Cold sores always occur at the worst possible moment, when you are tired, stressed, or already ill with something else. This is because the herpes simplex virus that causes them stays with us for life once we have it. It then pops up when we least want it to, simply put, when our immune system is already under stress. This is when our bodies have less ability to fight it off and like any guerrilla fighter it takes it chances when it can.

So, how do you get rid of one? The secret is immediate action. As soon as that first tingle appears you must treat. There are several options available. First of all the doctor option: Several antiviral drugs are licensed for the treatment of cold sores. Famciclovir, acyclovir and valcyclovir are all licensed for this is different countries.

They all have to be started at the first sign of any symptoms, ideally within an hour. Obviously, unless you carry a pack on you at all times, this will not be practical for most people. Famciclovir is the easiest to take, at one dose, and acyclovir the most complex, at five times day. They don't always stop a cold sore appearing, but they lessen the severity of the attack and shorten the duration. They also reduce viral shedding, meaning you are less likely to pass the virus to friends and family. There is evidence that a daily dose of these medicines will prevent cold sores. This is unlicensed, and you would have to ask how many cold sores do you get a year? Is it worth it? These drugs do cause side effects and the incidence would increase with continuous use.

If you can't get to the doctor and don't have that handy pack with you the next stop is the pharmacy. Several creams are available over the counter. The best contain the antivirals listed above, usually acyclovir, but this is not available in some countries. The creams should be started as soon as possible after the onset of symptoms and need to be reapplied every three hours. A lot of them may lip dryness and cracking.
If started early enough they will stop an attack, or will shorten it by a day or two. Other brands are available but they usually only contain some sort of moisturiser such as petroleum jelly, and an anaesthetic. They will sooth the sore, but not cure it.

Traditionally lysine, an amino acid, is used to treat and prevent cold sores. Many studies were done in the eighties and they showed that lysine at a dose of 1000mg three times a day will stop a cold sore outbreak. Lysine tablets may also be crushed,

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