Cold sores can be unsightly. That's the tough reality of these extremely painful blemishes. Still, while you can't do much about the way a cold sore looks, you can do a few things to help decrease discomfort, speed healing, and keep it from coming back. You can even take steps to prevent passing on your cold sore to others. Here are some home remedies:
Cover it with a protective petroleum-based product. Covering it with petroleum jelly will speed healing and help protect it from secondary infection with bacteria.
Don't cover it with makeup. Unfortunately, attempting to camouflage a cold sore with makeup often aggravates the problem, as the chemicals in makeup can make the sore worse. And don't share your lipstick or makeup either.
Change your toothbrush. Get a new toothbrush after the blister has formed and again after the attack has cleared up. Toothbrushes can harbor the virus.
Reach for aspirin, acetaminophen, or ibuprofen. Cold sores can be quite painful. Over-the-counter painkillers can help. For a list of precautions to take when using over-the-counter analgesics, click here.
Avoid salty or acidic foods. Things like potato chips or citrus fruits can further irritate cold sores and add to the pain.
Apply an over-the-counter anesthetic. Putting a local anesthetic ointment containing benzocaine on the cold sore can help numb the pain temporarily.
Consult your health-care provider. If you have frequent or severe cold sores, see your doctor. In some cases, an antiviral medication called acyclovir can be prescribed.
Protect your lips from the sun. Applying sunscreen to your lips may help prevent sun-induced recurrences of cold sores. Look for a sunscreen designed especially for the lips that has an SPF of 15 or higher. Or, choose a lipstick that contains sunscreen.
Keep it to yourself. Cold sores are extremely contagious. Avoid kissing and sharing cups, towels, or other such items. Wash your hands frequently, especially after touching the cold sore. And take care not to touch your eyes or genitals immediately after touching the sore.
Don't stress. Stress can trigger cold sores. Practice stress-busting techniques like exercise, meditatation, yoga, or reading.
Don't touch it. Don't squeeze, pinch, or pick a cold sore. These actions can cause bacterial infection.
Carry hand sanitizer. It's a good idea to have hand sanitizer with you in case you accidentally scratch your cold sore and there's no wash basin handy.
When it comes to cold sores, the more treatment options, the better.
