Cold sore treatments are more about treating the symptoms during an outbreak than the actual ability to treat the cold sore itself. There are many treatments that can be used to help stave off the symptoms you may be experiencing and prevent the cold sores from coming back for a long time. First, talk with your doctor about your cold sores and understand they are caused by the herpes simplex virus and cannot be cured once contracted. However, there are medications that can be taken to help prevent outbreaks by suppressing the virus in your system and allowing your immune system to work appropriately to protect your body.

Other treatments include over the counter medications to deal with the pain and swelling of the affected area, as well as creams to help with the burning, itching, swelling, cracking and possible bleeding of the skin for the affected area. You also want to make sure you are ptoe3cting your skin before, during and after an outbreak to prevent scarring and the occurrence of future outbreaks. There is no definite way to prevent outbreaks, but having good skin care, a healthy living plan and keeping your stress levels down can go a long way to preventing cold sores.

You should also practice good skin care in the summer to keep the oil and sun off your face to prevent cold sores and other bacterial infections from happening. While, there are no definite one cold sore treatments to choose from, there are many that work for many cold sore sufferers, so you are bound to find something that will help you through this tough time.

Cold sores (or fever blisters) are itchy, painful and unsightly -3 out of 10 people get them on a regular basis but nobody talks about them!

Cold sores are caused by the herpes virus.

There are two kinds of herpes infection -HSV1 which most often causes cold sores on the lips; HSV2 usually causes infection in the genital area and is considered a sexually transmitted disease (STD).

Note: Cold sores (HSV1) can be spread to the genital area and genital herpes (HSV2) can be spread to the mouth.

You can get the infection from kissing someone with the virus or eating/drinking after someone who is infected. Many parents pass the virus to their children. Once you have the infection, you can not be healed -but you can prevent and treat cold sores.

Cold sores (fever blisters) usually start as a small sore on the lip which slowly grows larger and looks like a blister. The “blisters” will break open and eventually scab over and fall off. During this time, you can pass the virus to others and spread it to other areas of the lip and body.

The good news is that they will usually clear up within a few days to two weeks.

The bad news is that they can be painful, unattractive and can take TWO weeks to clear up!

You should start treatment as soon as you know a cold sore is coming (either from itchy/tingling feeling or seeing the small sore).

To treat cold sores:

1. Apply ice for a 3 minutes 4 times an hour for 2 hours.

2. Start taking Motrin (ibuprofen) - 1 to 2 tablets every 4 to 6 hours or Tylenol Extra Strength (acetaminophen) - 1 tablet every 4 hours.

3. Avoid acidic foods (pizza, orange juice) -you’ll know it is bad because it will most likely HURT.

4. Rinse with warm water mixed with 1 teaspoon of baking soda

5. Apply Abreva cream (available OTC at the pharmacy) -apply 5 times a day for up to 10 days. Abreva is the only OTC medication proven to decrease symptoms and aids in healing.

6. If the cold sore is painful -apply Anbesol or Orajel over the Abreva to help numb the area.

7. Take a prescription drug like acyclovir or Valtrex. These meds are by prescription only, so talk to your physician about them. The recommended doses are…

* Valtrex (valacyclovir) - Take 2 Valtrex 1,000 mg tablets twice daily for day 1 then take 1 Valtrex 1,000mg tablet twice a day on day 2.

* Zovirax (acyclovir) -Take acyclovir 400mg tablet five times a day

* Both medications work -Valtrex is taken less often and may be more convenient but acyclovir comes in a generic and can be less expensive.

8. You can also use some natural supplements:

* Lysine -500mg to 1,000mg/day for 5 to 10 days

* Vitamin C -100 to 500mg/day for 5 to 10 days

* Lemon balm -apply 2 to 4 times a day for 5 days

To prevent future outbreaks of cold sores:

1. Stress, sun and illness can lead to an outbreak of cold sores -so avoid when at all possible!

2. Avoid drinking after, using utensils or kissing anyone with an active infection

3. Prescription drugs…

* Zovirax (acyclovir) -Take 200mg three to five times daily

* Valtrex (valacyclovir) - Take 500mg one time daily

So, now you know…and knowing is half the battle!

The herpes simplex virus is a complex virus. Unlike other viruses, you may get when you get the flu, this particular type is difficult to eradicate. Once the HSV 1 or HSV 2 virus gets into the body, it buries itself deep within the nervous system. During most of its time there, it will lie dormant, not causing any type of symptoms and usually not doing any damage to the body.

Controlling Herpes

The herpes simplex virus is a complex virus. Unlike other viruses, you may get when you get the flu, this particular type is difficult to eradicate. Once the HSV 1 or HSV 2 virus gets into the body, it buries itself deep within the nervous system. During most of its time there, it will lie dormant, not causing any type of symptoms and usually not doing any damage to the body.

For many people, there will be instances when a herpes simplex virus outbreak occurs. For some reason, the herpes simplex virus reactivates and becomes active in the body again. This is when an outbreak may occur. For some people, outbreaks may occur on a regular basis, even every few months. For others, they occur very infrequently and so much so that they are easier to control.

