How do I prevent and treat cold sores?
150939
Cold sores seem to be triggered by stress and/or a depressed immune system (which is why they are called cold sores - they can occur when you're sick) so keeping healthy and relaxed can help a lot.\n\nSee the below page for some helpful treatments/prevention measures.  I have used L-Lysine to some success in the past - I have not had a cold sore in over three years!
24573
It is herpes, and it is very contagious.  Do not kiss someone when you or they have a cold sore.  Also, do not touch the area and then touch other parts of your body - you can spread the virus.  Wash your hands often.
673779
a cold sore is the herpes Virus...it is possible to spread it even without an outbreak..be very careful and NEVER drink from anyone's glass or eat from the spoon or fork.
1077226
cold sores in the mouth are a form of herpes, herpes simplex two actually.  Stress and anxiety make this problem worse and so do certain foods.  There is no cure but there may be things you can avoid to make them come along less frequently.
303754
Cold sores are caused by the Herpes Simplex II virus.  You can get them if you have run a fever or if your immune system has been compromised.  So, it isn't far fetched to experience them while your body is fighting off a cold.
62445
please tell everyone: coldcure.com, changed my life.\nwas prone to getting fever blisters for whatever reason. especially with fever and illness. \ncure: I take "nature made" zinc from wallgreens, and use it as an oral rins. this is preventitive and treatment.\n\n1) for first week rinse every day with one tablet.\n(I just put enough water in my mouth to rinse with, and then chew untill disolved, one 60mg tablet. This seems to be the quickest way. There is really no bad taste.)And make sure you rinse untill disolved, and try to rinse over any areas you feel might be infected. \n\n2)Rinse at least once a week thereafter.\n\n3)if you feel that little tingle on your lips, and you think one might be coming on, rinse once about every hour for 5 hours or so, and most importantly, a couple of times before you go to bed.\n\nI can not stress how well this has worked for me.\nI have had one reacurance of a full blown blister,over the past year,\nand that was after I had oral surgery and imediatly got the flu and was unable to rinse and treat.\n\nI have had the stomach flu twice, rinsed during and after my illnes, and did not get one.\nI have felt a couple bumps comming on, and began rinsing immediatly. the next morning they were COMPLETLY gone. It is allmost to good to be true.\n\nsimple and effective. hope this helps.
365254
Cold sores are actually caused by a virus that usually stays inactive in your body but sort of takes over in times of stress - such as when you are sick, get too much sun, have difficult things happening in your life, etc. Once you have the cold sore virus in your body it is always there - you can't actually get rid of it, but you can certainly get it under excellent control. There are no over the counter meds that work for cold sores. Stuff that you put on the cold sore may help with the soreness and pain, but most of it doesn't actually attack the virus itself. You need a prescription med called Valtrex. It is a big blue pill. Valtrex is actually prescribed for genital herpes, but the cold sore virus is from the same family, and Valtrex stops a cold sore in its tracks. Valtrex attacks the virus itself, not just the symptoms. Since I first took Valtrex about five years ago, I have rarely had a cold sore, and never had one develop fully. You take Valtrex for only a couple of days when you first feel the tingle of a cold sore starting.
379629
As soon as one starts to develop, gargle with salt and warm water. If it's one of those sores that develops on the outside or near your mouth, try Abbreva (16-20$ a tube) specifically designed to heal cold sores fast.
79215
I get cold-sores every other year or so.  I hate them and they're nasty looking.  I've tried plenty of over-the-counter medications but the only one that really worked well is called Abreva - it cut down the cold sore to about 2 days vs. the usual 5-7 I would experience in the past.  The downside is that it's expensive.  You can find it at your local drugstore.
761181
Stick a little needle in it and see if pus comes out.\n\nA cold sore hurts much more on the surface where a pimple hurts deeper down inside.
959972
see a dr - could be the onset of a cold sore - the dr would be able to diagnose - b careful because they sometimes misdiagnose
1105679
if fever blister (herpes simplex 1) zovirax as soon as u feel the tingle. otherwise....eat well...get in some exercise ...keep ur lips moist and sunblocked and avoid any trauma to the lip and general stress...esp around the time of ur period
299385
antibiotics only treat bacteria, a cold sore is a virus.  Pretty straightfoward.
65902
You can't. Herpes Simplex 1 is incurrable. The most you can do is to keep them at bay. One way that has helped me is when I eat or drink orange juice, I brush my teeth with baking soda. If one occurs, I put allum on it. Burns like crazy, but it coterizes the sore.\n\nKeep from eating chocolates and nuts. I hear that irritates them.
149353
The best way to prevent outbreaks is via a healthy immune system. Although you should always consult with a doctor  there are several alternative treatments available on the market. \n\nSome of these are described in the source website.
1113690
You need prescription medicine. There are three kinds of oral medication and one kind of ointment to treat herpes. \n\nHerpes outbreaks can go away on their own, but it can take time, a LONG time. It can take months to go away on it's own. The best thing you can do is get a prescription. Just go to the doctor and get a prescription and get the generic kind which is less expensive. \n\nYou don't need to take the medicine every day, just when you are having an outbreak. I don't take the medicine everyday, just when I feel I'm going to have an outbreak or I am having one. The medicine is too expensive to take everyday, and it makes me nauseous.
163312
You should ask your Doctor for a perscritption of Valtrex for use in treating your cold sores, of course discuss all the risks and benifits with him or her.  It has really helped me control mine.  Now they are smaller and do not last as long and alot further in between.