cold sore for as hot as you can bare until the cotton bud is cold. This really works for me, takes away all swelling and by the second day no sign of a coldsore
rating: 5 (2 votes)

Submitted by happygirl at 2008-02-17 19:20:34
i rarely get coldsores but when i do they stay around for 2 weeks or more and are horribly ugly big ones. i have tried everything to make them disappear quicker including buying that ebook advertised on here 'coldsore freedom in 3 days' which tells you to put toothpaste on it (this doesn't work that well for me. maybe shortens the life of it by a day or 2 but no drastic result?). the one thing i have noticed is i used to get them every 4 - 6 weeks until i started taking lisene every day (with zinc) and now i have only had one in the past year! i got this one 3 days ago and when it was only a tiny blister i decided to try the ice method (just holding ice and pressing firmly) for the first 2 hours then i applied nail polish remover to it for the rest of the day every 30 mins and that worked better than ANYTHING else i have ever tried. stings like hell but stops it dead it its tracks. it was dried out by the end of the day and didn't spread at all so tiny its just a tiny scab and will be gone in a day i think. its so tiny its not even noticeable! nail polish remover rocks! i also took about 1500mg of lisene that day to balance the arginine lisene balance and aid the healing.
rating: 5 (15 votes)

Submitted at 2008-02-18 19:04:37
First ice, if blister appears, open them up with a needle sterilized in alcohol. Use a paper tow to drain the moisture. Poor peroxide over the out-brake. Use a paper tow to dry up the peroxide. Coat with Calamine Lotion. When scabbing starts use Neosporin to help with healing and prevent scaring. Valtrex and L-Lysine to keep them away.
rating: 5 (2 votes)

Submitted by Crex at 2008-03-22 02:51:41
Cold sores, also called fever blisters are primarily caused by the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and are normally the main symptom for oral herpes or herpes labialis. There are a variety of home treatments for cold sores that many people have attested to be effective in relieving the symptoms of cold sores and preventing recurrent outbreaks. Here are some of them...

1. Cold compress. One of the best home remedies for colds sore is to simply apply ice every 5-10 minutes of every hour at the onset of a cold sore. When ice is applied early enough in the cold sore cycle it can slow down the metabolism of the affected area, which slows the growth. This has been seen to help ease the pain and can prevent the virus from moving from the nerves to the skin.

2. Staying healthy. The best way to fight viral infections like this is to protect and boost your immune system and prevent further outbreaks. Take your daily vitamin supplements, most especially the B complex vitamins, and get enough sleep and rest.

3. Food to avoid. Certain foods can prolong the occurrence of cold sores, while some can trigger their recurrence. Limit your consumption of processed foods, sugar, caffeine, those high in salt content, soft drinks, and citrus fruits as they can likely trigger an outbreak. Limit your intake of arginine-rich foods such as grains, peanuts, chocolate and wheat products as virus tend to feed on arginine. Changing your diet and taking vitamin supplements are two of the best home remedies for cold sores.

4. There is one popular treatment in Europe due to its effectiveness is lemon balm. Lemon balm can reduce the severity and duration of an attack and is believed to reduce the tendency of cold sore recurrence.
rating: 5 (6 votes)

Submitted by Jess at 2008-03-25 01:21:58
I use to get cold sore A LOT, like every few months and I tried just about everything but never any luck. So frustrating!!! My mom went on this splurge of making everyone in the family take Echinacea. She said that is help boost your immune system and therefor could be used for all sorts of things. (She had a jar of the liquid variety) One day Bam yet another sore so I figured y not? I took a cotton ball and soaked it in it and taped it to my lip, took a few drops, and started to clean my house within a few hours it was gone! You can find it at any vitamin store and it really helped me!
rating: 5 (8 votes)

Submitted by Mandi at 2008-03-29 22:14:59
My mother always told me to rub a little Vick's on a cold sore and leave it on over night. It dries it up quick. It has always worked for me.
rating: 5 (3 votes)

Submitted by Helper at 2008-04-01 03:56:26
I had not had a cold sore for years, then I got one just before my boyfriends parents were coming over and i had to meet them for the first time. aaargh. i tried every home remedy, teabag,aloe vera, vaseline. good news, make a toothpaste and salt paste and put it on the sore overnight, or as long as you can. you will be amazed how quickly the sore dries up. i am a happy girl at the moment and the swelling drastically declined as well;)
rating: 5 (4 votes)

Submitted at 2008-04-18 10:26:22
anything with alcohol in it will work to dry out the cold sore!! (aftershave, cologne, mouth wash rubbing alcohol) use vasoline to keep the area moist, after applying the alcohol. and Ice takes the tingling sensation away. if those dont work abreva or zovirax creams from the pharmacy will knock them out fast.
rating: 5 (2 votes)

Submitted by JJVB at 2008-05-16 17:21:44
I have abreva at home and also a cream the dr prescribed last time I had a cold sore.
Of course, today i'm at work for an 11hr shift, and I feel the tingle of the dreaded coldsore.

All day, I have been using hand sanitizor, as it's the only thing readily available. It feels like it's almost gone! POSTER--- I LOVE YOU! lol
rating: 5 (2 votes)

Submitted by Mistify at 2008-06-19 21:26:44
Nail polish remover is by far the fastest way to heal a cold sore. I dab this on several times a day with a q-tip. My cold sores dry up in two days. I'm serious! This really, honestly works!
rating: 5 (2 votes)

Submitted at 2008-06-21 15:14:57
I have found that Lipactin and all those other over the counter meds don't work..I get cold sores quite often, even when i'm not stressed out, and i have found that if you put Tea Tree oil on it constantly throughout the day it will shrink in size. Then at night after i have applied the tea tree oil, i dab on toothpaste and by morning it's almost gone..I have a cold sore right now and it's shrunk in size considerably. It just popped up yesterday and is almost gone.
rating: 5 (4 votes)