There is no way for you to know when the herpes simplex virus will again reactivate within the body. It can be very frustrating, too, for you not to know when it happens. However, once you see some of the early warning signs of an onset of the outbreak, you can take action. These actions include taking medications that can slow or even stop the onset of the outbreak.

Medications are one of the best ways for you to overcome the difficulties of this outbreak. There are two main options available. For those with frequent outbreaks, doctors may recommend a dose of antiviral medications. These medications do have the ability to keep most outbreaks under control, however there are side effects and eventually the virus can learn to overcome the antiviral medications.

Another option that you have is to take episodic medications. These medications work at the onset of the herpes simplex virus outbreak. When you spot the early warning signs of an outbreak, take these medications. At that point, you will be able to provide your body with medications that can slow down, severely weaken or even kill the herpes virus before the outbreak takes hold. This will reduce the severity of the outbreak and in some cases may even stop it from occurring.

Acyclovir is a popular antiviral drug that is found highly effective for the treatment of herpes simplex virus infections, as well as in the treatment of herpes zoster (shingles). Though Acyclovir does not help cure herpes (there is no cure for herpes) it does help to reduce the severity and duration of the symptoms of both genital and oral herpes. Acyclovir manages to do this by inhibiting the action of enzymes that are responsible for allowing the virus cells to replicate in the body. As herpes affects a large number of men and women around the world, the antiviral drug has become well-known as a herpes treatment medicine. Acyclovir tablets are also found to be an effective herpes treatment in patients whose immune systems are suppressed and are unable to fight off infection, either due to diseases such as HIV and AIDS, or because of medical treatment including chemotherapy, steroids or bone marrow transplant.

It is suggested that you should start taking Acyclovir tablets as soon as you notice the first symptoms of herpes outbreak, as early treatment increases the effectiveness of the antiviral drug. Acyclovir tablets are available in 3 different dosage strengths, 200mg, 400mg and 800mg tablets. You may need to take the medication with water 2 to 5 times a day for up to 12 days depending on the severity of your infection. As Acyclovir is a prescription only herpes treatment medicine, you should always take it as advised by your doctor. A few days into the Acyclovir treatment you will notice that the rash and sores caused by herpes infection go away. It is suggested that you should complete the full course of your treatment even if the symptoms have completely disappeared. This helps to prevent any further outbreaks from occurring.

Even though Acyclovir is a well-tolerated drug, in some people it may cause side effects such as a general feeling of being ill, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea, headaches, fatigue, memory loss, leg pain, sore throat and swelling in the hands and feet. It is suggested that you take the medicine with food to reduce side effects such as nausea, diarrhea and stomach upsets.

These days, you can also order Acyclovir through reputable online clinics.

What causes cold sores for you? You may have one or more causes of cold sores affecting you. Identifying these causes is powerful medicine for healing and prevention.

What causes cold sores for all people is basically the herpes simplex virus, type 1 or 2. Do not be embarrassed. Estimates are that close to 90% of the population carries this virus.

You probably know that. What is more important for you to know, however, are the three primary triggers that activate a sleeping herpes virus. These triggers are the most common causes of cold sores.

When the herpes virus activates, it will wiggle its way to the surface along a nerve fiber and invade the cells there. This destructive virus then forces the cells to create new virus particles.

The cells swell as they fill up with new virus particles and finally they rupture open. This spills out hoards of new virus and another painful open sore is the result.

Below are three of the main triggers that activate the herpes virus. You will find these to be your actual causes of cold sores.

1. YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM IS TOO WEAK.

Your antibody soldiers exist to defend you from pathogens such as the herpes virus. The vitality and potency of these determine the strength of your immune system.

Your vitamin and mineral intake from food and supplements is very important. They are critically important for building effective antibodies.

If you get frequent sores, it is a very positive sign your immune system needs a boost.

Increase your intake of fresh and raw vegetables and fruits if possible. These provide the best quality and best absorbed nutrients.

For optimal results, it is important you start taking a top-shelf vitamin and mineral supplement. For many people, this is all they need to do to stop their cold sores.

But one big mistake many folks make is buying those one or two per day grocery store vitamins. If you do not buy a high quality vitamin supplement, you will not get good results.

High content of all vitamins is important. Some of the most important for your needs here are high amounts of vitamins A, C, E and the B family. Also, calcium, magnesium and zinc are necessary minerals for this purpose.

2. ARGININE QUANTITIES ARE MUCH HIGHER THAN LYSINE.

Arginine and lysine are two amino acids essential to your health. They are both found, in varying degrees, in most common meats and vegetables we eat. Both of these greatly influence your cold sore events.

Arginine is the one essential protein for building new herpes virus. Without an ample supply of arginine, it is impossible for the herpes virus to create new virus copies. It will not create a new sore.

The herpes simplex virus is not able to use lysine protein to build new virus copies.

