The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Acidophilus
Posted by Marvia (St. Catherine, Jamaica ) on 09/30/2008
★★★★★
I've always had outbreaks of cold sores for more than ten years until a friend told me about Acidophilus. Whenever I feel the tingling on my mouth I crush two tablets of the (Probiotic) Acidophilus (preferrably the Schiff brand) with 1 tsp. of milk and take and repeat this three times a day.
The outbreaks of my cold sores usually happens after the intake of antibiotics which usually breaks down the friendly bacterias so the acidophilus regularises the friendly bacterias and it's a great digestive support.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Lauren (Whitehorse, YT) on 01/27/2009
★★★★★
I have used peroxide for the last 3 years. Before that my doctor gave me this cream to put on but it didn't work. And abreva never worked for me either. And a family friend told me that she uses a needle to pop the little blisters, if its just forming and there are no little blisters visible, then she just poked holes in it, as much as she could stand, then she would use a q tip and dab on peroxide. It really works. I use the spray on peroxide myself. I prefer it, i just hold a Kleenex under the cold sore and spray it. And i keep spraying over and over until it stops foaming. And as for dieting to help, taking calcium pills will help. Also when its forming get some milk dip a cloth into it and press it against the cold sore, it should stop it from getting any bigger. The virus is always there, never gone, but it is contained by calcium like a big bubble, and when your stressed or sick, the walls of the bubble fade and weaken, then the virus gets out. So take lots of calcium! It does help. And any time i forget to take my pills, i get a damn cold sore!
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by K (Atlanta, GA) on 03/21/2009
★★★★☆
Using peroxide on gential herpes at the sign of itching is a sure way of stopping the itch and speeding up the healing process. Have used it and it does work. Must try the other remedies I have read about.
L-Lysine and Vitamin C
Posted by Cathy (Playa del Carmen, Mexico) on 09/14/2008
Without a doubt, CAYENNE pepper. Put it directly on the cold sore. It will sting but the next day it should be 90 % better. I have used Oil of Oregano and it works very quickly but Cayenne is the fastest. Good luck!
L-Lysine and Vitamin C
Posted by Jay (San Francisco, CA) on 09/14/2008
Questions to Cathy:
O, well do i have to rip the scab off first before applying the cayenne pepper?, cause i don't think the cayenne pepper will go to the source without peeling the scab off first, so what do you think? Also, which brand of kind do u suggest? Also, when i peel the scab off, yellow liquid immediately starts to slowly come out so just apply the cayenne pepper onto the whole infected area? What kind of cayenne pepper, like the liquid kind or powder form?What kind do you use?
L-Lysine and Vitamin C
Posted by Anita (New York, Ny) on 09/08/2010
I'm a picker myself and must say that I do believe Lysine and Vit. C does help. It the picking that keeps it going! Try putting a rubber band on your wrist and each time you have the urge to pick snap the band. Hope this helps...
Astringent Toner
Posted by Joyce (Joelton, Tn) on 08/26/2008 490 posts
To correct error in L-lysine for Herpes Simplex or cold sore. Should read 2 grams or (2000mgm) four times per day.
Astringent Toner
Posted by Surfcity (Orange County, Ca) on 12/06/2010
★☆☆☆☆WARNING!
When rubbing anything on a coldsore NEVER break it open. I made the mistake of my life in thinking I could break open a very small cold sore with a Qtip and rubbing alcohol thinking it would kill everything and dry it up. WRONG! It spread across my lip and up to the bottom of my nose, with my lip swelling to at least twice it's normal size. It was extremely painful and embarrassing.
Neosporin
Posted by Jungle (NY, NY) on 08/09/2008
★★★★★
i don't know how advanced my sores are, they're not all that bad, but whenever i get the slight notion of a tingle on my lip i slather my lips in neosporin, the anti-bacterial stuff in it kills it i suppose!
