NATURAL REMEDIES FOR COLD SORES

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Natural remedies for cold sores!

In this post, we will discuss what cold sores are and how to deal with them.

I’ll be sharing my best tips on how to:

• clean a cold sore;
• help preventing one;
• minimise infection if you have already developed one;
• make DIY natural cold sore treatments. 

All of the above by using simple natural home remedies, such as essential oils.

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Sadly many of us know the feeling of when a cold sore outbreak is coming: that dreaded moment when you feel “the itch” on and around your mouth, and you look closely in the mirror to find clues as to when it’s going to appear, how big it will be, and if it will last for 2 whole weeks!

Suddenly your weekends plans are cancelled because you couldn’t possibly show your face in public with a giant monster on your lips!

Sigh!

I know my friend, I know…..I feel your pain!

WHY A COLD SORE ON MY LIP?

I’ve been there many many times before, and yes, I have indeed cancelled plans because I didn’t want to be seen.

I’ve tried all remedies known to mankind: from prescriptions such as an antiviral medication or over the counter creams and ointments; from toothpaste to perfume sprayed directly on my face (crazy I know!!!!), from lemon juice to ice cubes.

I’m practically an expert on the subject!

NATURAL REMEDIES FOR COLD SORES

The good news is that, thanks to my many years of endurance, I’ve tested many natural cold sore remedies and I’ve found a few that work quite well in both preventing and treating infections.

how common are cold sores?

According to www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au, cold sores are very common: 

“Around 90 per cent of adults have herpes simplex antibodies in their bloodstream, which means that they have been infected with the virus at some time.” 

WHAT ARE COLD SORES? 

Cold sores (also known as fever blisters) are small clusters of blister-like lesions that usually appear around the mouth area. This viral infection is caused by the herpes simplex viruses, usually in the strain “herpes simplex virus type 1 (hsv-1 virus)”.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF COLD SORES?

Different people will experience different cold sore symptoms.

Often the first sign of a cold sore is a spot on your skin that tingles, burns, or itches. 

This is generally followed by small blisters within a 24 hours period. 

The skin around the lesions can become very red and inflamed. Furthermore, the blisters usually break open and consequently weep a clear fluid.

 After a few days, the blisters will scab.

The duration of an outbreak can vary from 7 to 15 days.

Thankfully, cold sores generally heal completely in about 2 weeks, leaving no scar on your skin.

ARE COLD SORES HERPES?

Cold sores are indeed a form of herpes. The herpes simplex virus, or ‘cold sore virus’, is highly contagious and can be easily passed from person to person by close direct contact. 

How easily spread is a cold sore?

Indeed cold sores are very contagious. If you have an active blister on your mouth, you can spread the virus by simply touching the affected area and then getting in contact with objects or other people. This is why it is very important to always wash your wands after touching your face!

For example, you could pass the virus onto someone else by close contact, such as kissing. In addition to that, you could transmit it by touching objects after having touched your face.

How long is a cold sore contagious?

Cold sores are highly contagious from the time the first symptom appears. This is usually 1–2 days before the sore becomes visible. Sores remain highly contagious until the skin completely heals. This can take up to 15 days.

How Can You Stop Cold Sores From Spreading?

There are many things you can do to stop transmission of the virus.

In order to avoid spreading it, you should:

• Wash your hands often, and always after touching the blisters;
• Avoid sharing objects that get in contact with your mouth, such as toothbrushes, glasses and cutlery;
• Stop any form of close contact such as kissing with other people.

How often do cold sores come back?

Once someone has been exposed to the virus, it remains dormant (inactive) most of the time.

However, every so often the virus is activated by certain triggers, causing an outbreak of cold sores. The triggers that cause cold sores vary from person to person. Some people have frequent outbreaks, two to three times a year for example. On the other hand, others have one cold sore and never have another. Some people never get cold sores because the virus never becomes active.

WHAT TRIGGERS A COLD SORE?

There are a number of triggers when it comes to cold sores. Some people will tell you they are very sensitive to sunlight, whereas others will say they get a new recurrence at periods of stress.

Generally speaking, some of the triggers already known are:

• Seasonal illnesses, such as a cold or the influenza; 
• Chest infections;
• Exposure to direct sunlight for a prolonged period of time;
• A visit to the dentist (due to the skin getting in contact with a variety of tools, and discard from the mouth itself, as well as the doctor’s hands);
• Hormonal changes, particularly in women;
• Emotional or physical stress;
• Contact with bacterias on old make up (for example a lip stick or gloss or balm).

HOW DO I STOP GETTING COLD SORES?

Unfortunately, it is possible to avoid only some of the above situations. For the rest, it is very important to do what you can to minimise the chance of a recurrence.

