- 1. Ointments
- 2. Liquid dressings
- 3. Pills
- 4. Home remedies
- How to treat recurrent cold sores
- How is the treatment in pregnancy
To cure cold sores more quickly, decrease pain, discomfort and the risk of contaminating other people, an anti-viral ointment can be applied every 2 hours as soon as the symptoms of itching, pain or blisters start to appear. In addition to the ointments, there are also small patches that can cover the wounds, preventing the spread of herpes and contamination of other people.
In the most severe cases, in which herpes takes more than 10 days to disappear, the doctor may also recommend the use of antiviral pills, to speed up treatment and prevent relapses.
Herpes is an infection caused by the Herpes simplex virus , which has no cure and which manifests itself through painful blisters in the mouth, which last for about 7 to 10 days. This is a contagious disease, which is transmitted by direct contact with the bubbles or liquid, so as long as the symptoms are evident, kisses should be avoided, especially in babies, as they can be life-threatening. In addition, it should be noted that the person can also contaminate glasses, cutlery and towels that come into contact with the wounds.
1. Ointments
The treatment for cold sores can be guided by a general practitioner or pharmacist and is usually done with the use of ointments such as:
- Zovirax (acyclovir), which should be applied every 4 hours, for about 7 days; Dermacerium HS gel (silver sulfadiazine + cerium nitrate), which should be applied about 3 times a day, until complete healing; Penvir labia (penciclovir), which should be applied every 2 hours, for about 4 days;
During treatment, the person must take care not to contaminate anyone and, therefore, must not touch their lips to other people and must always dry themselves with their own towel and must not share glasses and cutlery.
2. Liquid dressings
As an alternative to ointments, a liquid dressing can be used on the lesion, which will contribute to the healing and relief of pain caused by herpes. In addition, this adhesive also prevents contamination and the spread of the virus and is transparent, so it is very discreet.
An example of a liquid dressing is Mercurochrome's Filmogel for cold sores, which can be applied 2 to 4 times a day.
3. Pills
Oral antivirals can be used in more severe cases and in immunocompromised people, who are at risk of developing complications. In addition, they can also be used as long-term treatment to prevent relapses, but only if recommended by the doctor.
The most commonly used drugs for the treatment of cold sores are acyclovir (Zovirax, Hervirax), valacyclovir (Valtrex, Herpstal) and fanciclovir (Penvir).
4. Home remedies
A good home treatment, which can be used as a complement to the treatment, consists of eating 1 raw garlic clove per day. This care must be started at the first signs of herpes and must be maintained until it is cured. In addition, other home remedies prepared with Jambu and Lemongrass, for example, also help to heal the blisters in the mouth faster. Here's how to prepare these home remedies for cold sores.
Eating the right foods also helps to heal herpes sores in less time. Watch the following video and see how food can help fight herpes:
How to treat recurrent cold sores
In the case of recurrent cold sores, which manifests more than 5 times in the same year, treatment should be done with the application of the ointment indicated by the doctor, when it begins to feel itchy on the lip region. To prevent herpes from appearing so often it is recommended:
- Avoid excessive stress and anxiety; Moisturize the lips, especially when it is very cold; Avoid prolonged sun exposure and put sunscreen on the lips.
Although cold sores disappear completely after treatment, it can reoccur several times throughout the patient's life, especially during times of greater stress or when the person is exposed to the sun for a longer time, such as on vacation, for example.
Another way to decrease the frequency of herpes is to take a lysine supplement in capsules. Just take 1 or 2 500 mg capsules a day for 3 months, or as advised by a dermatologist or pharmacist. Capsules should be taken when the herpes sores are improving, and will prevent them from manifesting again, also decreasing their intensity.
In addition, in some cases, the doctor may also recommend treatment with oral antivirals.
How is the treatment in pregnancy
The treatment of cold sores in pregnancy and during breastfeeding should be done with caution, therefore, the woman should go to the doctor so that he can indicate a medication that is not harmful to the baby. A good option is to use liquid dressings, which have no antiviral in their composition and are equally effective.
In addition, home remedies such as propolis, also promote the healing of herpes sores and help relieve inflammation. See how to make a great homemade ointment with propolis.
Signs of improvement of cold sores appear around 4 days after the start of treatment and include reduced itching, reduced redness and healing of sores and blisters in the mouth. Signs of worsening cold sores are more frequent in patients who do not do the treatment properly and include the appearance of herpes sores on other regions of the lips, inside the mouth and pain when chewing and swallowing, for example.
