How to bust a cold sore?

Ah, cold sores – the bane of our existence. There’s nothing quite like waking up with a big ol’ blister on your lip that screams “Hey world, I have herpes simplex virus!” Fear not my friend, for I am here to bestow upon you some sage advice on how to bust those pesky little suckers.

What are cold sores and what causes them?

Before we delve into the nitty-gritty details of how to rid ourselves of these pesky devil blisters, let’s first understand what they are and where they come from. Cold sores (medically known as Herpes labialis) are fluid-filled blisters that form around the mouth area caused by an infection from herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). These are highly contagious and can spread easily through close contact.

Prevention is key

As with most things in life, it’s always better to prevent than cure. Here’re some tips you could follow before we discuss further:

  • Wash your hands regularly
  • Avoid sharing utensils or drinks
  • Keep stress under control
  • Apply sunblock liberally when going outdoors

So you already got one…

Welp! If prevention didn’t work out for ya’, don’t despair. The good news is there’re several ways you can deal with a cold sore breakout.

Start off strong – apply ice immediately

The moment you spot any signs indicating onset like itchiness or tingling sensation near lips; just grab an ice pack or anything frozen in the freezer wrapped in cloth/towel and press it gently against affected areas at least two-three times daily^. Ice helps reduce inflammation which speeds up healing process while eventually preventing others around self getting infected#.

Use essential oils

Many essentials oils possess antiviral properties which help fight-off viral attack dispensed via applicator directly into antiviral oils-affected areas. As a result, it inhibits the growth of the virus^.

Avoid acidic foods

During an outbreak of blisters, presence of citric acid in orange juice or fizzy drinks can accelerate fluid flow within sores causing pain and irritation hence either minimized or eliminated from diet during active breakout has been advised by specialists^.

Medicate with anti-viral drugs

If all else fails consider visiting a doctor for prescribed medication to get rid off uncomfortable symptoms which follow every cold-sore flare up such as Valacyclovir known to prevent further replication thus allowing recovery process#.

What not to do when dealing with Cold Sores?

In hopes of curing your cold sore faster, you might find yourself doing things that only worsen its condition than healing. Here is what NOT to do:

  • Try popping/crushing/scratching blister(s) open – this makes infection spread more broadly on lips making self even more susceptible to future outbreaks
  • Licking/blowing on lesion once it starts weeping (use tissue if needed)s
  • Kissing/having sexual relations since physical contact increases chances spreading around#.

When should I contact my doctor?

Though mild signs vanish away without taking any medicines after 1-2 weeks typically post onset but contacting doctors at onset proves beneficial providing preventive measures for future attacks as well reducing severity in case they reoccur substantially. Below are few scenarios where one must take professional help :

  1. If blisters cover wide area near mouth (#).
  2. Witnessing frequent occurring breakouts despite being cautious ever since first one was treated(Hyperlinkwww.mayoclinic.org).
    3.Once experiencing initial discomfort then develop fever and swollen glands as virus has made deeper entry into system(Bayer)

Final Thoughts: Prevention & Early Intervention Can Decrease Severity!

Cold sores are annoyingly painful! And prevention alone is not bulletproof. Hence, taking prompt action towards the management of its symptoms such as usage of ice application/antiviral medication proves to be a decisive factor in reducing further complications that might arise from herpes simplex virus type 1 outbreaks^

Not only this, but also being cautious about what you eat (avoiding acidic foods), and trying your best to eliminate triggers like stress will allow beautiful skin around lips that’s no longer hampered by these red painful bumps year after year!

So say NO to cold sores, and enjoy flawless derma!

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