Submitted by hsv avenger at 2008-07-23 20:53:39
during the first 3 months i contracted it i had 3 sores total pretty much back to back. thinking that i was going to be one of the people that has frequent outbreaks, i did my research. out of all the voodoo stuff i read, the most reputable was the lysine vitamin c and lemon balm. so i now have a bottle of 500 mg lysine tablets, lemon balm tablets and the cream, and vitamin c tablets 1000 mg with flavanoids and rosehips, which elminate toxins and free radicals. the lysine stops the virus from replicating, i take 3,500 mg a day of that, 760mg lemon balm which protects cells from being harmed, and lemon balm cream applied every night, and two of the vitamin c tablets daily for immune boost and i havent had a cold sore since. this is the best way i think for stopping cold sores from even starting to form. i dont wanna read how to get rid of my cold sore once its already there i dont even want it to show its face ever again. when attacking it with these 4 cheap supplements the virus is forced into dormacy. try this remedy and i promise you will not be dissapointed! its like you dont even have the disease anymore. i wrote this for anyone that hasnt found that perfect remedy yet because i know how bad cold sores can make you feel so i wanted to share this to whom ever may come across it.
rating: 5 (4 votes)

Submitted by jill at 2008-07-29 19:14:55
for cold sores-just dab on some purell. I tried the nail polish remover, and it worked the first time, but then they kept coming back. Purell a couple of times a day worked!! burns a little, but you know its working to kill the bacteria! also made sure that i drank a lot of milk.
rating: 5 (4 votes)

Submitted at 2008-08-13 17:13:59
First, chill the hell out. Relax. Stressing over it is the worst thing you can do. Ice (melt the cube), tea bag (20 min.), acetone. In that order. Repeat as often as possible.
rating: 5 (6 votes)

Submitted by xxRaverBabyxx at 2008-08-21 11:53:18
Cold sores are horrible to get and to me i hate leaving the house when i get one. Ive tried most products in shops and they dont work very well. I now try putting an ice cube wrapped in tissue or bag hold it over the coldsore wether it is at tingly stage or at scab stage. hold it on there untill its all gone or nearly gone and then dab mouthwash on a cotton wool bud and dab it over and leave for a minute or 2 then dab it dry do this every hour. untill your satisfied. I noticed the difference in just 2 hours and this was at scab stage when i 1st tried. Best remedie ive ever chose :D
rating: 5 (2 votes)

Submitted by annarica at 2008-08-23 00:47:43
Cold Sores?...
all you have to do is go the kitchen and get some salt, rub the salt on your cold sore, it hurts at first but after 3 to 5 hours its gone..
Keep rubbing and rubbing it. It works!..its a filipino thing, i got that from my grandma.
rating: 5 (2 votes)

Submitted at 2008-09-13 00:25:04
Take an unburned wooden match (the tip in which you strike) and apply it directly with pressure to your cold sore. It will burn, but apparently the sulfur harms the virus behind the cold sore. It will hurt(sting), but hey - if it hurts, its working.
rating: 5 (5 votes)

Submitted at 2008-09-18 01:01:38
yoll get a clove of garlic
break it in half, and rub it againts the cold
sore.. omg i got it yesterday and its goin away as we speak.. im rubbig the
clove on it, belive me it works reall goodd and i only get a cold sore once a year on thee same spot i wonder y?
rating: 5 (2 votes)

Submitted at 2008-09-25 15:18:47
Well my little sister spent a weekend at my house, with her mouth getting attacked by coldsores.

We made every caution to make sure the little monsters didn't get passed onto me, but what happened anyways? Yes, coldsores popped up.

Wednesday afternoon i felt the faintest tingling in my lips, and realized that a cold sore was forming. Being in the middle of class, and having no nail polish remover, or listerene handy in my purse, I reached for my Clearasil. Rollerball Zit Treatment ( Can't help to try? ) and I've found that it's working better than any other remedy I've tried previously.

It stings about as much as the Rubbing Alcohol remedy does, but it seems to dry out the cold sore, in the same way it would dry out a zit or pimple.
rating: 5 (6 votes)

Submitted by Babsi at 2008-12-07 13:38:57
I know this may sound strange - but I read this once online and it works!!! I've tried everything I read here, and the best comment I saw was about using ear wax which is similar to what I do. Well, I use the natural oil of my skin to cure a cold sore. Just take your finger and dab it in some of the oil you have either next to your nose or behind your ears and rub it on the sore as soon as I feel it coming up, at any stage. And it will stop from growing and progressing. Do as many times as you think of it, if you run out of oil...try the ear wax. Since I've done this, I've never had a cold sore actually swelling up and breaking open. It either disappears or jst stays a few days like a small pimple which only you can feel or notice.
rating: 5 (2 votes)

Submitted by Michele at 2008-12-10 09:35:33
Hi. I suffer from those nasty cold sore outbreaks. I have been going through this for as many years as I can remember. Okay folks, I know how embarrassing they are. If you can catch it before it breaks out, Abreva does work, however, true sufferers know that 9 times out of 10 it is there when you wake up. Most of us can deal with the little ones that pop up on only the lip area, it's the monsters that are really big or groups of them that spread onto the skin area above the lip. Recently I woke up with one and just knew it was a 'biggie' and wanted to cry. this is what I did. First day I woke up with the monster I immediately iced it with an entire cube, patted it dry and applied rubbing alcohol with a cotton ball. I did this all day every hour on the hour. It actually stopped it from spreading to the skin above my lip. Day 2- still did the ice, but it wasnt as frequent, however i applied the rubbing alcohol constantly all day, i also put lip balm on the other parts of my lips so not to dry out the rest of my mouth.this seemed to dry out the cold sore faster and keep it from spreading. Day 3, swelling gone, cold sore shrunk in half, and pain gone. You will still have to go through the rest of the normal healing process but I seemed to have found a way to turn what could of been one of those HUGE buggers into something a little more manageable, and avoid the scarring that usually takes forever to go away on the skin.My heart goes out to all who suffer from frequent cold sore.
rating: 5 (2 votes)

Submitted by A voice at 2009-05-19 22:01:47
I am a 35 year old man who has sufferd from cold sores for my entire life. Alcohol for me is the only way I have found that will decrease the time to heal (scar fast and apply neosporine).

