Ointments and creams
There are several ointments that work great. While these creams don’t actually cure your skin condition, they do help to in controlling the pain.

They also help in promoting your healing mechanism as many of these ointments are antiviral.
They are most effective when you apply them as soon as you see the sores are forming.

Also don’t shy away from applying them often. In fact the more the merrier. Apply these relieving creams at least four to five times in the start.

Another option at your disposal is the cream ‘Dososanol’.
This is an over the counter ointment which can also be applied several times in a day. It is an over-the counter cream which makes the outbreak manageable by shortening the affected time period.

Medications
In certain cases when your symptoms become so severe that you are constantly in pain and it is also affecting your self-confidence, a good option would be to reach out to the experts.

Medical professionals like those in Al-Qudrah Medical Clinic, look into your unique case and will advise certain medications after diagnosing your symptoms and reflecting on your medical history.

Some of the popular oral antiviral medications you will be administered are acyclovir (Zovirax), valacyclovir (Valtrex), or famciclovir (Famvir).

However you can get these drugs only on your doctor’s prescription so it’s best you have a consultation before deciding on them.

In some cases, your doctor will suggest you take them for a few days whereas where the cold sore has advanced progressively and you have complications, a regular schedule of administration will be made. You will also be advanced to meet the doctor regularly to determine the treatment progress.

Home remedies
Now let’s talk about how you can make use of home treatments.
These are easy to apply and are easy on the pocket too.
While in certain severe cases they won’t be of much help but in many situations they do help to provide relief from the core sore symptoms and combat their progression.
Some of the common ones are:
• Ease your symptoms by applying ice or washcloths soaked in cold water over the sores.
• Make use of lip balm which consists of lemon extract.
• If you take lysine supplements continuously for a few days, it will help with the less frequent outbreaks for some people.
• Aloe vera provides instant cold sore relief. Apply aloe vera gel or a lip balm containing aloe vera lip to your cold sore at least three times a day. It is a miracle plant because it consists of a cooling gel which has many soothing properties.
• Use petroleum jelly. It helps with the discomfort and also prevents cracking. Vaseline is also used to make a protective barrier against outside irritants.
• This may come as a surprise to you but Witch hazel is also a great natural astringent. It works great on cold sores because it helps to dry them out. The sooner they dry, the quicker they heal. It also has antiviral qualities.

The most common ones are:
• Orajel
• Blistex
• Cymex
• Anbesol
• Tylenol (in less-severe cases)
One important tip- never applying the medication with your fingers. Instead use a cotton swab or a Q-tip to dab these ointments and creams on the infected area.

Complications of Cold Sores

The good thing is that there have been very few instances when cold sores become complicated
But in some cases they do and they impact the immune system.
Severe cases can have one or more of the following complications:
• Getting dehydrated- this is because it becomes painful to drink
• Herpetic whitlow- this is when the infection takes place through a cut on the skin. This causes blisters and leads to cold sores formation
• Herpetic keratoconjunctivitis- it usually happens in complex cases. It can cause eye swelling and irritation, as well as sores on the eyelids and in critical situations- also vision loss
• Swelling of the brain- this is deadly complication which takes place when the infection has spread drastically in the body.

Prevention of Cold Sores

When you or your partner is subjected to cold sores, you can try the following steps to avoid its spread:
• Avoid kissing
• Also refrain from other activities which are skin-to-skin
• Don’t share personal items with one another
• Adapt proper hand-washing techniques
• Refrain from touching those areas in which cold sores can develop like the eyes, mouth, nose, and genitals

Conclusion:

So what we have come to know about cold sores is while in general sense they are not deadly or harmful, but they are painful and a nuisance to your lifestyle.
If you are facing mild cold sores you can treat them with home remedies or use over the counter medications. They will provide some relief.
However in cases where severe complications can arise, you will need medical help.
These outbreaks weaken the immune system and you will need immediate medical attention in case of oral herpes.