L-Lysine, Nail Polish Remover
Posted by Victoria (Saint Johns, FL) on 08/06/2008
★★★★★
I get about 2 or 3 cold sores a year. Unfortunately, the last cold sore I got hit me in the middle of the night as I slept so when I woke up, it was already in the painful stage. Finally fed up with these unsightly things, I did some internet searches and found several positive remarks about applying nail polish remover AND so I immediately dabbed a q-tip in it and stuck the tip directly at the cold sore site. The sore had come out by this time but it was still small and had not broken the skin. I made sure to place a folded tissue on my lips to catch any nail polish liquid excess. After a few seconds, I felt it burning inside! I repeated this for a total of 3 times that day and twice the next day and my small cold sore only lasted 3 days! Otherwise, it would normally have lasted 7 days. It never became a scab. I also read up on L-Lysine capsules and decided to keep them at hand for my next cold sore. Well, this morning, I felt a tingling on my upper lip which started to turn pink and swell so I immediately took 2 500MG capsules of L-Lysine and dabbed on some nail polish remover (2 times). I can honestly say that it is completely gone! No sore, no redness, no swelling! I am also taking 2 more L-Lysine capsules before going to bed as a precaution. I am recommending this remedy to everyone I know.
Ear Wax
Posted by Helena (New York, NY) on 06/24/2008
I've heard about using ear wax on cold sores, was surprised not to see it mentioned here. You put it on when you first get the sore. Take a Q-tip, get some ear wax out and spread it on your sore. Be careful not to put the q-tip back in your ear, you might cross-contaminate!
Unfortunately didn't know about this until mine had horribly popped and scabbed over. I tried icing it, and putting apple cider vinegar on it but didn't seem to help much... Hopefully I'll not have a chance to try this remedy out soon! Hopefully no cold sores again soon.
Sweet Orange Oil
Posted by Bishop (Tempe, Arizona) on 04/30/2008
★★★★★
Put drop or two of Sweet Orange Oil (Citrus sinensis) on the "fat/cracked lip" just before bed. Cures the problem overnight! This is a painless, tried and true remedy that I've given to many people. Some gentlemen note that, while the oil does NOT burn the lip, any of the oil that drips down onto shaved parts of the face will cause a rather nasty burning sensation. The solution is to smear some lavender oil below the lip, BEFORE applying the orange oil, to keep this from happening. Olive oil or most veg oils will also work but lavender oil works best. Since this burning sensation is rather common, anyone who shaves below the lip always should use the lavender oil first, then apply the sweet orange oil to the lip. If orange oil is not available, zest a little of the peel of an orange and apply to the lip. Anyone who tries this remedy, please email me and tell me how it worked.
Artificial Sweetener Link to Herpes
Posted by Sue (Miami, Florida/USA) on 01/17/2009
Since the age of 6 years old I have struggled with severe episodes of oral " herpes" lesions. The would start as a single lesion and spread throughout my entire mouth (interior lips tounge AND THROAT) to the point where my glands and lips would swell and I could barely talk or eat. My father is a dentist & was against me chewing sugared gums- so I was always handed sugarless gums. from the age of 6 untill I was 13 years old I was taken to every allergist in town and put on every food/additive restrictive diet that the medical profesionals could thing of (illimination of: various food colors (one color at a time), sugar, preservatives...etc). I was stuck with more needles than any child should ever experience...Yet the doctors still had no conclusive results. By the age of (about) 11-12 I started to illiminate gum and noticed a slow down in the frequency of my outbreaks. I missed gum chewing so I tried introducing sugared gums- and was thrilled to experince no outbreaks. I am now 40 years old. I have not chewed sugarless gum since the age of 13....Also, throughout the years I have noticed several other causes of outbreaks. I will still get oral herpese "cold sores/ulcers" if I eat certain "gummy" like substances (sugarfree or sugared)...I can not eat: gummy candies (bears/worms ~ect), licorice (black or red) or jelly beans. Within the past 10 years I (reluctantly) began to try sugarless candies/mints and powdered drinks...To my surprise, I did not experience outbreaks from these (though I believe that as a young child crystal light drink mix was a trigger for my outbreaks). Once in a very blue moon I will sneak a piece of black liccorice into my mouth (I love the taste!!!)- Though I can expect to will be "penalized" the following day with a coldsore or two (not a mouthful- which, I believe, is because I only eat a small amount).
I may have a rare allergy that baffled doctors for so many years... But I fugured I would take advantage and share my experiences & uears of trial and error so that someone out there (suffering from a similar situation/allergy) may be helped.
Artificial Sweetener Link to Herpes
Posted by Lou (Tyler, Tx) on 07/20/2020
You probably have a gelatin allergy. I recently discovered I am allergic to gelatin. It is in gummies.
