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Home Remedies
There are as many home remedies for cold sores as there are cold sore sufferers. All of the home remedies work best if a cold sore is caught at the first sign of the itchy tingle that precedes the blister stage. If caught early and treated frequently, many cold sores will not advance to the blister stage or the blister will be minimized.
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Applying ice for five to ten minutes each hour during the Tingle stage will lower the temperature of the tissue where the cold sore is forming. This process may prevent the movement of the virus from the nerve to the skin.
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Placing a tea bag on a cold sore when it first begins to form can possibly help to minimize the extent to which the lesion will develop. One should position the moistened tea bag (regular black tea like that used to brew ice tea) on the area where the cold sore is forming for a few minutes every hour.
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Ointments containing lemon balm or peppermint have been shown to help cold sores heal.
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Tea tree oil has been effective for some cold sore sufferers.
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When the tingling starts, try rubbing juice from an aloe plant on the affected area. This remedy is especially effective if used at the first sign of a cold sore, but will also stop it later on, too.
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Placing a cool, wet towel on the sores 3 times a day for 20 minutes each time to help reduce redness and swelling.
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Apply a cornstarch paste.
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Mix a few drops of Grapefruit seed extract(GSE )with aloe or another liquid, such as olive oil, and dab it on to the sore. GSE is very strong, so use sparingly!
Despite how intensely itchy the first stage of the cold sore can be, avoiding the urge to itch will minimize the cold sore and prevent it from spreading. If a cold sore sufferer itches, then hand washing is imperative to prevent the cold sore virus from being transmitted to the eyes or nostrils.
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