Once you are in the market for a cold sore treatment, products and remedies will begin to jump out at you from supermarket and drug store checkout stands. Abreva cold sore treatment is a non-prescription cold sore medication which contains the patented ingredient, 10% Docosanol, for the relief of Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 cold sores. It works with healthy cell membranes to help inhibit the ability of the virus to fuse with the cell membrane; Docosanol is not an anti-viral. Recommended dosage is five times a day for up to ten days. Abreva is a smooth, white cream that dries clear, has no smell or taste, and will not tingle or burn. It the only product approved by the U.S. federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to shorten healing time.
The active ingredient in Releev cold sore treatment is Benzalkonium Chloride 0.13% (an organic chloride salt. Echinacea is the source of the plant-based extract in the formulation. This phyto-chemical has antiviral and antibacterial attributes proven in laboratory testing. Releev is the fastest treatment recorded in published literature, repeatedly easing pain within 5 – 30 minutes and relieving symptoms within 24 hours.
Effective natural cold sore treatment can begin with diet and the amino acids, Lysine and Arginine. Available in many common foods, Lysine is also marketed as a supplement, and is more effective when the additional nutrients Vitamin C, Bioflavonoids, and Zinc, are included. The effectiveness of Lysine is in preventing the activity of another amino acid, Arginine, which is the catalyst for herpes simplex replication. Results are noticeable and marked when the dosage of Lysine is 1250mg per day or higher. Some foods that contain Lysine are vegetables, fish, chicken, cheese, milk, brewer’s yeast and beans. Arginine is found in nuts, chocolate, whole and white wheat, oats and gelatin.
When pursuing natural methods of cold sores treatment, other topical suggestions you will encounter are black tea bags, Manuka Honey, Domeboro Powder, Baking Soda, cornstarch, and pure aloe vera gel for relief of various symptoms. Numerous essential oils are suggested for restoring the skin to a smooth appearance after the episode is over. Acupuncture has also been reported to give relief, as well as visualization, self-hypnosis, positive thinking, and prayer. Some recommended behavioral monitoring to control a herpes outbreak is over exposure to sunlight and consumption of refined sugars.
Researching a treatment for cold sore symptoms and discomfort, one must consider the emotional causes and repercussions. Stress and fatigue exacerbate any compromise of the immune system, so learning how to slow down, center, relax, and let go is essential to keeping the body’s natural protective mechanisms in top form. Embarrassment is a not uncommon accompaniment to a breakout, yet the eruption is no reflection on the value or worth of a person. Some of the topical remedies mentioned above allow the application of cosmetics over the affected area. Or a layer of petroleum jelly could be swabbed on an outbreak, providing a base for any concealer. Nothing beats a smile.