Acetone
Posted by Christine (Virginia Beach, USA) on 04/09/2008
★☆☆☆☆WARNING!
While I am sure that acetone will work against cold sores, you should never use acetone or put it on your skin and nails. There's a reason that acetone smells nasty - because it actually IS nasty. It can cause cancer and is poisonous. NEVER put on your skin what you cannot put in your mouth. Poisons can enter your body through your skin, and many cosmetics are, unfotunately, poisonous.
Acetone
Posted by Karen (Lindenhurst, NY) on 05/06/2008
★☆☆☆☆WARNING!
I just want to say Dont use nail polish remover~!!! I tried this remedy and gave myself a bad chemical burn on my face. :-( Now I wish it was just a cold sore. I'll stick to L-Lysine in the future!
L-Lysine
Posted by Michelle (Minneapolis, MN) on 12/12/2008
I thought you were supposed to take L-Lysine everyday, which is what i've been doing for a year, as a preventative. I'm glad to finally figure this out.
I used to get cold sores at least every other month when I was a student. They were brought on by stress, and also seemed connected to my period. Acyclovir works for me but I have to double dose and also use abreva and carmex.
I started taking a Vitamin B-complex, Sunmark's Stress Vitamins, daily. I was also taking L-Lysine with this, which I will now quit. It greatly reduced the frequency and duration of my outbreaks. I get them 3 time a year now, compared to at least 6 and they are usually really small and last no more than 3 or 4 days.
I have a tiny one right now, it looks more like a little zit above my lip. But I am excited to go home and start the L-Lysine regiment now that I know the appropriate way to do it.
Symptoms will get better with time for a lot of people. It's important to track your behaviors and habits closely so you can know the triggers and if you've never used it before i highly recommend acyclovir from your dr. Take about 4 right when you feel the tingle and then 2 more that day and it will knock it out before it even becomes a cold sore.
Acetone
Posted by Randy (Arizona City, Az) on 03/29/2008
★★★★★
This may sound strange, but when I feel a sore spot beginning to come on my lip, I take fingernail polish remover and dab it on the spot with my finger, 3-4 times a day. In many instances the eruption never happens... and if it does, it immediately starts drying up. I've taken care of my blisters for about 25 years this way with no adverse side effects. Works better than anything you can buy at the Drug Store!
Acetone
Posted by Lewis (Circleville, Ohio) on 05/13/2009
Oreganol oil and DMSO will get rid of a cold sore fast. I make a little paste, and use a Q-tip to apply.
Ear Wax
Posted by Hugh (Queenstown, New Zealand) on 10/26/2008
I heard this remedy when I was mining up in the Yukon Territory. I think there is something in the earwax that is designed? to prevent infections in the ear. It is serendipity that it also works on coldsores!
Vicks
Posted by Cherry (Powder Springs, Georgia) on 03/03/2008
★★★★★
Vicks Vapor Rub or Carmex never fails to stop the development of a cold sore. I only get the itch indicating a cold sore is coming once or twice a year. As soon as I feel that itch I put a gob of vicks or carmex on it and it stops itching immediately and never develops into the sore. I thinks it's the camphor and menthol that cures.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by David (Los Angeles, CA) on 01/15/2008
★★★★★
Well.. it's official.. this last week, what I thought was a zit on my chin, slowly turned into a large festering herpes wound. How fun for me. I don't need a biopsy to know, it's herpes. I've had a bit of a bout with swollen lymph nodes, fever, and overall yuck. I didn't see a doctor because it was the weekend and I wanted to see if it would go away for a day or two. I usually take chinese herbs at the first sign of a cold and never get fully sick, but this lasted more than 24 hours so I new it was something different. As always when something comes up medically I try to research online to feel empowered. I'm here to mention the wonders of Apple Cider Vinegar. My festering wound over a couple of days turned into a giant scab a top a large red mound that seemed to be competing with my nose for who could stick out the farthest. I had read that this was the period when it would heal because it's scabbed but who the hell wants to walk around with a scab on their face. Anyway, this morning after I decided I could no longer look at this awful scab on my chin I used tweezers to remove it hoping it had had enough time to heal beneath. Well, it didn't. Immediately it started oozing and breathing and winking as if to laugh at my naivet'e. I think I even heard it growl once but that may have been the dog next door. Well, long story too long, I decided to use apple cider vinegar on the wound. I just kept pouring it on my chin letting it air dry fully, then any ooze got dabbed off with tissue and then another pour and air dry. After about maybe 10 or so times going through this the gaping wound finally gave up it's relentless fight and went dry with out needing to scab. Victory was mine. The rest of the day it has significantly reduced and I feel like I can almost show my face to the world without being embarrassed. The real problem with the herpes virus is it's friggin' ugly.. If it gets to the point of being an open wound, apple cider vinegar will heal it faster. I've also drank a cap full 3 times today mixed with apple juice. That plus vitamins and L-Lysine for the past couple days may have been helping, but the scabby, woundy part is healed because of straight apple cider vinegar poured on it. I'm confident that I will know the signs earlier next time and use other remedies to catch it BEFORE it becomes the messy roommate living on my face that it became this time. Knowledge is power. Thanks for letting me share in the posters knowledge and to now add mine. Peace.
