Feel Better Fast

Cold Sore 

Do...

• Apply a petroleum jelly (like Vaseline) to keep the sore moist and to prevent cracking.
• If you get cold sores regularly, ask your doctor about an oral antiviral prescription medication, such as Valtrex or Acyclovir. One or two doses taken as soon as you feel a cold sore coming on can reduce the duration of the sore and help prevent recurrences.
• Be patient. A cold sore usually goes away in a few days. In the meantime, relieve pain with a topical cold-sore treatment that contains benzocaine (like Nexcare Cold Sore Treatment) .

• Try to dry it out with peroxide, alcohol, or witch hazel.
• Pick at it, share drinks (even with a straw), or kiss people. Cold sores are a type of herpes, a common and contagious virus.
• Cover it with a thick layer of concealer, because removing the makeup can irritate the sore.

• The sore doesn’t go away in a week or two or the pain is severe. It could be an allergic reaction.