Cold sores or Fever blisters or are a product of the Herpes Simplex Viruses 1 and 2. They are brought on by an infection or by some kind of stressor such as allergies, sun exposure or stress They are seen in the form of small, reddish, fluid-filled blisters that appear around the lips and nose. Although they may show up with a cold or fever, they are actually a fresh outbreak of an existing virus. There is no cure for fever blisters in medical science but you can take some measures to help alleviate the symptoms:
- Use a warm tea bag as a compress
- Petroleum jelly may help soothe the area
- Make an infusion of sage leaves and ginger and drink it 3 times a day
- Apply a paste made out of corn flour
- Wear a sunscreen while in the sun as sunlight may aggravate the sores.
- Apply an ice compress to the area every hour or so.
- Take probiotics or eat plenty of yoghurt
- Apply aloe gel to the sores
- Take a B complex supplement containing B12 and folic acid
Supplements for cold sores:
- Taking Vitamin C.at 600 mg and bioflavonoids at 600 mg thrice daily at the first sign of symptoms may help prevent the formation of full blown blisters according to some studies
- Taking lysine supplements at 500-1500 mg per day as soon as you feel symptoms of an outbreak and at 3000mg per day during an outbreak
- B12 and folic acid
- Probiotics containing lactobacillus acidophilus
- Echinacea Purpurea and St.John's wort also have a role in preventing fresh outbreaks
And here are some measures you can take to prevent cold sores:
- Avoid sexual activity and kissing with someone who has the herpes virus
- Try not to touch your sores and then touch other parts of your body. Always handle the sores with clean sterilized hands and always wash your hands with antibacterial soap or rubbing alcohol after touching them
- Don't share your toiletries and other personal items with other people
- Replace your toothbrush after the sores have subsided
answered by S E