How To Heal A Cold Sore

If you have frequent fever blisters, you may wonder how to heal a cold sore. These lip sores only last a few days, but they can be painful. Those tempted to pick at the blister use the wrong method to heal their cold sore. There are a few tips that can help alleviate the hassle of having cold sores. Continue to read the directives below to find out how to heal a cold sore.

To heal a cold sore, you will need:

• Pain reliever
• Hot compress
• Cold compress
• Prescription from doctor

1. The shun list. Stay away from oranges, lemons and other acidic foods as the first step in how to heal a cold sore and lessen pain. Limit the amount of sunlight exposure in contact with the infected area. Irritation can hinder the mending process and should be avoided.
2. Find relief. An important part in how to heal a cold sore is to ease the soreness. Over-the-counter pain relief includes ibuprofen and acetaminophen that can be taken to ease the soreness while healing. Follow the manufacturer's directions located on the products.
3. More relief. An additional option to care for a tender cold sore is to use a compress. Depending on your preference, heat or cold can be applied to the area.
4. Medicinal creams. Talk with your doctor about a prescription to assist in the healing process. Antiviral options include acyclovir, famciclovir and valacyclovir.

These steps conclude the treatment of a cold sore. Any or all the above instructions can be used to recover from a fever blister.