Facts on Cold Sore Home Remedies - Cold Sores

1. Reduce Stress to Reduce Cold Sores
Cold sores are painful, embarrassing and contagious. They're actually caused by the herpes simplex virus. They can drive you nuts, as they appear at the most inconvenient times. Actually, stress, anxiety and highly emotional situations can bring on cold sores. To help from developing cold sores or to get rid of them, alleviate stress from your life or work to keep your emotions in check.

2. Check the Medicine Cabinet for Cold Sore Remedies
Your medicine cabinet has solutions for your cold sore. Dab it with some rubbing alcohol or mouthwash on a cotton ball. It'll really sting, but will reduce the size and help it clear up. Smash a benadryl tablet, mix the powder with chap stick and apply topically to the cold sore. Apply Aloe vera gel or oils to help heal the cold sore. Keep it covered with petroleum jelly or lip balm to keep it moistened so that it doesn't crack and ooze, spreading the virus. Take aspirin, ibuprofen or some acetaminophen to help with pain and to reduce swelling. Some even find relief by dabbing clear fingernail polish on the cold sore.

3. Licorice Offers Sweet Relief to a Cold Sore
Find cold sores remedies right in your kitchen. Soak it with a tea bag to reduce the size. Pump up your diet with lots of healthy foods to reduce the size and to promote healing. Choose foods that are rich with antioxidants and foods that contain the high complex carbohydrates and eat lots of fruits and green leafy vegetables. Avoid potato chips, acidic citrus fruits and chocolate while you have a cold sore. Trade the chocolate for some licorice to stop a cold sore. The glycyrrhizic acid in licorice is highly effective in stopping a cold sore. Other foods to avoid are oatmeal, grains, whole-wheat products, peas and even peanuts. Avoiding these will help reduce the time you suffer with the cold sore.

4. Get Control of a Cold Sore With Vitamins
Make sure that you are getting your daily requirements of vitamins, especially vitamins A, C and E. Adding zinc and sucking on throat lozenges with zinc will reduce the duration of a cold sore.

5. Become a Clean Freak to Scare off a Cold Sore
It's important to keep everything clean to avoid spreading the cold sore virus if you or someone close to you has one. Wash your hands thoroughly and often with soap. Use hand sanitizer after touching the cold sore, when you can't wash. Don't share towels or wash cloths. Replace your toothbrush often and don't share toothbrushes. Avoid wearing makeup, so the makeup doesn't contaminate the cold sore causing further infections.