Cold sores come by many different names--fever blisters, herpes simplex type 1 and herpes labialis--but they are never welcome. They can be painful, embarrassing and socially disruptive. Untreated, a cold sore can take one to two weeks to go away, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine's website, MedLine Plus. There are a number of things you can do to hasten it along.
Stopping Them Before They Start
If you are prone to frequent outbreaks of fever blisters, MayoClinic.com advises that your physician may want to put you on an antiviral medication such as Zovirax, Valtrex or Famvir. Also think about which of your possessions is coming in contact with your cold sore. Richard Glass, Ph.D., chairman of the Department of Oral Pathology at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine, says that the herpes virus can live on a toothbrush for days. He recommends throwing yours away at the first sign that you are getting a cold sore. If the cold sore erupts anyway, throw the new one away. This will at least prevent the cold sore from spreading. Once your cold sore has healed, throw your toothbrush away again. Keep the new one somewhere dry, because this virus likes warm, damp places. Throw your tube of toothpaste out too if you think the bristles of your toothbrush might have touched the opening.
Topical Treatments
Topical ointments generally only ease discomfort and do little to get rid of the cold sore more quickly, according to MayoClinic.com. Lidocaine can ease the pain and benzocaine can protect the cold sore from irritation that might cause it to spread. MedLine Plus says that penciclovir andacyclovir, an antiviral cream, might shorten your outbreak by a day. The website MotherNature suggests that phenol might heal cold sores a little faster than if they took their own natural course. It has certain properties that are theoretically capable of killing the virus.
Zinc
The website MotherNature cites studies that have indicated that zinc, applied to the location immediately as soon as you sense an eruption, can speed up healing time to five days. Dab it on every hour at a minimum. Milos Chvapil, M.D., head of the Surgical Biology Section of the University of Arizona College of Medicine, says that zinc has properties that can prevent the herpes virus from getting the necessary things it needs to grow. He recommends zinc gluconate over zinc sulfate and says that both are available at health food stores.
Antiviral Medications
Antiviral medications might also get rid of cold sores more quickly once they start, according to MayoClinic.com. If your doctor will prescribe one, start taking it immediately once the cold sore threatens to erupt.
Home Remedies
Ice or a cold compress can reduce swelling and relieve the pain, but they won't hasten the healing process, according to MayoClinic.com. Mark A. McCune, M.D., chief of dermatology at Human Hospital in Kansas, suggests adding the amino acid lysine to your diet if you feel a cold sore coming on. He recommends a supplemented dosage of 2,000 to 3,000 milligrams a day from the moment you feel the first tingling, but adds that you should consult your doctor first, especially if you are pregnant. Lysine can inhibit fetal growth.