I have excepted my condition and try and not stress about it... This always helps.
rating: 5 (2 votes)

Submitted by hazel at 2009-06-08 14:18:52
Nyquil liquid caps.

slit open a nyquil liquid cap. spread a small amount of liquid on the nasty cold sore. repeat process every 2-3 hours. It looks like lip gloss so it shouldnt be too hard. and doesn't take a lot of time like the nail polish thing.
seems to speed up the cold sore. Got a ocld sore tingle yesterday, lots of nyquil on it and today morning its already weeping and drying. should be gone by tonight... :D
rating: 5 (2 votes)

Submitted by Aja at 2004-06-24 18:24:07
Apply witch hazel to the cold sore as soon as you see it. This will stop it from growing.
rating: 4 (25 votes)

Submitted by Crissy at 2007-02-11 14:33:17
when you first see the tiny blisters of a cold sore, do not touch it or pop it. apply with a q-tip/cotton ball 100% acetone- fingernail polish remover for less than $2 at wal-mart... it's in a clear bottle. it may burn a little at first, but it's mostly cold. the acetone dries up the blisters, and the cold sore will be gone in about 3 days depending on how often you apply the acetone. on the last day the blisters might be dry that when you apply the acetone it might burn, but i'd rather do this for 2 or 3 days than have a coldsore a week.

i get cold sores all of the time, and this is what i personally do to get rid of them.
rating: 4 (15 votes)

Submitted by La Vern De Wilde at 2005-01-15 16:08:01
Cold Sore - Herpes Simplex Virus: Take 5 L-Lysine 1000mg tabs one to three times per day to ignite immediate reversal and healing within one-week.

L-Lysine works for all virus related dis-ease.
rating: 4 (12 votes)

Submitted by jen at 2006-02-04 19:42:18
Nail Polish Remover and polysporin: I was starting to feel a cold sore coming on and I read about this: dip a q-tip in nailpolish remover and hold on the spot for about 5 minutes (really stings) after put neosporin or polysporin to soothe, it worked great for me!!
rating: 4 (12 votes)

Submitted at 2006-09-06 11:43:25
EAB from The Bronx, NY L-Lysine (an amino acid) for cold sores is the best, I got the tip from a gal who worked in the Vitamin Shoppe. As soon as I start to feel it begin I load up on 1500mgs first then at least 500mg three times a day. If you can find the capsules break one open and keep in a small container and dip a clean wet Q-tip or your finger into the powder and apply directly to the area and let it dry- do not double dip and keep the rest for re applying do this as much as possible. Do not use anything that keeps the cold sore moist the idea is to dry it out. The over the counter all keep the sore moist. Drink everything through a straw and do not reuse the straw. Do not kiss or touch anything with it since it is contagious- keep utensils separate or use plastic and dispose, wash towels and face cloths separately and do not use chap stick, lipstick or gloss on it. Drink plenty of water since it may have a drying effect and your hands may become dry. If I catch it in time- the area only becomes red and slightly raised and a sore never appears. Keep track of them since it can be pre-menstrual and stress related. You can take it every day as a preventative in 500mgs once a day. (It is also good for shingles and in helping the absorption of calcium for those with osteoporosis.) Do not waste the time or money on anything else!
rating: 4 (12 votes)

Submitted by mark at 2004-07-05 13:03:23
When you feel a cold sore forming, make a paste out of Zest bath soap, let it dry, and rinse off. This will pull moisture out of the cold sore. Do several times a day.

Ever notice when after using bleach your hands are dry, cracked? When a cold sore is forming, before it weeps, put a dab of bleach on it. This will certinally pull moisture out of it.
rating: 4 (38 votes)

Submitted at 2007-12-08 14:10:24
I get cold sores in the same spot on the corner of my mouth about once a year and I have always used the prescription Denavir. It works to heal in about 3-5 days, earlier if caught right away. I think that Abreva works pretty well too.
I tried several of the methods posted on this sight and I think that there might be something to the Lysine and the ice cube melting on the sore.
What I find to be the most powerful weapon against them is prayer to Jesus Christ, Master healer of everything. If He can heal a leper just by touching him (read about Jesus in the book of John in the Bible), then He can heal these annoying blisters on the face! I got one 2 days before my wedding, I prayed without ceasing for it to clear up and it was gone before the BIG DAY. I just got one this week, same thing, gone in one day! Try it! It can't hurt, may help!!!!
rating: 4 (35 votes)

Submitted by Bethany Nelson at 2004-08-18 15:25:02
All you have to do is this as soon as you feel it coming. At night when you go to bed just put a big chunk of vaseline on the spot. I usually do this for two or three nights. It NEVER evolves. I've had these things my entire life. I get them 4 or 5 times a year. I haven't had one in over a year because I catch it right away.

I wish more people knew about this! It's SO much cheaper than Abreva and other cold sore drugs and works fast.
rating: 4 (20 votes)

Submitted by Give Up Sugar at 2008-10-13 22:43:12
I've had one or two bad cold sores per year for the past ten years. This past summer I cut my sugar intake dramatically in an effort to lose weight (which I did) and a pleasant surprise was that I have stopped getting cold sores.

I knew sugar had an effect on my immune system but I never realized that reducing it in my diet would have such a dramatic effect. I still have some sugar on a daily basis, but not nearly what it was before. Splenda doesn't seem to have the same effect on my immune system as sugar does, so I recommend using it as a substitute. I have also heard that unpasteurized honey is the healthiest form of sugar, so that's what I use in my tea once in a while.
rating: 4 (4 votes)

Submitted at 2008-12-15 05:36:39
I get a cold sore once a year, always at the wrong time. I felt it coming Friday night and was starting to peek by Saturday morning. On Saturday morning, I poured a really small amount of Jack Daniels, yes Jack Daniels in a shot glass and poured it on the cold sore. And yes it burns so bare with it for a few seconds. Once the burning stops, I put desitin on it, yes the cream for the baby's diaper rash. I drank 2 glasses of orange juice, the swelling decreased in four hours. Then I put baby orajel on it throughout the day at bed time, desitin again. I did this again the next morning, and it was gone by the afternoon.
rating: 4 (6 votes)

