Cold sore outbreaks are experienced by 20-30% of the population of America. There is currently no cure for this condition but, thankfully, there are a variety of ways you can ease a cold sore's unpleasant symptoms, such as the associated discomfort.
The pain of a cold sore is usually at its most severe during the blister stage and normally does not completely subside until a crust has formed and the outbreak has almost fully healed. Without treatment this pain could mean up to twelve days of soreness, so it is well worth finding a remedy which works for you.
Herstat is effective in relieving cold sore symptoms but you may wish to take other treatment alongside Herstat to assist with managing the pain associated with cold sores. Here we have listed some other remedies which sufferers may be tempted to try. Not all of these methods have been scientifically tested and we do not recommend trying these methods without first consulting a medical expert.
None of the topical treatments mentioned should be used in conjunction with Herstat.
WARNING: Always seek advice from a medical professional before using a product for the first time.
Anaesthetic products
If you are suffering from cold sore pain, a topical anaesthetic cream, ointment, or gel could help cool and numb the area.
These types of treatments usually contain ingredients such as lidocaine, tetracaine, benzocaine, and prilocaine. If you are allergic to any of these, you should carefully read the product's label and avoid purchasing anything you might have a negative reaction to.
In addition, you should always follow the instructions provided by the manufacturers. For example, anaesthetic products should advise you that applying too large an amount can result in lowered blood pressure, health problems such as irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia), and seizures. These are life-threatening side effects but are rare.
Painkillers
This might seem obvious but, when you are more used to using oral painkillers for problems such as headaches or joint pain, you might forget that pain relievers can also be used for conditions such as cold sores.
There are a variety of different brands available without prescription and most contain paracetamol (Acetaminophen), ibuprofen or aspirin (Acetylsalicylic Acid). Do not use these products if you are allergic to any of the ingredients.
If you have used these products before without incident then it might be worth comparing leading brands with own-brand pain relief tablets. Often they contain exactly the same ingredients, but cost a great deal less than the well-advertised brands.
Home remedies
Ice
One effective home remedy for cold sores is applying ice to the blister. If you plan to try this treatment, it is best to make sure you wrap the ice in a hand towel so that it is easier to hold, and so that the freezing temperature is less unpleasant - plus applying ice directly to the skin can cause a burn.
Milk
A cool compress of milk is also reputed to be an effective way to get rid of cold sore pain. It's possible that it helps because milk contains proteins called immunoglobulins, which are antibodies that can help fight off viruses, such as HSV-1 which causes cold sores. In addition, milk contains l-lysine, which can inhibit arginine (an amino acid known to cause outbreaks).
Tea
Not only might a cup of tea help to reduce your stress and potentially boost your immune system, but used tea bags (suitably cooled) are also considered by some people to help towards reducing the sensations of pain felt during an outbreak.
The tannin (tannic acid) contained in tea – and in many other natural foods, drinks, and spices such as apricots, walnuts, beer, grape juice, cinnamon, coriander and vanilla – has been used for centuries for medicinal purposes.
Avoiding certain foods
Spicy and acidic foods can aggravate an outbreak and also enhance the pain of blisters and lesions. Although avoiding these types of food will not reduce the pain of a cold sore, it will help prevent an increase in the pain you experience.
Use Herstat
There are numerous non-antiviral products available which can help to reduce the pain of the blisters caused by a cold sore outbreak, but many of these treatments will not speed healing.
Thankfully, for those who are allergic to any of the above treatments, find them uncomfortable, impractical to use, or are looking for something that is more effective in helping to relieve the symptoms of an outbreak Herstat Lip Care Ointment may be a good choice.
Herstat can ease the symptoms of a cold sore and can be applied at any time during an outbreak. It will not only help prevent dry skin, cracked, and dry lips, but because it provides a healthy moist environment within which healing can take place more rapidly, it may also reduce the length of an outbreak.
If you would like to learn more about our lip protectant, please browse the rest of our website.
To purchase a tube of Herstat (for use during outbreaks), or the Lip Care Stick (for use in between outbreaks) click on the button below.
