how can i get rid of a cold sore FAST!!! :(( prom is coming up, and cold sore just sounds so BAD?
493694
Here are your 2 best options (in my opinion):\n\n1.) Use Abreva as mentioned.  It is a topical antiviral and really is FDA approved, the other stuff (Blistex, Carmex, L-lycine) is not clinically effective in treating Herpes.\n\n2.) A better option might be to go see your doctor about getting a prescription antiviral to take by mouth.  This would not only treat the current sore but may also prevent any new ones from forming (depending on how long it is until the prom).  There are certain doses used for treatment and others used for prevention.  This is probably your best bet.\n\nGood luck, and have a fun (and safe) prom!
971730
You are stressing so hard, just calm down.  Your mom knows what she's talking about, it'll be ok.\n\nI know you want everyone to focus on your mad talents and not your cold sores, but even if they stick around a little you can always toss on a little make-up.  From the audience, no one will even know.   Your drama teacher will be able to suggest something for show-time to hide them.\n\nA week is a long time, though, you should be ok by then if you calm down and eat as healthy as possible, and drink lots of water.\n\nAre you sure they're the same as always?  It could be Impetigo, which is a very common staph infection.  But they're probably just fine.
646326
try ant-acids, they help with the sore, swollen taste buds. Also try a good mouth wash.
589404
the terric (spelled wrong I think) acid in teabags work well. It dulls the pain and speeds healing and it's cheap. If you don't drink tea just put a bag in hot water untill it starts to change color then cool the bag and place it on the cold sore for about 3 minutes. Do this about 3 times a day and it will help. This works for cold sores in and out of the mouth I've also heard of Abreeva for cold sores but it's expensive.
567179
What are cold sores? \n\nCold sores, also known as fever blisters, are small red blisters that crop up near the lips or on them. More rarely, they sprout on the roof of the mouth. (Some people confuse them with canker sores, which are painful crater-like sores that appear on the tongue or on the inside of the cheeks.) Despite their name, cold sores actually have nothing to do with colds; they're caused by the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), a close relative of the virus that causes genital herpes. \n\n\n\nHow do you get cold sores? \n\nMost children pick up the virus by sharing food with or kissing someone who has a cold sore. They can also get the infection from someone who doesn't have a visible sore but has the virus in his or her saliva. Once you contract the virus, it stays in your body for good, hiding in nerve cells near your ear. In some people, the virus lies dormant and never causes harm. In others, it periodically wakes up and triggers cold sores. Nobody knows what stirs the virus into action, but stress, fever, colds, and sunburn seem to encourage outbreaks. \n\n\n\nWhat are the symptoms? \n\nChildren don't develop cold sores immediately after the first time they catch the virus. Instead, your child may have swollen gums and a sore feeling in the mouth. A few days later, you may see a cluster of small blisters that turn into a shallow, painful sore, possibly accompanied by fever and swollen lymph glands in the neck. In a few days the sore will crust over and slowly disappear. The whole flare-up lasts about seven to ten days. \n\n\n\nWhat's the best way to treat cold sores? \n\nCold sores will go away on their own, but there are some things you can do to help your child feel better in the meantime. \n\n\n\n•To ease the pain, apply ice to the sore or give your child a mild pain reliever, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen. (Never give aspirin to children or teenagers; it may trigger Reye's syndrome, a rare but potentially life-threatening illness.) \n•Have your child avoid salty, spicy, and sour foods, which irritate the raw nerves in the sore.  \n•Dab on a water-based zinc ointment. It helps dry out the sore so it can heal faster, and the zinc may also aid the immune system.  \n\nTo keep your child from infecting other parts of his body or giving the virus to someone else, encourage him to wash his hands regularly and keep him from picking at his sores.\n\n\n\nOne last caution: Urge your child to avoid touching his eyes when he has a cold sore. HSV-1 can cause ocular herpes, a serious eye infection. If your child develops a painful sore on his eyelid or the surface of his eye, schedule a prompt appointment with his pediatrician: Your child may need antiviral drugs to keep the infection from scarring his cornea. In rare cases, ocular herpes can weaken vision and even cause blindness.\n\n\n\nAlso, any kind of herpes virus is dangerous to newborns. If you have a newborn, keep any of your children who have a cold sore away from him until it's healed. \n\n\n\nHow can I prevent cold sores? \n\nThe first thing you can do is try to keep your child free of the virus that causes cold sores, which may be difficult, given how contagious HSV-1 is. Remember, one peck with an infected lip is all it takes to pass on the virus. If you have sores and your child doesn't, cut out kissing until you've healed. \n\n\n\nIf you are the parent of a newborn and have a cold sore, you don't need to separate yourself from your new baby. Do wash your hands frequently, though, and avoid kissing your baby until the cold sore goes away. You may consider wearing a surgical mask to cover the sore as well. Infectious disease experts do recommend that women with herpes sores on their breasts refrain from breast feeding until the sores are healed.\n\n\n\nIf your child already has the virus, the best thing you can do is keep his immune system strong by making sure he gets a healthful diet, plenty of sleep, an
426036
If everyone in your grade had herpes would you want some too? \nHit the books and study, shorty. Dont worry bout all that right now.