Submitted at 2004-12-07 16:15:26
swish with tonic water with quinine 4-6 times a day. Make sure the sore comes in contact with tonic water. Works great
rating: 3 (19 votes)

Submitted at 2007-07-26 13:06:20
If you want to kill the cold sore virus.... Take a cotton ball and soak it in bleach it will stong and burn but its worth it. After your done with that take a green tea bag and wet it and place it over the sore, then take centrum multi-vitimin tabllet soak it and make a paste put it over the sore and leave on for about 20 mins. Im am being completely honest when I say instantly the sore and pain goes away, like magic the sore is killed and u end up with a dried blood scab put some cream and you should be good!
rating: 3 (6 votes)

Submitted at 2007-10-25 14:08:56
Using your own urine works unbelievably well. The blister won't form, as long as you catch it early.
rating: 3 (20 votes)

Submitted by Brian Card at 2007-12-09 08:49:47
For cold sores I dab a drop of household bleach on the spot as soon as I feel any signs of a cold sore appearing, it stops them in there tracks.
rating: 2 (6 votes)

Submitted by Jack at 2007-07-17 16:33:04
I've been following a natural guide for a month now.

It's going extraordinarily well!!

I had 2 the first week, and havent had a cold sore since!

I think the link is: inspyral.com/gdr/health-medical.php

Theres a review at greendayreviews.com as well!

I've had them for years and theyve just gone!
rating: 2 (2 votes)

Submitted by Guest at 2007-02-22 10:00:29
Get a tube of neosporin pain relief and rub it on the cold sore about evry hour or two. It's always worked for mine, but my dentist said it might not be cold sores and instead a type odf virus in which I can't remember the name. But anyways, that's what I usually do right befor the form and they go away. Right now I have one that just popped up over night and I didn't even fell it coming, and it doesn't seem to work on those cold sores as well as the ones that aren't big yet.
rating: 0 (0 votes)

Submitted by Rachele at 2008-01-03 03:45:40
cold sore ...I had a huge cold sore that started on my side of my mouth. very painful & the side of my face ached. I put diclofenac 3% in deep cold gel on it & within a couple hours it had stopped aching & at the end of the day everyone told me how much it had shrunk in size. I put it on 4 or 5 times a day. Inbetween that I used witch hazel. I have tried all the other over the counter cold sore items nothing has ever helped like this!!
rating: 0 (0 votes)

Submitted at 2007-11-28 22:01:52
put nail polish remover on your cold sore, you might feel something... but that just means its working!! :)
rating: 0 (0 votes)

Submitted at 2008-04-22 20:47:13
Get a prescription for Acyclovir. It is prescribed for genital herpes, but my doc gave me a prescription for cold sores and told me to go through the whole cycle of it. I have not had one cold sore ever since. I started getting cold sores when i was very young and used to get one every month. Since I took Acyclovir I have not had one!!!
rating: 0 (0 votes)

Submitted by Anna at 2008-05-10 17:46:01
I usually get cold sores once or twice a year. I have used this site to find a way to make them heal faster, and nail polish remover and lysine definitly help.

HOWEVER, I have finally found something that completely stops it from forming. GO OUT ANDBUY SOME TEA TREE OIL! It's a little pricey (I paid 8 dollars for a small bottle) but I cannot stress enough how much this works.

What I do is as soon as I feel the itching and tingling, I put an icecube on it, and leave it there until it has completely melted. Then, I attack it with some nail polish remover, for about 15 minutes. Then I start dabbing tea tree oil on it every time I think about it, about every 15 minutes or so. Of course, remember to take about 1500-2000 mg of lysine every couple of hours.

When I do this, the cold sore never forms, never swells up, and it just turns into a small slightly red spot that disappears quickly. I just wanted to share because I know how terrible these things can be.
rating: 0 (0 votes)

Submitted by D at 2008-05-28 00:40:02
The best thing to use for a cold sore is DMSO. You can put it on one time when you feel a cold sore coming on and it will go away. You can also put it on anytime and the cold sore goes right away. I would say put it on like once or twice with a Q-tip. First wash the area and put it on, and you'll see it go right away within an hour.. This really is the best way to get rid of it. If you have antiviral cream, put the cream on first, then the DMSO over it and it will go away within an hour or two. This is the best thing for it!!!
rating: 0 (0 votes)

Submitted by Bridget Demery at 2008-06-04 10:47:53
I have always been told that if the cold sore has already developed to put table salt on the sore. It hurts for a minute or so but it drys it out and is cheaper than over the counter meds. You will have to repeat several times a day but stick to it and it will go away!
rating: 0 (0 votes)

Submitted at 2008-06-26 22:33:02
i found that if you numb your lip were the sore is for a while bout an hour or so with ice cubes tehn the next day buy viracten gel in the drug store and it cures it in about 3-5 days
rating: 0 (0 votes)

Submitted by Jessa at 2008-08-14 18:09:47
ok i know this is gonna sould funny but i guarentee it works.. ask your doctor about valtrex! haha yes i know its used for genital herpes but they perscribe it for cold sores (herpes simplex virus) too. it works so amazing! when you start to feel the onset or tingeling of one, just pop in a pill and put a dab of campho phinique on the affected spot. it stops it from forming right there and then! your welcome!, now you can go enjoy going out in public looking like the gorgeous self you actually are =]
rating: 0 (0 votes)

Submitted by Lylak at 2008-08-12 16:13:19
I used to get cold sores constantly, it seemed like every 3 months I'd get one. It was a nightmare. After 3 years they stopped so I figured I was cured, I was wrong just today when I woke up I realized I had a cold sore coming on. When I get them they look so bad that it makes me want to hide from everyone. I have found a couple of things that work for me. first I melt an ice cube on it (this helpes with the swelling) then I take 3 250mg of L-Lysine tablets. I repeat this about 3x a day. It works wonders for me. Abreva just seemed to make it worse and last longer. For us girls who wear make-up, stay clear of make up until it heals or you will contaminate your lipstick which then can make you vulnerable to another cold sore. Hope this helps.
rating: 0 (0 votes)

