Cold Sores & Home Remedies for Them – Do They Work? How Do They Compare to OTC and Prescription Medication?
A cold sore is a symptom of your infection by the Herpes Simplex Virus (sometimes simply known as “HSV”). This is normally a relatively benign disease that typically only manifests itself through the occasional skin irritation known as a cold sore–in other words, it’s basically harmless, irritating maybe, but harmless. It’s nothing to lose sleep over (unless you’re up with an itching cold sore!), but it can cause problems especially as far as
| your social and dating life goes, so I’m going to cover a bunch of various remedies and methods that myself and my friends have come up with over the years through sheer trial-and-error of testing out various methods gathered from internet forums, relatives, and |
friends (sometimes grandma knows what she’s talking about!).
Cold Sore First Aid
When you first start to feel that tingling sensation that by now you’ve come to learn indicates an oncoming cold sore:
- DO NOT SCRATCH. Most of you know this, but it’s vital so I thought I’d say that first. It will cause it to spread around your mouth and will only make things worse, so don’t do it no matter how much it itches.
- Keep your cold sore dry and clean–use a wash cloth and hot soapy water (and don’t forget to throw that infectious wash cloth straight into the washing machine afterwards, don’t let anyone else touch it!)
- Apply Vaseline (petroleum jelly) to the cold sore, it forms a barrier around it and will help to prevent it from spreading.
- Wash your hands every time after you touch the cold sore–YES, you can spread herpes to other parts of your body (such as your nose and eyes–Herpes simplex infection of the eye causes scarring of the cornea and is a leading cause of blindness in the United States. Source: The Mayo Clinic).
Home Remedies for Cold Sores that Work
- Benzyl Alcohol (aka “Zilactin”): Soak a Q-Tip in some Benzyl Alcohol and apply it to the cold sore twice a day, I’ve found that if you do this early enough it can sometimes (not guaranteed) stop a cold sore dead in it’s tracks. This is one of the very few home remedies endorsed by the Mayo Clinic: Mayo Clinic – Home Remedies for Cold Sores.
- Lysine: I’ve heard this before, and I do believe that it DOES help, but it’s not the end-all be-all cure that some have made it out to be, but it wouldn’t hurt to buy some lysine tablets and take them as soon as you feel a cold sore coming on (I’ve even heard of people recommending that you start taking lysine if you know that you’re in an environment
conducive to you getting a cold sore, i.e. high stress and/or cold dry weather, etc.), I’ve found that lysine does shorten the duration of a cold sore by a few days and can, in my opinion, help to prevent them if you’re taking it before you get one. Recommended dosage is 1000mg 3 times per day when you have an active outbreak or feel one coming on, and if you wish to take it as a preventative measure then 500mg once a day is typically the recommended dosage. For more information on lysine and cold sores, see: Lysine: Cold Sores Treatment? Dosage and How-To…
- Lysine Ointment: A pilot study by the Southern California University looked at the effectiveness of a lysine-containing ointment in 30 people. Researchers found that the ointment produced full resolution in 40% of participants by the third day and in 87 percent by the end of the sixth day. No adverse effects were reported. Source: http://altmedicine.about.com/cs/supplements/a/ColdSores.htm
- Witch Hazel: Dab on a Q-Tip and apply several times a day, does noticably shorten the duration of the cold sore, probably about the same as the Benzyl Alcohol.
- Probiotic Yogurt: Applying it topically several times a day has been noted to be very effective by several people and my friend Debbie swears by it: she ices her cold sore several times a day, uses a sterilized needle to drain any fluid (you have to get ALL of it out), and then applies the yogurt with a q-tip, and then tops it off with a dab of Clearasil or nail polish remover to keep it dry (this is very effective in my experience, I highy recommend the nail polish remover).
- Nail Polish Remover or Clearasil: These do an excellent job of keeping the cold sore completely dry after you’ve drained it of fluid (use a needle sterilized with alcohol), use a q-tip to apply.
- Vitamin B-12: Medical research in England found that many people with cold sores were low in B12, and that by adding 250 mcg. of B12 the condition improved rapidly. This research also suggested taking B complex supplements with emphasis on the B12 and folic acid.