Ear Wax
Posted by Brigitte (Houston, Texas) on 01/11/2008
★★★★★
Thank you for the information regarding Herpes outbreaks. Luckily the colc sore that I have is not a terribly aggressive form. I seldom have a problem but when I do the colc sore forms on my cheek. Last night I began to feel the tingeling sensation which is a precurser to its appearance. I tried the DMSO and hydrogen peroxide which simply burned and did nothing to prevent the manifestation of the cold sore. This morning It hurt really bad and I am expecting a vivit from family and I did not want them to see my face with a festering postule so in desperation to stop the burning, itching, and tingeling, I tried the ear wax because I had none of the other more hygenic ingredients which are spoken of in other articles. To my utter disbelief, It worked to stop the pain almost imediately the swelling has stopped and I am saved the embarrassment of having the eye sore while my inlaws are visiting. Thank you again for this home remedy. I will use it again in the future.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Lisa (Wichita , KS) on 01/05/2008
★★★★★
I found this site a week ago and Thank God I did. I have been suffering for 30 years with cold sores from time to time and NOTHING has helped with my cold sores. I have tried everything. So I thought I would try ACV. I put ACV on a cotton ball and held it on my cold sore for a few minutes 4 times a day at the first sign of the tingling. In 48 hours my cold sore was gone! It is amazing! Thank you earthclinic.com
Aspirin, St. John's Wart, Tea Tree Oil
Posted by K (New York, New York) on 12/27/2007
★★★★★
This Works on Contact. Remove the top skin from the cold sore/herpes simplex. Ground Aspirin with 2 drops or tea tree oil (organic) and 2 drops of St. John's Wart liquid form (organic). If your a baby and you can't take pain you can numb it with Ambersol. It will kill the virus on site. It will form a scab immediately, stops the oozing, itching and swelling.
Witch Hazel
Posted by Dada (Boston, Ma, US) on 05/28/2009
★★★★★
Well, of all these remedies only this one works for me. Thank you!
Head and Shoulders Shampoo
Posted by Varick (Brooklyn, NY) on 04/14/2009
Head and Shoulders shampoo has zinc in it, zinc has been known to help prevent and/or cure herpes.
Head and Shoulders Shampoo
Posted by Jennifer (Phoenix, AZ) on 04/14/2009
Hello, to respond and add to your message about herpes, if you use iodine at the first sign of tingling or itching, no cold sores will develop at all and if they do, no scabbing , no swelling , i dont know what is in iodine that doesn't allow the whole inflamation to develop. You can easily get rid of the sore before it develops in 1 - 2 days. Eat healthy, take vitamin C, if you feel it coming on, take echinacea, it never failed me, it stops the cold sores from developing. If you follow this protocol, you can minimize to stop outbreaks altogether.
Dietary Recommendations
Posted by Mario (Olympia, Washington) on 10/17/2007
★★★★★
I felt my cold sore coming on like I normally do about this time of year when my core temperature drops, but because I've been changing my dieting habits I decided to fast on blended fruits and dark leafy green vegetables until it went away. The cold sore came to a head much like a pimple so I popped it and it just dissappeared. At the time I thought that perhaps it was just a pimple but now it is a few weeks later and it has reappeared as a cold sore much smaller and more towards the inner part of my mouth which has never happened in the 15 years I've had it. In fact it had spread within the last three years and I thought I had made it permanently bigger. I believe it has come back because within the last week I have eaten a lot of junky foods again. So my suggestion would be just eat fruits and vegetables either whole, blended, or juiced until the cold sore goes away. It will give your body a chance to regroup and deal with it and other ailments that you may be experiencing.