Submitted by sky at 2008-09-02 11:59:59
when you have one of the cold sores on your tongue, put salt on it and gargle salty water then spit it out put an ice cube on it for about 10 minutes, it will hurt a bit, then brush your teeth with minty toothpaste and use minty mouthwash, repeat this once a day until your sores are gone, this i find works the best.
rating: 0 (0 votes)

Submitted by Nicole at 2008-09-06 18:59:34
I recently read about this trick for getting rid of cold sores: Use a 1/2 cup of extra virgin olive oil and about 10 drops of tea tree ESSENTIAL oil. Mix the two together and apply on the cold sore with a q-tip. Do this several times a day until it gets better. Yesterday, I saw I was getting a cold sore, I used this remedy and what do ya know, my cold sore's already in the scab stage. Yay!
rating: 0 (0 votes)

Submitted at 2008-09-07 13:46:30
I've been getting cold sores since I was about 13 and now I'm 25. I usually get at least one a year and have been trying to find a way to get rid of them. The one's I get usually take a while to get rid of and probably last for about 2 weeks befor they completely heal. I got one in early August so I figured I had a while before I got another one...and sorry to say I woke up with one only 3 weeks later. Mine usu. develop over night so I never get to 'catch it early'. This time when I woke up it was alreay formed...but not full blown. I melted an entire ice cube on it and then took a little pin and popped the blisters. I then took a q-tip and applied hydrogen peroxide to the open blisters. It stings but that just means it's working. I then ran a tea bag under some hot water and held it to my sore for a few minutes. Later I applied more hydrogen peroxide and then applied Denavir (need a prescription for denavir). The cold sore was visibly smaller by the end of the day. Now it's Sunday (woke up with the sore on Friday) and it's practically gone. The fastest I've ever had one go away. I think the key is applying the ice...reduced the swelling and possibly makes the virus unable to grow and spread. I also bought some lysine and took one 500mg pill. Not sure the pill did anything but I plan to take a pill once a day in the future to see if it reduced outbeaks.
rating: 0 (0 votes)

Submitted at 2008-11-10 05:22:00
For cold sores on both adults and children, our family uses hydrogen peroxide. The oxygen helps kill the virus in the sore. It also helps to dry it up. We have tried it on everyone and it has been the only thing that works.
rating: 0 (0 votes)

Submitted by Smile Again at 2008-12-05 10:30:23
I take 1 x 1000mg lysine a day after years and years of constant cold sore attacks and now I do not get any.
rating: 0 (0 votes)

Submitted at 2008-12-29 03:33:34
i have been dealing with cold sores for years most people are missing valuable nutrients in there body a lack of this can trigger a cold sore take a muti vitamin EVERYDAY!!!(i take womens one a day) this is important cause the first day u miss a cold sore will appear there is no super cure to get rid of them in 1 day so prevent them from comming at all also use chapstick the medicated one EVERYDAY and u will have no to much fewer breakouts a year
rating: 0 (0 votes)

Submitted at 2009-01-04 00:06:54
This sounds pretty gross but it works! An old war vetran told me about it. When you have a cold sore or can feel one coming on mix orange juice and a packet of active yeast together then drink it. They don't really mix well but you still drink them together. Dries them up every time
rating: 0 (0 votes)

Submitted by P. at 2009-01-31 11:39:39
whats poppin? i get cold sores on average about once every year, but when i do get them dey come at the worst times. i felt tingilling on my top lip dis morning so i nummed it out with like 3 ice cubes den i dabbed it with rubbing alcohol den right after i put i tea bag on it for about 15 mins den repeat. so far you cant even tell i have one, i cant even see it in the mirror. i read here on the site that ear wax helps so im a do dat wen im goin to sleep tonight.
rating: 0 (0 votes)

Submitted at 2009-02-26 16:46:45
i have been dealing with cold sores since i was about 6 years old. i am almost 16 now. cold sores are very unattractive and they hurt very much. as a matter of fact i got one today while i was in school. my mom bought me abreva to try and heal the cold sore immedietly, but of course it didnt work. so i melted ice on it for about an houe and then i went and popped the blister. i cleaned it off and then put abreva on it again.
im hoping this works for you like it did for me. i cant even go to school when i have a cold sore because im too embarressed, high school is just full of mean ppl.

good luck =]
rating: 0 (0 votes)

Submitted by Ethan at 2009-02-26 18:27:32
I'm 18 and i've been having cold sores forever. They are embarrassing and just painful at times. My remedies are the following. When I feel the tingling feeling I start to pop the little bumps/ blisters. Some people say it will spread infecting but ive been doing this for a long time. *AS SOON AS I POP THE BLISTERS* I put an ice cube on it to relive the pain and swelling. After the ice cub I usually put salt on the cold sore. Yes it does burn for a bit but that's a good sign. The salt is tryin to lessen the infection. Usually after I do this. It will scab in the matter of 2 hours. When it scabs I usually try to keep it as moist as possible to stop the scaring. Picking the scab will just make it bleed and scar. No matter what you are going to have a cold for atleast 3 days but these remedies can help you lessen your problem
rating: 0 (0 votes)

Submitted at 2009-02-27 16:06:54
Over 15+ years ago I heard about applying ice to a cold sore and it not only lessens the outbreak but will help prevent their return. The moment you feel the tenderness of an impending outbreak apply an ice cube wrapped in a paper towel and hold it on the spot until ice cube is melted. If you have the time do this again. If caught early enough the blister will not form at all. Think about this.. A cold sore, or fever blister, is associated with increased body temperature (from a fever or exposure to the sun) which triggers the outbreak. Freezing the spot causes the virus to become dormant and stops the progression. I have found the outbreaks eventually lessen and sometimes stop for years. It never completely goes away but I can go months or years without another outbreak. REMEMBER - catch it early. If you wake up in the morning with one already starting ICE will stop it in its tracks.
rating: 0 (0 votes)

