If you are a person who is prone to cold sores on your lips, you know how painful and embarrassing they can be. As somebody who has suffered from this affliction since early childhood, I have had to learn to either deal with them efficiently or spend periods of my life as a recluse, hiding from a society who associates cold sores with herpes, a term which,as we all know, has a terrible stigma. However, cold sores are very common, and are caused by a virus that can be present from infancy. Unfortunately, the virus will remain in the body for life, and may pop up in the from of a cold sore during times of stress or illness. I am no doctor, but I have some personal methods of prevention and treatment that have been effective for me in such times. It is my goal to help ease those times and prevent the outbreak for other people so that they may get on with their lives, cold sore free!
Whenever I feel that familiar little tingle on my lip, I cringe in fear, knowing that a cold sore is not far behind. The key to avoiding an outbreak that may last many days, and fester hideously,is preventative action before the cold sore is noticeable. It is important to have a few things always on hand in your home, so that action can be taken immediately. These things are: Isopropyl alcohol (common rubbing alcohol), tea tree oil, cotton swabs and Lysine pills.
The first thing that I always do when I feel a cold sore coming on is run to the bathroom and douse a cotton swab with rubbing alcohol, which I apply directly to the spot in question. Then I take two Lysine pills and wait it out. This process is repeated several times throughout the day. The objective is to dry out the cold sore before it emerges. The Lysine is effective in helping the body fight the virus that causes cold sores. If I have Tea Tree oil on hand, this is the time to apply it to the area.
If the cold sore does make an appearance despite these efforts, I usually grind up a Lysine pill, mix it with rubbing alcohol to create a chalky paste which I apply to the area and allow to dry. This I repeat several times, but not if I am going out in public, as the white chunky paste is also unsightly.
Continue to take the Lysine pills daily, internally, to fight from the inside while using the methods externally. I have found them to be more effective than most of the high priced products on the market that are designed to fight cold sores. Also, remember to eat a diet rich in fruits and vegetables which are packed with vitamins and will help give your immune system the strength to fight. Drink plenty of water as well. Also, avoid stress (If possible!!) I hope that these tips are helpful to other sufferers of cold sores, we should not have to hide our faces in shame!
