8 Effective Home Remedies for Kicking Cold Sores

No one enjoys having a cold sore. Cold sores come from herpes simplex virus, and it can be difficult to get rid of them. You might not even know you have the virus because it can lie dormant for years. Then, stress, anxiety, a cold or even too much sun can cause the virus to become active.

A cold sore can last anywhere from 7 to 14 days. During that time frame, you might try several ways to get rid of them. Females might try to cover them with makeup. Believe it or not, doing so can make the situation worse. Cold sores become worse when you try to cover them up.

So, is suffering all that you can do? No! There are plenty of home remedies and proven ways to get rid of a cold sore fast. Give one or several a try and see what works for you.

8 Ways to Get Rid of a Cold Sore Fast

Rubbing Alcohol

You might cringe at the idea of using rubbing alcohol, but it works. Rubbing alcohol will dry out the cold sore, which will lead to it healing faster. Purchase 70 percent rubbing alcohol at the store. Then, soak a cotton swab in the rubbing alcohol. Press and hold the soaked cotton swab on the cold sore. Let it dry on its own!

Petroleum Jelly

Rubbing alcohol works by drying out your cold sore, but petroleum jelly works by softening and moisturizing the skin that is irritated by the cold sore. Petroleum jelly is thick, so it provides a protective barrier around the area. Bacteria is not able to penetrate, leading to a bacterial infection. If your cold sore gets infected, your cold sore will last even longer. Make sure you wash your hand before applying petroleum jelly to your cold sore.

Echinacea

Echinacea is one of the best herbs for fighting colds and viruses. Using echinacea will release antiviral properties into your body that can stop the growth an spread of the herpes simplex virus. By taking echinacea when you notice a cold sore forming, it will stimulate your immune system’s response and kick the cold sore.

There are several ways to take echinacea when you notice one forming. First is by consuming echinacea tea, either made with herbs you grew yourself or with store-bought tea bags. The other choice is to take liquid echinacea, an ideal choice for kids. Health food stores also sell echinacea capsules.

Vanilla Extract

Vanilla extract is for more than just baking cookies and adding a delicious flavor to your food. Vanilla has properties to beat back infections and to aid in the healing of the area. Using vanilla extract can also take away pain from the area by reducing inflammation. However, make sure you are purchasing real, not artificial, vanilla extract because it won’t work otherwise!

Witch Hazel

Many people love witch hazel because it works wonderfully at healing acne, bruises, skin sores and oily skin. You can even use it after birth and on hemorrhoids. Witch hazel is a powerhouse remedy to keep in your medicine cabinet. It even has been shown to have antiviral properties.
To use witch hazel on your cold sores, simply soak a cotton ball or swab in some witch hazel. Then, gently apply it to the cold sore. You can do this at least two or three times per day until healed!

Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil, also known as melaleuca, is wonderful for your skin and acting as a healing agent. You can use tea tree oil to dry out skin blemishes, such as cold sores. Tea tree oil has wonderful properties, such as being antiseptic, antifungal, antiviral and antibacterial.

If you want to beat a cold sore fast, applying tea tree oil can reduce it overnight! Applying it also helps to stop the cold sore from getting larger and more painful. All you need to do is apply the tea tree oil twice a day with a cotton swab. Simple and effective.

Sea Salt

Yes, applying sea salt to your cold sore might feel uncomfortable at first, but it is a very effective method. Have you ever noticed that your cuts and bruises heal fast when you are in the ocean, soaking in salt water? The same idea applies here. Salt is healing!

To use this natural remedy, all you need to do is mix one teaspoon of sea salt with eight ounces of warm water. Stir to make sure the salt is fully dissolved. Then, use a cotton ball or swab to apply it to the affected area. You can also rinse your mouth out with salt water if there is some of the cold sore inside of your mouth or inner lip.

Garlic

Garlic has long been revered as one of the best home remedies for bacterial and viral infections. Many people swear that garlic can also fight against herpes simplex virus. Garlic also will suppress inflammation, making it a fantastic choice for cold sores. Best of all, garlic is easily found in any store, so it is accessible for all.

To use garlic on your cold sore, one of the best methods is mixing it with honey. Crush up two cloves of garlic and extract the juice. Then, mix the garlic juice with honey. Apply on your cold sore. You can also slice a garlic clove in half and hold it to the cold sore directly for 10 minutes. Make sure you do these at least twice or three times a day!

Kicking a cold sore doesn’t seem so hard now with these different home remedies! This list is far from exhaustive. There are dozen more options available. You should try one or several of these home remedies to see which works the best for you. Remember to start treatment as soon as you notice one appearing!

Do you have any methods to kick a cold sore fast? Let us know in the comments!