Submitted at 2009-03-06 22:40:23
OK, this is going to be long but most of you here are prob popped out with a cold sore and have an important event that we are so desperate to try ne thing. It comes at the worse of times! Well let me start by saying I never get cold sores and just recently my first one which was a few months ago was right after i got back from the dentist. Now I got home from the dentist and after hours of my mouth being stretched to its limits. When I got home my mouth was super red and i just had this feeling I was going to get a cold sore. I put an ice on it for a little bit but I didnt leave it on long but that night no cold sore came out. Then the following morning when I was scheduled for 2 interviews what do i know? I woke up with a blister already formed... So this is what I did.... I melted 1 ice and applied neosporin for healing open wounds. thats what I did for the healing process last time after it formed into a scab and everyone reccommended it to help it from scarring.. I looked ok after applying make up went to my interviews then came home and it looked ok but i was trying to get rid of it.. so I continue to do the rest of the trial methods... abbreva last time made my cold sore last 7 to 8 days! ahhh! i cant leave the house when this happens to me. So first I tried Bleach I dipped q-tip into bleach ran thru water, and applied. It made my cold sore get red and swollen...didnt work... next i put blistex.. didnt do ne thing wiped it off, next I applied rubbing alcohol and washed it off, next I put neosporin on it again to keep it cool.. made some earl grey tea, let the tea bag cool down and used the tea bag on my coldsore for 20 min.. This seemed to calm it down. then I applied neosporin and melted another ice..was very red and swollen from everything.. I went to shower and cleaned my ears and looked for yuck ear wax to put it on my cold sore, didnt do ne thing and then I applied this natural Usana toothpaste which has green tea etc..it looks like mud and its an all natural toothpaste and i woke up and next day it was scabbing a little... and it wasnt red ne more. today I just applied neosporin all day and it seems to be doing ok. Not that red ne more and the swelling def went down started scabbin yucky yellow stuff. very different from last time where it turned into a huge burgundy scab on my mouth. Now the cold sore stayed more on my lips rather than on the outside corner of my mouth where it looks like ugh! ne ways.. just wanted to SAY I tried EVERYTHING... i cant believe i did the earwax thing! and Bleach that seems so dangerous! but I would have to say from my experience the tea thing was cooling and it help soothe the cold. I tried everything to get those liquid in the bubbles to dry out i was very tempted to pop it.. But I think the bubbles started scabbing during the night and the rest of today but I think my cold sore will be gone by tomorrow.. im just using neosprin to help it from scarring. so wow total 3 days, but i would have to say No matter what theres nothing you can do.. especially the first 2 days it looked the worse especially after all the crazy stuff i did. Well maybe it did worked since I tried almost everyone of the remedies, i've seen it reduce 50% today i have stopped stressing out. And its the weekend tomorrow so I have more time to give it time but it looks a little normal today! I will not go to that dentist ne more!
last time i tried abbreva, camaphor medication for cold sore, lavendar oil, nail polish, reg. toothpaste, it took about 8-10 days. turned into a big scab on my mouth was always bleeding everytime i brushed my teeth.
This time I did neosporin, bleach, earl tea bag, earwax, alcohol, natural usana toothpaste. taking about 3-4 days to heal, is not cracking and bleeding no burgundy scab just scabbing slowly with yucky yellow stuff. good luck with ur trial.. i know what ur going thru.. Just try to stop staring and stressing.
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Submitted by Al at 2009-03-10 22:36:08
I've been a long time sufferer of cold sores, and though they're relatively minor in the list of health problems someone could have, they have a devasting psycological impact on me. It shouldn't bother me as much as it does (who's physically perfect??), but my whole mood changes with everybody around me, and it really depresses me (almost to an unreasonable degree)...

Anyway, I've tried EVERYTHING there is to try, and none of the balms, creams, medicine, ice ever worked for me. I've more or less gotten to the point where I feel that these things just have to take their course, and there's nothing I can really do about them (except dread the onset of the next one)..

I get them maybe 3-4 times a year.

I tried the 'ice method' once, and it seemed to hold off the development of the sore for the day while I kept applying it, but that first night when I went to sleep, the cold sore took the time to 'grow'.

The only thing that gave me some decent success, and I'm not ready to declare 100% victory just yet (but so far it's worked for 2 cold sores in a row) is the following:
1. As soon as you feel the very first little 'bump', before any itching starts, take a 1000 milligram Lysine-L tablet. (If you're like me, you're always probing your lips with your tongue, feeling for any difference in sensation, that might indicate a cold sore is coming...) Take a total of 2 tablets each day for 2 days (total of 4). Don't take more b/c your body probably just discards it after a certain point any way. And it might be bad for you to take too much of any thing..
2. Buy Carmex and keep the sore moistened with Carmex. This is the only 'balm' type medicine that I've found that actually reduces the scab significantly.

Since I've been doing this, (again 2 of 2 cold sores), each occurrence only lasted 3 days or so, and it was really only noticeable on day 2.

I won't claim that this will definitely work for you, but it might. I know the anxiety that these things cause me, so if you feel like me, you'll try anything. The Lysine is the only 'medicinal' thing I've ever taken that seemed to drastically shorten the cycle from usually 7-10 days, down to 3-4 days.

Good luck,
Al
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Submitted at 2009-03-13 02:54:26
USING BUBBLE GUM FLAVORED CHAPSTICK FROM AVON HELPS CLEAR UP COLD SORES. DON'T KNOW HOW BUT IT DOES! APPLY TO COLD SORE ON LIP SEVERAL TIMES A DAY AND U SHOULD GET RELIEF IN A DAY OR 2.
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Submitted at 2009-03-19 17:40:09
My boss told me about this, I thought he was joking around at first. Try Ban roll on deodorant. I got the unscented. Just roll it on your finger, then rub it on your cold sore. I started this about 4 hours ago and it is already drying up and I have a very tiny scab forming.
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Submitted by Beachgirl at 2009-04-13 12:18:33
Ok guys so trust me on this. I got a cold sore 2 days ago and so i got on the internet to find out quick ways to get rid of it. When I found this page I started some of the home remedies that people said. This is only my second cold sore and the first one lasted like 10 days and was red and ugly and the only thing I used was abreva, IT DOESNT WORK!!! So this time the first day I did ice cubes like all day, then rubbing alcohol, then with a q-tip dabbed a little of my 'secret' deodorant on it and the cold sore is still there but its not inflamed or red, you cant even tell its there unless you look hard at it. OH I also bought some L-Lysine and have been taking that with some vitamin c pills too. Im not sure what exactly is working, or a combination of everything but it works and I will do this in the future!! I hope it works for you, really try it!!
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Submitted by Wendy at 2009-04-21 12:53:36
I use lip Medex by blistex(blue container) when I feel the tingling and when it first starts to form, it dries it up fast and forms a barrier over it. Once the Cold Sore has blistered Ice and Rubbing alcohol does help dry it up and heal a little faster but I find that tanning helps best. Wait till about 3 days after the cold sore blistered( HEAT DOES NOT HELP THEM WHEN THEY START TO FORM, only makes them bigger in the first stage) Tanning beds help dry them up,and heal them, Tanning is also good for pimples it dries them up and you get a little color which just makes you look a little more healthier. I have found this always works best for me and I have had them for over 10 years now.