In order to delay or prevent future outbreaks, you could:

• avoid known triggers if at all possible;
• wear sunscreen on your face and lips when outdoors;
• use a lip balm that contains sunscreen to help reduce the likelihood of an outbreak;
• try to limit stressful situations, both mentally and physically;
• work to maintain a healthy, balanced diet rich in vitamins and minerals;
• increase your intake of vitamin c, to boost your health;
• look after your overall health, in order to avoid getting run down. 

Are cold sores a serious problem?

Thankfully, in the vast majority of cases cold sores infections are not dangerous.

In fact, they heal by themselves and do not even leave a scar.

However, in some cases prescription medications might be necessary.

In particular, people that are immunocompromised should pay attention, as the cold sores might spread widely and with more serious symptoms.

Pregnant women and very young children may be at increased risk as well.

Your GP might need to prescribe common antiviral drugs, or topical medication in the form of antiviral creams. In some cases, simple counter pain relievers might be needed to soothe painful sores (especially if you get mouth sores!) 

can cold sores spread to other parts of your body?

Although uncommon, fever blisters can spread to other parts of the body. Fingers, eyes, and other parts can get infected as a result of getting in contact with your hands, after you have touched your mouth.

In particular, cold sores in and around the eye require immediate medical attention. In fact, the herpes virus can damage your eyesight if left untreated.

important!

Alway contact your GP or a trusted medical practitioner if you are not sure and if you are in any way worried about the symptoms you are experiencing.

It is always best practice to ask for advice in order to avoid any possible health consequence. Do not take any unnecessary risk!

SHOULD YOU WASH A COLD SORE?

In my opinion, it is best to leave a cold sore alone and avoid touching it as much as possible.

As long as you wash your face using a gentle soap, you should be ok. After washing your face, you can apply any of the natural remedies described below to speed up the healing process.

Natural remedies for cold sores

As promised at the beginning of this post, I’d love to share with you my experience with cold sores, and how I’ve learned to deal with them using natural remedies.

I already mentioned how, having suffered with cold sores since I was a little girl, I’ve tried many of the medications available over the counter.

None of them as ever worked for me.

Thankfully, I’ve discovered natural remedies for cold sores that work wonders!

HOW DO I GET RID OF COLD SORE ON MY LIP? common natural remedies for cold sores 

Let’s go through some of the common remedies you can start using today to help relieve pain from an ongoing cold sore infection.

WASH YOUR HANDS

Wash your hands often and try not to touch the blisters. I know this is easier said than done, but it will not do you any good to touch your mouth. On the contrary, that could spread the infections to other parts of your body and, at the very least, it will prolong the healing process.

APPLY COLD COMPRESS

For temporary symptom relief, you can place a cold compress on your mouth. An ice pack or an ice cube wrapped in a kitchen towel or napkin would work very well to relieve pain and swelling,

Do this for a few minutes only. Indeed, you don’t want to add frostbite to your blistered mouth!

AVOID ACIDIC FOODS

Avoid consuming acidic foods and drinks, to help avoid burning sensations around the mouth. For example, avoid citrus fruits and tomatoes or soda drinks.

REPLACE YOUR TOOTHBRUSH

Replace your toothbrush with a new one as soon as the cold sore is gone. This is particularly important as the toothbrush may have the active virus on its surface.

take lysine supplements DAILY

Lysine has been shown to help with cold sore prevention. It comes in the form of a food supplement or ointment.

Always follow the directions on the package or bottle. Use as recommended by the manufacturer.

Lysine can also shorten the healing process of a recurrence. 

HOW DO YOU DISINFECT A COLD SORE?

You can apply a topical treatment with antiviral properties on the affected area if you wish. They are readily available as over the counter drugs in most pharmacies.

However, if you prefer to use alternative remedies, I can suggest a few options.

APPLY ALOE VERA GEL

Aloe Vera is highly praised for its properties for the skin. You can use the gel freshly squeezed out of a plant, or use a readily available product from your local health store.

If purchasing a ready made product, make sure to use only 100% pure, organic and unadulterated aloe vera gel on your skin.

Aloe vera gel can help to prevent a bacterial infection from developing in an open cold sore.

HYDROGEN PEROXIDE

Hydrogen peroxide is a disinfectant agent. Therefore it can help to avoid the spread of the virus when applied as a compress.

For full disclosure, I have never used this method, and therefore I can’t comment on its actual efficacy. Furthermore, I’d be hesitant to use hydrogen peroxide on my face.

Please, make sure to ask a pharmacist before purchasing and using!

TOOTHPASTE

I admit to using toothpaste on my cold sores many many times!

Whenever I feel the tingle on my lips, if I have nothing else with me, I apply the smallest amount of toothpaste on the area and just leave it to air dry.

This normally does the trick for me and the cold sores doesn’t develop any further.

Naturally, I understand you can’t go out and about with toothpaste on your face! That is why I would say you could use this method only if you are at home.

Lastly, I just want to point out that toothpaste really gives you a burning sensation on  your skin, so be prepared!

what essential oils can you use for cold sores?