- Lemon Balm: Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) has antiviral properties. In a research study conducted in hospitals and dermatology clinics in Germany, lemon balm cream promoted the healing of blisters in five days compared to 10 days in the control group. Used on regularly, lemon balm cream may decrease the frequency of recurrences. Source: http://altmedicine.about.com/cs/supplements/a/ColdSores.htm
- Tea Bag Treatment: Tea contains tannic acid and it has been suggested that tannic acid possesses antiviral properties (some over-the-counter medications for cold sores contain tannic acid). Placing a
tea bag on a cold sore when it first begins to form (especially during the Tingle stage) 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, some have suggested that Earl Grey works best) on the area where the cold sore is forming for a few minutes every hour. Source: http://www.animated-teeth.com/cold_sores/t4_cold_sores_treatments.htm
- Tea Tree Oil: There is some limited research that has shown that tea tree oil may have topical anti-viral activity, especially with the Herpes virus.
Something My Friend Concocted…
My best experience with home remedies is with something concocted by Grace, a close friend of mine, and I must say that this cold sore treatment has worked every single time for me (often inside of 24 hours), and even more impressive is I’ve seen it work on about 25 other people she’s tried it on, with very good consistency. She was so enthusiastic about her discovery that she has decided to turn it into an e-book, so I wouldn’t be much of a friend if I didn’t try to help her out a bit on my blog. One of the first women that we “experimented” on (she’s our close friend and was glad to give it a go), was Gretchen, who occasionally crosses the border from Wisconsin to come visit us, look at what she said:
“Grace,
I wanted to get a note to you to thank you for the information in your ebook. I must admit I was very skeptical when I read your instructions, but you were right on the money. My double bout with cold sores was gone after only 6 days. The best part of this entire program has been that to this point (3 months later), the cold sores have not returned. I can hardly believe it – thanks so much!”
Gretchen Rhodes, 47
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Please go have a look at my friend Grace’s solution for the matter here: Cold Sore Freedom in 3 days: How to cure cold sores naturally at home–I’ve personally tried this and it is currently my favorite method of handling my cold sores, and it’s not because it’s necessarily the fastest (I’ve found that if I drain, wash, and apply nail polish remover to a cold sore several times a day while keeping an ice cube on it the WHOLE day, about 50% of the time it’ll be gone in about 2 days, but it’s unreliable at best and you can’t do ANYTHING else that day but attend to your cold sore). It’s because it works EVERY TIME, often within the first 24 hours–3 days is more like the unlikely maximum, you’re much more likely to see it gone within 24 hours or so–and it only requires a few minutes of your time every day, so I highly recommend you give it a chance and if it doesn’t work then just get your money back, no harm no foul we’re all still friends, ok?
70 Responses to Cold Sores Home Remedies – What I’ve Tried and What’s Worked
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Ice seems to work for me best, but you have to start icing as soon as you feel the tingle. The earlier you catch it and start icing the less severe the breakout will be. The only thing that sucks is you have to ice all day! Again only works if you catch it in its early stages. Ive had ice work so well that it was practically gone in 24 hours and usually never more than 3 days.
Stress is my breakout factor. Recently went through a breakup of 5 years and lo and behold I have a cold sore the next day. I wish there was a cure.
These methods seem to work rather well but I have to comment on the fact that it does annoy me that your friend Grace has supposedly found a way to help with cold sores and yet rather than share the secret out of the kindness of her heart she has decided it would be better to instead make money off people?
I just find myself doubting if it is worth the money and considering how she claims she suffered a great deal for a long time and wasted so much money on the cold sores that she has then decided to make money from other people going through the same problem?
Lastly, if it was a true remedy it would have been all over the news and loads of doctors/scientists would have jumped on it as soon as it was in the public eye because then they could find out what it is that helps get rid of the cold sores and make a more effective medicine.
So I wouldn’t bother with Grace’s e-book but these other methods work well so thank you for them.
well, I tired tea-tree oil. I always had it at my house but never used it. I’m 18 and my boyfriends comming over this weekend. yuck, hes not going to be happy. hahahahahha can anyone tell me how long this stuff usually takes in order for it to have effect?
Candice, in my experience straight tea tree oil will have very little effect. Everyone’s body responds differently but cold sores are REALLY resistant to most treatments and even “effective” treaments can take DAYS if not a week or more. I posted what i feel is the most consistent, most effective and fastest treament above – prolonged contact with isopropyl alcohol. It works every time for me. Here’s the blog with everything you need to know including toxicity.
http://cureacoldsore.blogspot.com/
I tried the pro biotic yogurt with nail polish remover that your friend swears by, wow that works! I woke up this morning with a nice cluster of blisters on my bottom lip, it was painful and grew bigger as the morning went on. I found this sight, I had Natural pro biotic yogurt. I Used a sterilized pin to empty the blisters (got ALL the liquid out – as instructed) put on the pro biotic yogurt and dripped some nail polish remover on top of that. Left it for 30mins and repeated that 3 times with in an hour and a half. HUGE difference even at that point. Then for the rest of the day I dabbed on nail polish remover to keep it dry.
