Fighting Cold Sores from The Outside

A cold sore can be very embarrassing because it affects the most visible parts of the body such as lips, mouth, nostrils, eye lids, etc. During those 9 - 12 days in which the cold sore is present, it passes through various stages of developments. These stages can cause pain and swelling. These blisters grow in size and then ultimately after the prolonged cycle they dry up. Care should be taken when a cold sore dries up as it may leave a mark or a dark spot. These are some of the precautions which you can take to battle the herpes simplex virus from outside.

Affected part should be cleaned with an anti bacterial agent and then later cleaned thoroughly with cotton. Itching, pain and swelling are three common stages of this bacteria during which you should resist the urge to itch or touch the affected part. If you happen to touch it make sure that you clean your hand thoroughly with an anti - bacterial agent to prevent the spread to other parts of your body and to other people.

So, as we mentioned, the first thing you need to do is clean it up with anti - bacterial agent and then later apply Zinc or DMSO at the affected part. Protamine zinc will help you achieve a very fast recovery. Generally it is estimated that protamine zinc speeds up the recovery process up to 30%.

DMSO is a very effective medication against blisters because it has the ability to penetrate the exposed cells and kill the bacteria. The herpes simplex virus is anaerobic in nature which means that it cannot survive in the presence of oxygen. DMSO is applied on alternate days and it is generally used to keep the cold sore from reoccurring.

Tooth paste when applied appropriately over the affected area can provide soothing comfort and relief from the pain. Tooth paste needs to be applied according to the age and the extent of blister formation. Many people have been using tooth paste on their face as a cold sore remedy because it contains compounds which provides a soothing effect and it also clears the area of the blister.

Plenty of exercise in the fresh air will make your body get much needed nascent oxygen which helps in killing unwanted bacteria inside your body. A healthy life style is a prerequisite without which all these medications and lotions will be of no use. Proper food, dietary habits, reduced levels of smoking and drinking, etc are required to make the virus dormant.