Cold sores are blisters that appear often on the lips and in or around the mouth.  They are caused by a virus called HSV-1. Cold sores that appear in the genital areas are caused by a virus called HSV-2. They are too painful and prolonged in some cases and less painful and go off in a short time in some cases. They become painful when the blisters break and fluid comes out. They can spread from one person to another through saliva, kissing and by sharing of shaving brushes. They spread to other parts of the body if you touch the sore and touch the other parts of your body without washing your hands. They usually go off in two or three days, but if they are painful you can apply ointments topically or your doctor may prescribe you some medications.

The best option to cure cold sores is to treat them at home. Home remedies have no side effects but they give good relief. The most important thing about home remedies is that they save your precious time and money. You don’t have to waste time sitting for hours in the hospital. They are very easy and will not lighten your pockets.

Here are a few home remedies to cure cold sores. You should start with home remedies from the initial stage itself. The easiest and the most effective treatment is to apply an ice cube over the sore for ten minutes. This can be repeated many times. Garlic is a good healer for cold sores. Cut a piece of garlic and rub it over the cold sores. It does no harm to your skin, but will prevent the sores from spreading. So you can repeat this as many as times as possible. The more times you repeat, the quicker will be the relief. Garlic is the best to fight against all types of viruses and garlic does increase your immunity. So you can also crush a garlic and mix it in a cup of warm water and drink it.

Dip cotton in hydrogen per oxide and rub it over the sores gently. Hydrogen per oxide and lime help the sore to dry. You can also apply warm tea bags on the blisters. They are not only soothing on your skin, but also give you quick relief. Apply petroleum jelly on the sores and keep them covered. Rubbing of a raw onion or peppermint oil or cold milk has also been proved to be effective. Rubbing of raw onion can cause a burning sensation and avoid this if your blisters are very painful.

Apart from all the above you should wash your mouth as often as possible. Mouth wash should be done using warm water mixed with baking soda for better results. Baking soda creates an alkaline environment in which the virus finds it difficult to survive and multiply. Eat a healthy diet like fresh fruits, vegetables and fish. Avoid eating chocolates, peanuts and grains. Never touch or pinch the sores. Once you are free from cold sores never make the mistake of using the same toothbrush.

Cold sores are not only painful, but also embarrassing. Put an end to them at the start and get cured soon.