After I started using essential oils in my every day life, I realised how easy it is to use them even to treat painful blisters.

Indeed, essential oils are a great tool in your medicine cabinet!

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Thankfully many of the Doterra Essential Oils can be used to help dealing with an outbreak of cold sores: 

• melaleuca (Tea Tree) oil, 
• peppermint oil, 
• frankincense oil, 
• helichrysum oil, 
• clove oil, 
• cinnamon oil, 
• lavender oil, 
• purify oil blend, 
• on guard oil blend, 
• lemon oil, 
• bergamot oil, 
• geranium oil, 

to name a few.

The above oils have anti-viral properties and can easily be incorporated in a home remedy to rid you of a cold sore.

The important thing to remember is to try and intervene as soon as you feel an outbreak coming, when the skin on and around the mouth feels itchy and warm.

Also, when applying Oils on the blisters, always wash your hands immediately, to avoid spreading the infection and contaminating objects and surfaces around you (like Essential Oils bottles or rollers).

Lastly, it is always best practice to properly dilute essential oils before using them as a topical treatment.

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I have a post dedicated entirely to carrier oils. Here you can find all the info you need in order to choose the best one to suit your specific needs.

WHAT ARE THE BEST CARRIER OILS?

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doterra on guard blend

Sometimes the herpes virus can become active when the immune system is weakened and you are run down. As a result, it is  very important to support your body with essential oils like the Doterra On Guard blend.

This proprietary blend is a powerful mix of rosemary, eucalyptus, wild orange, clove and cinnamon oil.

If used daily, it supports healthy immune and respiratory function.

On Guard comes in a 15ml bottle that is safe for internal, aromatic and topical use.

It also comes in a handy 10ml roller bottle (pre-diluted) and softgels, both ready for you when you need them, even if out and about.

doterra correct X

Doterra also has an amazing ointment called Correct X, which is practically good for every skin related issue, cold sores being one of those.

Frankincense, Helichrysum, Tea Tree, Cedarwood, and Lavender – all CPTG Certified Pure Tested Grade oils – are essential oils known to help assist in soothing skin irritations. 

This multi-purpose, natural ointment helps soothe skin and keep it clean while recovering from distress. Correct-X provides a moisture barrier that helps protect while simultaneously soothing and hydrating the skin. This petroleum-free, preservative-free ointment absorbs quickly and is gentle and non-irritating, making it ideal for sensitive skin.

RECIPES TO SOOTHE AND LIMIT A COLD SORE.

Here are some of my favourite recipes that use essential oils to help prevent and minimise cold sores infections.

Cold sore spray

In a 10ml spray add: 

• 6 drops of peppermint, 
• 6 drops of melaleuca (tea tree), 
• 1 drop of helichrysum, 
• 2 drops of clove, 
• 3 drops of lavender, 
• 2 drops of cinnamon. 

Top with fractionated coconut oil (or any carrier oil of your choice) or witch hazel. Shake well before each use. 

Spray directly on the affected area, several times a day, till the infection subsides, and for at least an extra day after that. 

If you feel that spraying on your face is too messy, you can use a cotton ball instead.

I feel it coming!

In a little dram, mix together 3 drops each of bergamot, copaiba, melaleuca (tea tree), and On Guard. Apply a drop of this mix to the area as soon as you feel the tingling sensation of an outbreak coming. For best results, apply several times a day till the skin feels normal again. Use a cotton swab to apply the mixture if you prefer.

Bye Bye Cold Sore

In a little dram, mix well 4 drops each of Lemon, On Guard, and Peppermint. Apply just one drop of the mix to the affected area, several times a day until the infection is gone. Apply every hour on the first day of the outbreak.

Use a cotton swab to apply the mixture if you prefer.

Melaleuca (tea tree oil) you rock!

If you have nothing else on hand, just put a drop of melaleuca (tea tree) neat on the affected area, and repeat several times a day. This little trick has helped me many many times!

If you have a melaleuca 10ml roller bottle, just spread a tiny amount on a clean finger and then apply on your mouth. Wash your wands immediately and avoid repeating the process (you don’t want to touch the roller bottle top with a contaminated finger!)

NATURAL REMEDIES FOR COLD SORES: CONCLUSIONS

I hope this post has showed you that when you are afflicted by a cold sore infection you don’t have to suffer in silence, like I did for many many years!

Doterra has truly amazing products, that are extremely effective in combatting the infection and limiting its duration.

As always, if you need any more info, or a little help in joining the Doterra family, feel free to reach out and I’ll be happy to help you.

IMPORTANT: when using Essential Oils, make sure to use only CPTG Certified, Pure, Tested Grade ones, like Doterra Essential Oils. The content of this blog post and any information provided here has not been evaluated by any government entity or medical practitioner. It is NOT intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, illness or condition. It is NOT intended to be a substitute for medical counselling. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or suffering from any medical condition or illness or injury, you SHOULD consult a qualified healthcare professional before using any product.