
- stress
- hormonal fluctuations
- surgery
- fevers
- illness
- sun exposure
Home Remedies For Cold Sores
Reduce Stress If you look at the triggers above, stress is one of the main triggers responsible for breakouts1. Stress can cause the herpes virus to come out of dormancy so it’s important to find tools that help you deal with stress such as:- meditation
- regular exercise
- try and set aside leisure time to do something you enjoy every day
- keep your sense of humor
- don’t over-commit yourself
- prioritize all the tasks you feel you HAVE to do
- any projects, break into small steps. …
- delegate responsibility both within the family and at work
- eat a healthy diet
- consciously slow down your breathing

- Purchase a high-quality aloe vera gel product and apply the gel three times a day until the lesion has dried
- Keep a couple of aloe vera house plants.
- Break off a stem
- slit down the center
- scoop out the gel
- apply as for aloe vera gel.
- Any surplus should be stored in an airtight container and kept cool with no extremes of temperature. Best stored in the fridge
More Home Remedies For Cold Sores
There are other remedies that people have used but, without the research to back up the claims. I’ll list them here and you can try them out for yourself:- Vanilla (pure organic) – use a cotton swab and dab some on as soon as you feel the tingling.
- Licorice root powder or extract – 1 tablespoon mixed with a half teaspoon of water. Make a paste then dab a layer over the sore. Leave on overnight.
- Milk – soak a cotton wool ball and hold on the sore for a few minutes.
- Peppermint Oil (pure, good quality) – dampen a cotton ball with water then and a couple of drops of oil and dab on the sore.
- Cornstarch – 1 tablespoon of cornstarch and start with 1 teaspoon of fresh water. Gradually mix till you have a smooth paste adding more water as needed. Dab on before bed and leave overnight. Rinse off gently in the morning.
- Raw Garlic Clove – peel and cut a garlic clove in half. Rub directly on your cold-sore 3 x daily.
Prevent spreading a cold sore
A cold sore is contagious as soon as the symptoms start, even if you have no blisters. They are easily spread to other people, even before the first blister appears. To avoid spreading the cold sore virus:
- No kissing and/or other skin-to-skin contacts until the cold sore is healed.
- No sharing of personal items such as utensils, towels, or toothbrushes.
- Don’t share your any cosmetics that are applied on the lips (lipstick, lip gloss, or foundation).
- Get a new toothbrush when you get a cold sore to prevent reinfection. Replace it again once the sore has completely healed.
- DON’T PICK AT A COLD SORE! Wash your hands thoroughly every time you apply ointment or touch the sore.
- If you find that sunlight triggers cold sores, apply sunscreen (good quality) daily to the area where the cold sores develop.