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How do you treat cold sores? What should you do when you get them, and can you get rid of them for good? There are several cold sores treatments which have been suggested, for those suffering from this malady. And there are several methods and products one can try.

But because everyone is unique, some treatments might be more effective on one person than another. Sometimes you need to combine or test two methods, in order to discover which cold sore treatment works for you.

It also helps to know what triggered the sores in the first place. This can help you decide on which of the different treatments to try first. The triggers themselves can vary, from sunburn, to flu, to fever. The treatments can be more easily determined when you know how the cold sores started.

Cold Sores Treatments

Lysine

Lysine is an amino acid . Some people recommend lysine for cold sores (about 5,000 milligrams per dose, in supplement form, when the outbreak begins.) Some people who take 500 milligrams of Lysine daily, to prevent themselves from getting them. But it is also said that this is not advisable as the body might get used to it in the system, so that it would not work as well during an outbreak.

Zinc

Another supplement used as a treatment for cold sores is Zinc (a mineral which is commonly taken as a supplement). There are two ways to use zinc. You can either apply it directly to the lesions, or take it internally. Most people usually do both, to achieve a faster healing period.

Calcium

Calcium, also a mineral, can also be used as a treatment for cold sores. Calcium is used by the body to keep the system alkaline (not too acidic). Most people who suffer from this malady have too much acid in their system. Calcium can neutralize this acid, and might also stop the outbreak.

Ice

Some people rely on old-fashioned cold treatment for cold sores. This is another type of treatment is readily available at home. All you need to do is to apply ice to the target area, when you feel a sore coming. This should be done before the blister or lesion “blossoms.? It will reduce the swelling, as well as give some relief. But, once the lesions are out, discontinue applying the ice – it tends to slow down the healing process.

Tea

You can also use frozen iced tea bags, instead of ice. Once the lesions burst, you can apply warm tea bags to them. These may be applied for 15 minutes per session. The heat from the tea bags makes the healing go faster. Further, the nutrients in the tea hamper the virus? activity from progressing.

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To learn about even more thorough methods that are used to get rid of cold sores for good, please visit http://livingclean.com/goto/art/coldsorestreatment/ Or, if you would like to simply learn the basic causes of cold sores, please visit http://www.squidoo.com/causescoldsores