Common Skin Conditions – Cold Sores
Cold sores or fever blisters are formed when a kind of viral infection hits the skin and nervous system. This skin condition is usually caused by herpes virus, which remains in a passive state till such times it is triggered into action, this could be infective.
This skin condition should not be confused with impetigo which shows up between the nose and upper lip. The impetigo discharge is usually cloudy and looks like honey. Canker sores are a type of ulcers that do not spread and which grow in the soft tissues of the mouth where you do not get to see the sores.
As prophylactic step for the management of cold sore, always wash your hands well. Acyclovir (Zovirax) is a drug effective in reducing the duration of stay of this skin condition. However, treatment may include topical creams or ointments or sometimes antiviral medicines (such as acyclovir or famciclovir).
If you have to manage accompanying pain, take paracetamol or take the help of witch hazel and apply on the sores. This local application medicine is a good anesthetic too.
It is important to have a hearty yet balanced diet which is in no way deficit in vitamins A, C, E, zinc and iron, as this helps in boosting your immune system and combating this skin condition. You also need to do away with overtly salty, spicy or acidic foods and drinks which could harm the sores.
To prevent this skin condition, make your diet plan without salty or spicy foods. Some of the foods where you need to have only limited quantities include chocolates, peanuts, grains, peas, seeds, oatmeal and whole-wheat rich in arginine. Do completely without tea and coffee and make your diet vitamin-rich.
Rubbing ice on the infected skin for few minutes, repeated this every hour, is a very good home remedy for this skin condition. Alternatively you can apply a tea bag for few minutes on the blisters, repeating this every hour. A warm tea bag compress on the blisters for about half an hour could also be another option.
Applying witch hazel on this skin condition has a miraculous relief effect. Take cover from sun-related cold sores by using sunscreen on the lips and arrest its recurrence.
For guaranteed results mix 100ml of coconut oil, 2ml of disinfectant, and 3ml of carbolic acid Apply twice daily directly on your cold sore – some people say this formula also works on other skin conditions such as boils and mosquito bites.
One acknowledged home remedy for this skin condition is found in tea tree oil, when it is consumed as a drink with herbal sage and violet. You could make a mixture of all these items and add a few sage leaves and ginger powder and then put all of it in a cup of boiling water. If you want your cold sores to simply go away in a short span of couple of days, drink this at least 2 to 3 times a day.
When everything fails for you, 3 acidophilus pills twice a day in the morning and evening could work wonders and dry and clear up. Taking 2 pills a day would be the best option for those who suffer from this skin condition more than often. This is not a complete list of home cold sore remedies by any means but those that most commonly provide relief.
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