Oil Pulling
Posted by Paige (Seattle, WA) on 09/02/2007
★★★★★
9/2/07: I have been oil pulling with sunflower oil once daily (mornings) for 3 weeks now,' and here are my observations from my journal:
For about 2 years I was unable to chew on the right side of my mouth because of tooth pain and extreme sensitivity to hot, sweet, cold, etc. I strongly suspect I am in need of another root canal. Starting with the second day of oil-pulling I found the entire right side of my my mouth was no longer sensitive. Beginning with the 3rd day, I was able to chew on the right side of my mouth, albeit gingerly. Now, 3 weeks later I chew on the right side of my mouth equally with the left side - no pain, no sensitivity. And I've noticed my teeth feel more secure and they no longer feel 'loose. And as many has commented on, they feel cleaner and look whiter.
The audible wheezing noises while breathing whenever I would lie down have stopped. I seem to be sleeping better too. Some nights all the way through. I have a way to go on this problem, though.
Milk makes my lungs fill with phlegm which was really hard for me to expectorate in the mornings. This too has stopped. Despite continuing to drink milk (homemade probiotic Kefir, actually) and the occasional milk in my coffee, teas and with cereal, my lungs no longer feel congested and I have no coughing fits anymore while trying to expel the congestion out of my lungs; no coughing either as there doesn't seem to be any congestion. I had been a heavy smoker for twenty-some years before quitting 18 years ago and this is probably the genesis of my lung problems.
Since early childhood I have had the herpes simplex virus in my body and suffered from frequent cold and canker sores. Now, by the time I feel one on my tongue it is gone in the morning. The other day the smallest, single-blister cold sore I ever had - which was all but invisible appeared in the corner of my mouth. It went through its stages and absolutely gone in 3 days, flat. Without treatment the blisters multiply and the healing process normally takes around 2 weeks.
NOTE: As I do not have the time nor disposition to do this oil-pulling therapy more than once a day - I 'pull' sometimes for over the 20 minutes - all the way up to an hour. None of my fillings have loosened or fallen out. A funny aside to all this is that I now find myself absent-mindedly 'pulling' all my drinks, coffee, tea, milk and if nothing else I am sure it is helping to remove food trapped in between my teeth.
Oil Pulling
Posted by Don (Tel Aviv) on 12/15/2015
Hi, since this is a very old post I would be very interested in hearing if you are still oil pulling and if you had any amalgam issues since? Thanks! Don
Artificial Sweetener Link to Herpes
Posted by Ivan (Tampa, Fl) on 05/23/2010
I have been sick with low grade fever and swolen neck glands for about a month. I also have been having tingling sensation inside my pennis.
I went to the doctor and they tested me for STDs and all negative.
Now, this week I started a military exersise working long hours, I don't drink soda but I needed something to drink during the long hours and I went for Coke One. And, surprise! My, first outbreak of genital herpes. So I had the Herpes with no outbreak until now. That explains a lot.
Well, my outbreak was quickly fading away and I hit the Coke One like 3 times yesterday. And today I wake up with a 2 new small blister in the same area!!!!
I hate you Coke One!!!
Honey
Posted by Peter (Paris, France) on 06/13/2007
★★★★★
I have been under treatment for years for Herpes Whitlow on my right hand, which occasionally manifests itself on my palette and genitals. I have always tested negative for herpes 2, and assumed my outbreaks are weird manifestations. Doctors here have never seen this combination of symptoms. They were debilitating until I started self immunizing my cat and pollen allergies with daily dose of different honeys, and cutting out practically all refined sugars in my diet. Whereas I would have an outbreak every twelve months on a maintenance dose of 500mg of Zelitrex daily (quadrupled during outbreaks) the last two outbreaks have been restricted to my finger and palette - a great improvement over previous ones. I feel the honey is helping my immune system suppress the virus, perhaps by keeping my immune system on alert all the time. I have upped my daily dosage of Zeleitrex to 15 mg, and would appreciate any comments from others who have found Honey a satisfactory palliative.