The more you use different products or to much of them (rubbing alcohol) it does not help and can burn the skin which once the cold sore has healed you will have a red mark on your skin which alot of people think are scars from cold sores. Just do little as possible just get them dried up which takes a day or so, then picking at them is not as harmful. Its the first 2-3 days that are the worst.

Alot of people have cold sores and understand them. Yes there is the odd person that will say a rude remark but there is over 70% of people that has had a cold sore in their life. Your not alone. You can't hide from them, It has taken me along time but trust me after years and years you come to terms with them.
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Submitted by brandi at 2009-04-26 22:07:31
My monstrous cold sore popped up this morning. It started so big an painful that I actually thought I got bit by a spider in the middle of the night. Well 11 hours later, after putting campho phenic on it all day, I decided to look for some remedies. I found this sight and read through ALL of the remedies! I decided to take some advice and try some of them. I mixed minced garlic with salt into a wet paste and put it in a coffee filter. I have been holding it on there off and on for about 30 minutes now and the swelling is already gone (probably because of the salt). I'm hoping it will scab up tonight before bed. I fear that it will bust open in the middle of the night, get on my pillow, then get in my eye! I'll keep you posted!
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Submitted at 2009-05-12 11:30:44
If you're a woman, suffering with cold sores frequently, other than getting sick, arginine to lysine food ratio (arginine being the bad one), overly acidic body (must alkalize! virus thrives in acidic bodies) - the other factor that has effected MY outbreaks is HORMONES - not just that time of the month, either. When i was on the pill (lots of fake estrogen), the outbreaks just wouldn't stop. They were continuous. When i went off the pill - the outbreaks stopped, almost completely. Now, anytime i notice i've eaten too many Estrogenic type foods - or meats with hormones, etc., my mouth acts up all over again. too much ESTROGEN) leads to low immunity. Eat organic meats, cruciferous vegetables (anti-estrogenic) - lot's of leafy greens! If you eat dairy, make it organic only - no hormones, no antibiotics in meat or dairy. Avoid sugar!!
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Submitted by Alex in Illinois at 2009-05-13 22:20:44
OMG! I am so glad i found this site! I have suffered from cold sores for years and am willing to try anything. This past Monday, i felt the tingle and took Valtrex 500 mg, but it was too late, i could see the blister forming and applied Abreva, never had much luck with it, but better something than nothing at all. Monday evening, i took my other dose of Valtrex and Tuesday morning, the cluster was still forming. I came across this site Tuesday afternoon and tried the rubbing alcohol to cleanse and applied hand sanitizer, reapplied every couple of hours and by bedtime, most of the cluster had subsided. Applied another round right before bedtime and this morning the clusters had scabbed and washed off when i showered. i could not believe it! i wiped the area again with rubbing alcohol and applied the hand sanitizer, throughout the day, i just used the hand sanitizer as i was at work and dabbed it on with a q-tip. Wednesday evening, I wiped off a small scab with the rubbing alcohol and applied the hand sanitizer. I honestly cannot believe the results and the fact that this is day 3! all the while doing my dosage of valtrex as prescribed by my doctor. if anything, give the hand sanitizer a try, i'm using over the counter stuff and after years of trying other remedies, this by far has been the best result.
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Submitted by Brian Feeney at 2009-05-28 06:32:21
Dab a small amount of red wine (Merlot, Cabernet, Pinot Noir....) onto the infected area at the first sign of an outbreak, or right before you sleep, and in the morning the cold sore should be healed.
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Submitted at 2009-05-28 13:53:52
I've read so many remedies and I looked for the common factors (its the Chemist in me). First, it really helps to stop the virus from completing its cycle and spreading. Second, Freeze it by applying ice directly to the area until the skin numbs. Do this at least three times in one hour. Third, Dry it up! That's why alcohol, acetone, clearasil, etc all work very well... they dry up the infected area.
Forth, Vitamin C has worked very well for me but I see how adding Lysine, zinc and other vitamins aid in healing.
I also found that applying Iodine right on the infected area right after you've dried the wound, it helps to kill the virus since it kills just about everything else. Finally, take weekly dosages of Lysine, vitamin C, zice and a multi-vitamin weekly or every 4-5 days to prevent or greatly reduce new out-breaks.
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Submitted by jello at 2009-05-31 21:47:32
I discovered today my greatest remedy. I have used
all the usual topicals and orals but on a whim I
applied my acne med - 5% benzoyl peroxide
and it took down a new blister within 1/2 an
hour. I 've applied it all day regularily and I don't
have a raised blister at all, just a tender spot. I guess the antiinfective properties to B.P. are effective with
viruses too. Much faster than all the others.
Good luck
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Submitted at 2009-07-05 12:45:22
Break open an egg... drain the egg out. Inside the egg-the white thin layer - the thin skin you can carefully pull out from the egg shell....you can put a small piece of this skin on your sore and it will harden and end up looking like paper stuck to your lip. It prevents it from breathing so... it helps me a lot.
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Submitted at 2009-07-10 10:42:30
During the worst outbreak I've ever had, I some how spread the large cold sore on my lip to other parts of my mouth. My first advice is be overly careful, really do use Qtips and still wash your hands. However, when the second one started to form I immediately put nail polish remover, the juices from a fresh garlic clove, and salt/water paste on it. YES, it burns. I then applied Abreva and continued this treatment several times a day for two days. The sore was already at the fluid filled stage though I did not pop it (highly recommended), and it's pretty much gone today. As for the big guy, I should have just left it alone as time is sometimes the only healer. I think I prolonged healing by messing with it.
So- use salt and water paste on the sore unless it's already scabbing, then keep it moist- you want the cells to regenerate- but not too wet as you don't want a friendly environment for the virus.