Your cells use the same storage area within the cell for both arginine and lysine. The more of one you supply your cells with, the less of the other will be stored.

By showering your cells with lysine, you will greatly reduce the storage of arginine and this alone can prevent cold sores. Lysine, as a cold sore treatment, is one of the easiest and best remedies you can use.

Dairy products, especially from Wisconsin, are particularly high in lysine and useful for raising your lysine levels. The majority of folks, however, find lysine capsules are easy and most convenient.

3. YOUR pH LEVEL IS TOO ACID.

When your pH is alkaline on average, it is nearly impossible for a virus to make you sick. On the pH scale of 1 through 14, 7 is neutral. Alkaline is above 7 and acid is below 7.

Your pH will commonly vary between 6.6 and 7.35 pH. When you drop below 7, you are becoming acid and your resistance to disease is greatly reduced. If you are prone to outbreaks, this alone will often activate an otherwise dormant herpes virus.

Your tissue oxygen levels continue to drop the more acid you become. These are perfect conditions for the herpes virus to successfully replicate.

Avoid acid causing foods such as white flour, sugar and carbonated drinks. Eat more green vegetables. Cabbage and asparagus are top choices for this. Also, many people keep their pH levels alkaline by using kits available for this purpose at most good vitamin outlets.

There you have it. The triggers mentioned above are the three most common situations that cause a cold sore. There are other advanced triggers, but knowing how these three affect your outbreaks will be the biggest help to you right now.

Also keep in mind, finding and using good cold sore remedies depends so much on what causes cold sores for you.

Current Herpes Vaccines

The odd thing is that there has been a vaccine around for the herpes virus for a while now: it’s called Zostavax. The thing is, though, that it’s a vaccine designed to prevent shingles, also known as “herpes zoster”–yes, the herpes virus causes the disease normally found in people over 60 usually known as shingles. In a 2005 study of 38,000 elderly adults, Zostavax prevented 1/2 the cases of shingles and reduced the number of cases of postherpetic neuralgia by 2/3. In October 2007 the vaccine was officially recommended in the U.S. for healthy adults aged 60 and over. Now, obviously, the problem with this is that it’s only effective against herpes zoster (shingles), and not cold sores or genital herpes, but don’t lose hope: the point of me telling you this is that herpes vaccines are in the works, and when one is successfully developed then another one for a different version of the virus, cold sores for example, is just one step away.

Vaccines Yet To Be Released

A much more promising vaccine that has been specifically said to potentially end up becoming a vaccine against HSV-1 (Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1, the strain of the virus that causes cold sores), is a vaccine currently in Phase III trials that’s designed to be a vaccine to prevent genital herpes in women. Herpes Simplex Type 2 (HSV-2) is typically the strain of herpes that causes genital herpes, but HSV-1 and HSV-2 are over 99% genetically identical and the scientists developing the vaccine are saying that they’ve found that those persons who: 1) Have never been exposed to either HSV-1 or HSV-2 and, 2) Receive the Herpevac vaccine, show immunity to both strains of the virus.

This means that the Herpevac vaccine, which is due to be approved by the FDA sometime in the very near future (probably less than a year), could potentially provide protection against HSV-1 IF you’ve never been exposed to herpes (either strain), thereby keeping you from ever developing a cold sore, or getting genital herpes for that matter (nice bonus isn’t it?).

If you’d like to get more information about the Herpevac trial OR you’d actually like to possibly participate in it (you must be a woman), then you can go to the official National Institute of Health Herpevac Trial for Women website at http://www.niaid.nih.gov/dmid/stds/herpevac/default.htm.

When you are looking for good cold sore treatments you need to understand how cold sores work and then work to prevent them as well as treat the outbreaks you get. Cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus and cannot be cured once you have it; therefore you are likely to endure a few cold sore outbreaks during your lifetime. These sores are not discriminatory like acne, they don’t care if you are young, old, rich, poor or have perfect or oily skin. They will strike when you want them to least because they are often brought on by a weakened immune system or high stress levels which cause the herpes virus to rear its ugly head. It is during these stressful times when you want to deal with cold sores the least.

Some of the most effective cold sore treatments will come in the form of symptoms containment and just waiting out the outbreak. Some of the symptoms you’ll want to treat will include itching, burning, swelling, dry, cracked, bleeding skin. These can be treated with many of the over the counter medications that are made for cold sores or other skin conditions that cause these symptoms. You can also talk with your doctor about a daily medication that can help to suppress the herpes virus in your system and thus prevent these outbreaks from occurring, or at least occurring as often.

Cold sore treatments are more about constraining the symptoms you are experiencing and protecting your skin from permanent damage during an outbreak. Moisturize often and always wear products with plenty of sun and environmental protection to protect your skin from scarring. Cold sores are embarrassing, painful and hard to deal with, but with the right plan of action in place between you and your doctor you can find ways to prevent and treat the outbreaks in a way that helps them heal faster, come fewer and keeps your skin looking beautiful all year long, even right after an outbreak. This is the best way to treat and deal with cold sores.