If you want to learn about fast and effective cold sore treatment then you'll want to read this article. Specifically it covers the cause of cold sores and why that makes them hard to treat effectively, how prevention is better than cure and what to do if you do suffer a cold sore outbreak. After reading this article, you should be able to find a cold sore treatment that works well for you.
Cold sore are caused by the herpes simplex virus, a variant of the virus that causes genital herpes. The big problem as far as medical science is currently concerned is that there is no cure for herpes simplex and so once infected by it, sufferers have it for life.
If you are a cold sore sufferer you may be surprised to learn that 70 to 90 percent of the population is infected, so you are not alone. Not everyone shows symptoms however, but if you're one of the unlucky ones there are some steps you can take to reduce the frequency of outbreaks.
The first point to remember is that prevention really is better than cure in the case of cold sores. What I mean by this is that even if you are infected with herpes simplex, you can help your body to prevent new attacks.
Usually the virus lies dormant in your body, but sometimes, when the immune system is unable to suppress it, the virus becomes reactivated and moves to the skin's surface where it causes cell damage that results in a blister and sore.
You can boost your immune system in several way; by taking supplements, improving your diet, eliminating stress from your life and by taking regular exercise.
Even if you do boost your immune system, there are times when you are going to suffer from cold sores. If you notice a tingling sensation before an outbreak then you should start treatment. You can use an over the counter medicine, a prescription medicine, or even better a natural cold sore treatment.
One of the most common is the application of ice to the affected area. Simply hold it against the area of the sore for 30 minutes, which seems to slow down the replication of the virus as it moves to the surface of the skin, and minimises the damage it does.
Another great natural remedy is to use lemon balm, which can be found as a cream in Europe, but as a tea in the United States.
If you found this article about cold sore treatment useful you might like to read more at http://www.ColdSoreTreatmentGuide.com
Author: JoBeth Levina
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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