Oh no! You’ve got a cold sore right before something important. Maybe it’s date night with the hubby or going out with your friends for a night on the town? Before you start panicking about the small blister forming around your mouth, don’t worry, we got you.
Don’t skip ahead on how to treat it just yet, as it’s important to understand what you actually have. You contracted cold sores through Herpes Simplex Virus, spread through direct physical touch.
Before you start tracking down every person you’ve ever been in contact with, it’s important to know it’s not life threatening and will remain dormant… minus the pesky flare ups here and there. This is where we come in, helping you get through life, one cold sore at a time.
Read on to find out the three things you can do to help treat a cold sore.
Ask your pharmacist for the best antiviral drug to suit your needs.
(Image: Getty)
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1. Antiviral tablets
You can get a single dose of antiviral tablets without a prescription in Australia from your pharmacist. All you have to do is talk to your pharmacist and explain your sticky cold sore situation. They will be able to provide you with expert advice on what is available for you to use and what you can expect to happen.
Be sure to keep the area and your hands clean as you treat your cold sore.
(Image: Getty)2. Antiviral creams
When visiting the pharmacist, you can also talk to them about antiviral creams and topical solutions. As always, be sure to ask the pharmacist for what would work best for you. When using a cream, be sure to disinfect the area you are going to apply it onto, always read the label and follow the directions for use. And remember, after touching the Herpes Simplex Virus, make sure to wash your hands.
If you don’t have an icepack on hand don’t fret, as you can put a damp cloth in the freezer for a similar affect.
(Image: Getty)3. Home remedies
In the short-term period, you can help alleviate the soreness by applying an ice pack. Plus, you can even ransack your pantry to find honey, lemon juice or apple cider vinegar to apply directly onto the cold sore for their natural healing properties.
And that’s how you can treat your cold sore in 24 hours, if you get to it early. Unfortunately, it does take some time to heal, so you will need to do what you can to ensure you take care of your lips and the skin surrounding the cold sore.
