subject: Finding a Cure For The Cold Sore [print this page] One of the hardest parts in dealing with a cold sore, is that it is visible to the world. It takes a total of nine to twelve days for the cold sore to complete its process. Pain and swelling is a common symptom. It will often start with blisters that will, over the course of the affliction dry up. Be careful when your cold sore starts to dry though, because it may leave a scar.
Here is what you should do to defend against the herpes virus externally.
You should clean the cold sore with antI-bacterial agents, and then pat it dry with a cotton ball. You may experience pain, swelling and itching, but you should take care not to touch the cold sore when this happens or scratch it. You can spread the virus to others, and even on yourself, if you touch the cold sore. If this does occur, make sure to was your hands, to stop any more contamination.
After you've cleaned your cold sore with the anti-bacterial agent and patted it dry with cotton, you will then want to put some DMSO or Zinc on your cold sore. Zinc is a great way to speed up the healing process. Using Zinc on your cold sore may help increase the speed of your recovery by up to thirty percent.
DMSO will assist you by going deep into your skin layer and killing off the bacteria that caused your cold sore completely. Cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus, and this virus can not live when oxygen is present. If you use DMSO every other day, you will be able to keep from getting the cold sore again.
You may use toothpaste on your cold sore and it'll help relieve some of the pain. When applying the toothpaste, you'll need to cover the full cold sore formation. Using toothpaste has two bonuses, it helps with the pain from the cold sore, and also dries up the entire area that is affected.
Another way to help the process of healing along is to get a lot of exercise, as the fresh air can help you pump up your immune system. But, if you do not have a healthy lifestyle to begin with, all of these tips will not help you. Once you get rid of your cold sore, you should continue using good health practices, or it may return.
