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5 Tips to Get Rid of a Cold Sore Faster*
Patience may be a virtue but that’s little comfort when you want to get rid of a cold sore overnight. Unfortunately, you can’t get rid of a cold sore in 24 hours, but you can shorten cold sore healing time and cut down the duration of painful cold sore symptoms.
Just because there isn’t a cure for cold sores, doesn’t mean you have to suffer patiently until it clears up on its own. Here are 5 tips to get rid of a cold sore faster*.
ACT QUICKLY AND APPLY ABREVA
- An effective way to treat cold sores and help them heal faster is by applying Abreva Cream as soon as you feel that familiar tingle and/or see redness on or around your lip.
- Abreva starts to work immediately by soothing on contact and shortens the duration of pain, itching, burning, and tingling of cold sores.
- Abreva is clinically proven to shorten the healing time of a cold sore.
COOL THAT COLD SORE DOWN WITH A COLD COMPRESS
- Similar to using ice to relieve a painful sprain or injury, placing a cool, wet towel on a cold sore can help reduce pain, redness and swelling.
- Apply a cold compress 3 times a day for 10 minutes at a time to help it feel better.
TAKE AWAY THE PAIN
- There’s nothing to gain by toughing it out. Taking ibuprofen or acetaminophen can help reduce the pain and swelling, although this won’t get rid of the cold sore faster.
AVOID HOT BEVERAGES AND FOODS THAT ARE SALTY, SPICY, OR ACIDIC
- Do yourself a favor and steer clear of foods that are likely to irritate a cold sore. Things like pretzels, curry, hot sauce, or citrus fruits could aggravate your cold sore and make the pain worse.
- Tomatoes and citrus fruits like oranges contain acid that can irritate the skin.
- But many of these acidic fruits also contain Vitamin C that can boost your white blood cell count to fight off the infection.
- Instead, take a tablet containing Vitamin C to get your body’s defenders fighting the battle for you.
HANDS OFF
- Keep your hands off that cold sore. Resist the temptation to pick at it because you may prolong the healing process or make it more irritated.
- Remember, cold sores are contagious so if you accidently touch it, DO NOT touch any other body parts, especially your eyes.
- Be sure to wash your hands as soon as possible to avoid spreading it to another area or to somebody else.
SHOW YOUR LIPS SOME LOVE
Dry lips are more prone to cold sore outbreaks and make it easier to catch the virus that causes them. Find out how to keep lips moist.
