Helping your body get rid of cold sores

The immune system is perfectly capable of getting rid of a cold sore without any outside help, but to do so takes 10 days or so. Luckily there are some steps we can take to aid our natural defenses.

Applying a topical remedy is strongly advised, whether a medicinal product such as Abreva, or another treatment such as tea tree oil. These help keep the sore covered and moist, which prevents the additional pain that comes from cracking or splitting.

How to get rid of a cold sore

While there are several drugs available designed to help heal cold sores, they have been shown to be limited in their efficacy and therefore many people have decided how to get rid of a cold sore using alternative or natural remedies.

Common alternative treatments include tea tree oil or lemon balm, These act on the virus, helping the body rid itself of the symptoms faster. If you want to find about these kinds of treatments and learn more about how to get rid of a cold sore see the Cold Sore Treatment Guide.