Cold sores have been becoming common with passing time. The reason for that is they are highly contagious and side by side there is no permanent cure for them either. However, if you know you have the virus then you must also know the way to go about it and underlying other problems associated with it.
Normally, cold sores begin by forming a burning sensation around your lips. You will wake up one day while having the burning sensation to notice that cold sores have started forming around your lips. However, once you start getting the burning sensation, this is the right time to take action if you want to prevent the formation of blisters.
With a few remedies, these blisters can although be prevented but not eliminated from your immune system. Hence the chances of them forming again will still exist. Here are a few remedies that will help make cold sores less of a pain for you:
Lip balm
When cold sores start to form, the whole area can get quite itchy and this is when it becomes difficult to keep your hands off the place. Some people struggle with it and even accidentally end up scratching the area which pops the blisters.
This can result in greater irritation and cold sores start to spread in the surrounding areas as well. Keeping your cold sores covered with a good amount of lip balm is essential to keep them itch-free. The moister the place is, the less likely it will get dry and itchy. Find a lip balm with peppermint or lemon essence in it as both these things have anti-bacterial and soothing properties which help speed up the healing process of cold sores.
Honey
Honey is known to be a natural moisturizer and has anti-bacterial properties. A combination of both of these things is what you need to fight against cold sores. Moreover, honey is an organic treatment, your cold sore is less likely to get more irritated which might happen otherwise if you use a chemical treatment on it. Cover your cold sore with a good amount of honey and it will be gone in no time.
Ice cube
Although icing the cold sore might not get rid of it completely, but it will help make them less painful for you. Icing the area will help tone down the inflammation and redness. This would then ultimately help you get rid of the itchiness and your cold sores will also become less visible once the inflammation has gone down. Moreover, the icing technique can also help to dry the cold sores while keeping them hydrated hence you can make cold sores appear smaller and less painful with the help of regular icing.
Peppermint oil
This oil is known to have anti-bacterial properties which can help stop the further spread of cold sores and help bring down the inflammation. When diluted with a bit of water, peppermint oil will help dry the cold sores and tone down the stinging sensation that forces you to scratch the area. Apply peppermint oil whenever you feel an itch around the area and it is important to know that popping a cold sore should never be an option as it is going to further deteriorate the condition.