The sore is barely there right now. There’s no bump AT ALL. I can barely feel it anymore. Its like it just shriveled right up.
The yogurt was soothing and actually took away the pain, the nail polish remover stings a bit but it does a good job of keeping the site dry.
Thanks for making this site. I would suggest everyone tries this treatment. It works great!
I applied nail polish remover, and hopefully it works! (:
I had a cold sore for 7 days shortest yet for me I started out with the salt and ice the first 2 days and this helped dry the site before it grew to big. then I found this site and tried the ice and nail polish remover and in 2 days noticed a difference at night tried the toothpaste washed it up in the morning and did the nail polish remover all day by the third day the sore scabbed over and applied polysporin to prevent it cracking and bleeding this happens when I smile, and this morning its gone I am glad I found this site and thanks for the tips I started the nail polish remover three days in to the cold sore and it still only took the 3 days to clear it up…This is great I will continue with the ice and nail polish for future outbreaks for sure.
Hi, I have been getting cold sores since I was around 7 and im 20 now.. When I was younger I got them more often but now that im older I get them once every 5 or 6 months.. I have tryed most of the over the counter cold sore treatments, nail polish remover, tooth paste, tea bags, vasaline, and neosporin.. NONE of them work!! please someone say something that will more then likely clear this gross thing up in a couple days!!
Hey Pplz’! This Is Like My First Cold Sore And I’m Happy to read That I’m Not the Only One Who Has One. lol. But I’m Going to try Some Of These! Hopefully they Work! *Crossed Fingers*
I have had cold sores off and on, about every 2-3 months since I was about 8, Im now 21 and still suffereing due to my career and being fatigued/stressed often. At times, I do get up to 4 at a time. I recently was prescribed Valtrex – Take 1 3x a day as soon as the tingling sensation starts, and continue to take until the sore is gone. There is also an antibiotic cream I have that fights the virus from the outside in. I find these both reduce the severity and prevent it from spreading.
I find staying away from Acidic foods, exercising often to reduce stress, taking Lysine as a preventative measure, and Cats Claws to boost my immune system all help.
Toothpaste has worked the best for me to dry the sore out.
Remember to wash your hands frequently, avoid touching the sore, and keep your mouth clean. Replace tooth brushes often to avoid the spread of cold sores.
Okay….I was desperate to get rid of a huge cold sore so I took a leap of faith and tried the nail polish remover and toothpaste. OMG! I am 44 years old and have suffered with cold sores for over 30 years and finally I found something that actually works. Thanks so much for sharing this information.
okay so ive been sufering cold sores for about 5 years now and they are horrible.
i’ve finally been able to notice when i am getting one.
last night i felt that tingle and itchiness but i had no visible symtoms yet i put ice on for the entire night and put a little bit of rubbing alchol on it. i was expecting to wake up with a huge cold sore this morning nope only a barely noticable small bump but i felt as the day went on it was getting bigger but i still wasn’t noticeable to anyone but myself so i thought i usually put aberva on when my cold sore is bad and it helps the healing. so i went out and bought aberva and applied it about three times. that little bump completly disappered and the tingly and itchesness is gone! im hoping i prevented the cold sore! so my advice put aberva on the second u feel that first tingle and u wont get the cold sore! hopefully tomorow i wont wake up with one though loll
Omg my wedding is this sat. and I have going so crazy about this cold sore….I have hold off the wedding cause the cold sore is bigger than texas but I will try the nail polish remover…maybe tht clorox idea..anything to make this go away
Wish me luck
i cant stand itttttt. so embarasing!!!!!nothig i try works!!!!