Also, you are NOT alone!
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Submitted at 2009-07-26 22:45:33
If you compleatly avoid chocolate for a week or more, when you feel a cold sore comming on you will not have such a big break out or it will just disapear on its own. Chocolate in your system breaks down your natural imunity. Chocolate contains high levels of amino acid arginine. Also Take lysine. I use this remidy every time and it does help a lot. And even if you barely see or feel anything use Campho-Phenique it dryes it almos instantly.
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Submitted by karyn at 2009-07-30 11:20:11
I'm 40 and have had cold sores most of my life... L-Lysine is the best at preventing them... But, just like everyone else I ran out and found myself coming down with a huge one right before a big party I was attending. If you want a good prevention besides the lysine... Clinique makes a great lip balm... put on when you feel the cold sore coming on and it stops it completely, the best part is if you have a fever or are going out in the sun, same thing just put it on like any other chap stick and the cold sore never forms. But, if you've got one like me, where you feel like daffy duck...lysine 3 times a day with vitamin c and 1000 mcg biotin... Alcohol area for the first hour as much as possible... follow with juice from garlic... doesn't matter if you sqeeze it yourself or if you use the store brand (minced garlic)... leave on as long as possible...it takes the pain out... follow up with the clinique lip balm... gone within 2-3 days completely... very little scabbing.
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Submitted by Cassie at 2009-08-12 12:56:52
I'm 21 years old and I aquired the Herpes Simplex Virus when I was about 2 years old from my dad. The thing I reseached in Pathology class about cold sores is that everyone has the virus, but it remains dormant until you come into contact with someone who has it active. In my case, my father had a cold sore and I being in the terrible 2's stage, grabbed the glass he was drinking out of and did the same. I've the absolute worst outbreaks as a child and as I got older, they became less and less, but when I do get them, they are extremely horrible and painful. I was perscribed Acyclovir (5 pills a day for 10 days) and topical cream Denavir (better then Abbriva). I take Lysine 1000mg once a day and I've noticed when I get my outbreaks. High levels of stress, too much time in the sun, and too much sodium intake. So, my at home remedy for you is: ask your doctor about Acyclovir & Denvavir (a lot less taxing on the immune system then taking Valtrex). Drink plenty of water daily, use a chapstick with spf in it. Take lysine 1000mg daily. But, if you do get an outbreak, take the perscriptions, using rubbing alcohol 91% proof to dry it out, use ice to reduce the imflammation, and up your lysine intake. There is no cure for the Herpes Simplex virus. Please, don't touch your lips (during an outbreak) and touch anything on your own body, on someone elses body, and don't kiss your partners or childrens lips to help prevent the spread of the virus. Unfortunately, all depends on the person's immune system and healing process to determine how long it will take to heal a cold sore. But just use common sense - ice helps with swelling, rubbing alcohol is a drying agent, topical creams keep the lips moist and help prevent chapping and breakouts, reduce your stress levels if possible, take a dietry supplement like Lysine to aid in the absorbtion of natural enzymes & minerals to fit off infection and see your doctor if it gets worst.
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Submitted by John at 2009-09-08 21:26:35
I know there are some who are against this - but it works for me: Bleach. When I have a cold sore that is blistering up, I apply a small amount of bleach with a Q-tip. The cold sore is then gone within 3-4 days (scab and all). It's amazing. The bleach tends to just stay right on the blister and burns it off. The swelling from the cold sore is gone within 24 hours. The scab forms but is very thin. It's gone in 2-3 days. There is a slight redness that sticks around for a short while. Some people are very sensitive to bleach - they should dilute the bleach or not use this method.
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Submitted by 888888888888888 at 2009-10-16 18:15:41
when you have a cold sore the best thing to do is buy a tube of carmex and a tube of fast drying campho phenique it works the best. but use it after you but a tea bag on the sore
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Submitted by 888888888888888 at 2009-10-16 18:17:19
when you have a cold sore the best thing to do is buy a tube of carmex and a tube of fast drying campho phenique it works the best. but use it after you put a warm tea bag on the sore after clean with hydrogen peroxide and walah the cold sore starts to dry out and you get instant pain relief and it lessens redness
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Submitted by Brittney at 2009-10-20 12:05:12
Today is Tuesday. Sunday, I had gotten out of the shower, and as I scratched my upper lip with my teeth, I felt the bump and tingle of an on coming cold sore. Monday morning came and it had already started to blister to the point my boyfriend didn't want to kiss me. I went to his house and spent the evening with him. I had went to the bathroom and saw just how much it had blistered... It was disgusting. So I popped it, cleaned it with hydrogen peroxide and applied campho phenoque (the cold sore remedy I was raised on). When i went home i was determind to dry this sucker out, so i added some rubbing alcohol and called it a night However, I woke up this morning and it had gotten worse. The blistering wasn't all that bad but my lip had swollen up. I was seriously thinking about not showing up to school but came anyways. I started looking up remedies for cold sores and found this site. After reading a few pages I decided to try one. Hand santizer. I just so happn to have a small bottle with me. Not even 10 minutes after putting it on, I squished my lips together and can already feel the swelling going down. Once I get home though, I'm totally trying the ice cube, rubbing alcohol, nail polish remover and garlic. Those seem to be the best bet. Thanks for the help you guys!
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Submitted by Sara at 2009-10-29 23:01:30
I use Valtrex!! When ever I feel a tingling or coldsore coming on! If its too late for that use ice & salt!! Also Alcohol dries it out quickly!! Glad I am not alone.. I have one on the corner of my mouth as we speak.. which I thought was a pimple and kind of turned into a coldsore? It is all scabbed and hard to not notice.. but now I am just keeping it moist so it can heal...
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