789177
Use antibiotic ointment around the raw area before you go to bed, it will moisten it and help it heal faster, good luck, I hope you feel better :)
19371
Put tea tree oil on it.  This is available in health food stores.  You only need to buy a very small bottle.  It will last a long time and has many uses other than cold sores.  Works great on pimples too.
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.
894704
Honey I think we've all been there done that! You had too much salt. It dried out your lips. They really are a lot more sensitive than the rest of your skin. Carmex works great. I've tried blistex too but Carmex works faster. It is usually cleared up by the next day. If the skin on your lips has been really damaged be prepared for them to peel. Try to avoid chewing on them when they do. That's a problem that I have. Good luck
1038650
its cuased by the same thing a cold sore is cuased by,... a virus, and its a sore on the inside of your mouth, ask your local pharmacist to recagmend some stuff, but id have to say try abreeva, it works the best, teehee
388268
Hi, I am presuming from your question that you get cold sores. If you do, the next 'tingle' you get, which a lot of cold sore sufferers say is the first sign of a cold sore, try using a drop of PURE TEATREE OIL directly onto the skin where the 'tingle' is felt and if the cold sore does appear, continue to use the teatree oil,once in the morning, and once at night to shorten the length of its reign. Please also remember that the virus can be transmitted by kissing, something my now eighteen yr old daughter knows about due to the fact that her grandad gave her a very innocent kiss when she was a child while having an active cold sore - cold sores forever now!Take care xx
983861
You will still be contagious (cold sores are caused by a herpes virus), so no kissing. Don't spread that!\n\nTo make it subside a bit, so that it's not as noticeable, try chammomile tea. Make yourself a cup and then use the teabag as a compress upon the location of your coldsore.
956971
There are lots of things on the market that would help. Blistex, Chapstick, etc.. One of the best and cheapest things you can use is just plain old Vaseline. If it is generic it will be called petroleum jelly. I keep a jar in my medicine cabinet just to use on my lips.
682099
Gargle with salt water. You should find that it works a treat. Salt is cheap and easy to get hold of and we all have it at home, so no need to splash out and spend lots of money on expensive mouth ulcer creams...or Get a Q-tip and dab a very slight bit of bleach just onto the sore itself. The kanker sore will be gone within 2 days.
709052
Cold sore cream!!! Zovirax is really good, you need to hit it before the blister breaks.
672437
herpes/coldsore meds  over the counter there are many of them  to choose from, blistix has one  out  ,  then campho phenic  works great as well , the best thing u can  do is  keep the effected area  clean adn dry as  possible  do not  touch the area  with your hands at anytime  , if u do wash  your hand asap  with  warm soapy water  u can spread the virus from one location to another  by  contact , so  dont touch  , adn  do  not  kiss anyone  till atleast  a week after  it has  completly  cleared  up , go to a doctor and see what the redcomend  you to take  but  in the mean time  u can  go to a  good  pharmcist  like one at a savon  and ask them   what they  can recomend   for  oyu to use till u can see a doctor .  and  if u  do use any  over  the counter meds  use a  clean qtip  to apply  it , so if  u  dont have enough on the qtip to  cover the area  dont use the same  one  get another one cause  u can   put the  virus  on the container that u r trying to   use  to get rid of the virus