I’m 39 and have been plagued with these nasty things since age 5! when i was a child i would get them 4-5 times a year.I noticed as i have aged i get them less, only once a year now! This won’t work for the ladies, but for you guys out there i have always found that shaving with shave creme and a razor and then applying aftershave to the sore immediately after scraps the blisters away and then dries it out! The problem with this is that you are left with an open wound which has to then scab and heal which takes a good week!
guys i wanna help u so listen to me!!
read my cmment from two weeks ago that cold sore went away!!! put ice the first tingle and aberva and the cold sore never comes hope i can help yaaa
Hey everyone. Well I am just like you. i get those terrible sores. They are so bloody awful. Well I have been stressed and I think its probably why it came. It started on Thursday. I sometimes get twinges or ichy moments and don’t think about it. But on Thursday I thought, this might be a cold sore, I should pop a veltrex. nah, so i didn’t. stupid, ya friday I got a lil bumb, damn it! So i did the veltrex pills. ( go to your doctor, say I get cold sores, veltrex helps can I get a dose with refills. ) They are about $60.00 in canada, (not sure anywhere else) but they are worth the money! So first you are supposed to take about 3- 4 pills the first sign. then the next day take 4 more (the bottle will explain) Now if it starts to go away, just take less pills or none. Anyway. so this is one of those things that will actually work.
I read some of the info on here and I decided to try it. I first iced the lil guy, – for a few hours. This really helps with swelling, and the two yellow circles were shrinking noticeably, plus the bump was much lessoned. Then I applied nail polish remover – which i never had, first time. I definitely helped dry it up. Then I applied a small amount of toothpasth on it. It felt really good, nice tingled. Which is reallly great to meditate with. (your body is amazing, it can heal. What I do is- I focus my thoughts on to the tingling sensation, and repeat. “thank you for my healing” Then I feel healing in my body. This is important because one wants to keep positive. I know its tough because it seems so small and insignificant but it just effects you so much. Its hard not to get negative, and scared that you are going to have it for such a long time. Don’t worry, It will go away sooner doing this. Okay So next step….I continued drying it up with nail polish remover and rubbing a little bit of toothpaste. (toothpast will whiten over top of the bump. just remove it. ) Continue to this and. Ill write more with my progress.
Drink lots – TONS of water. Really clean out your system.
Okay, people say don’t mask it with makeup. Well lame. – It will probably slow down the healing but can doing this can become a way to still enjoy life during one. I buy the redest blush I can find without glitter in it. (i have pretty read lips- basically go a shade darker then your normal shade.)
Then after you clean it out just dab on a little blush to your lip. It actual seems to help dry out the lil guy. then just use the nailpolish to remove and clean it out with it.
hmm Well, I will keep you posted on my developments.
Hope this works! I know its …irritating but with these steps it makes it a little less stressful about cold sores when you are stressed in your life!
i have had coldsores since i can remember. I sometimes alternate between lypactin and abreva, but i find if you use it too much it just stops working. Ive used valtrex but i find it works the best only if you have the tingling sensation first. Once the coldsore is out though, i dont find it speeds up the healing process. Now i know this will hurt like hell but rubbing alcohol works. I always drain the blister first, and then apply rubbing alcohol with a cute tip. stings for a few seconds but drys it up so quick. I woke up with 3 today so ive been researching home remedies all night. People are swearing by Licorice lip balm….i see you can buy it in the UK but im in canada and am hoping i can find it! People use it daily as their lip balm and it has prevented them from getting cold sores for years…..one can only hope!!! I will try out some of these home remedies….i really hope it works because they hurt and my lips feel like they are falling apart! best of luck everyone!
heya, I get coldsores really badly if i am severley rundown, very stressed out & down or my immune system is low…
* Zovirax, a coldsore cream by the company gsk (GlaxoSmithKline) is good, but only if it is small and you apply as soon as you know ur getting one. it says to apply 5 times a day for 4 days. the active ingredient is Aciclovir 5% w/w cream.
* Tea Tree oil – using a cotton bud and undiluted, over the area where it is to dry it out and becoz it has antiseptic, antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral action. works well but havent found anything to use on the area when it is really dry….
* Betadine Antispetic Ointment – still giving this a go but it seems to be really working.
*using a cotton tip for everything being used on the area to avoid contaminating anything
*lots of sleep, water, lysine tablets, zinc tablets.
I have had Herpes simplex type 1 (Cold sores) since I was 6 years old, I got it from someone who jabbed a pencil in my cheek and it spread from my jaw and up near my eye so my whole left face was covered in blusters. I learned to control them by vitamins, and yogurt. I only get them once a year sometime I go 3 years free from this nasty virus. But when I do get them I get them in my nose and out side my nose. I get pills from the doctor its called valacyclovir and it works great and fast. don’t let it run your life, when I get them now i think its a wake up call saying your not taking care of your self. Eat yogurt everyday and take vitamins and drink milk because calcium keeps it away. we are all stuck with it for the rest of our life