Cold sores are painful, small fluid-filled blisters that develop on the lips, chin, mouth or around nose. The sores might look small, but they can be very painful and contagious. Cold sores are caused by herpes simplex virus (HSV-1) and they usually clear up without treatment within 2 to 4 weeks. At the earliest stage, cold sores often start with a tingling, itching or burning sensation around your mouth.
The herpes simplex virus (HSV), which causes cold sores, is highly contagious and can be easily passed from person to person by close body contact. After the initial infection, valacyclovir can help manage frequent outbreaks. The virus remains inactive in the body until triggered by various factors such as hormonal changes, sunlight, stress, other infections, and injuries. Topical antivirals may also be used to treat outbreaks.
Once the herpes simplex virus is triggered, small fluid-filled sores (cold sores) often appear usually on the edges of your lower lip. However, treatments should be applied as soon as the first signs of a cold sore appear (when you feel a tingling, itching or burning sensation around your mouth). To help your cold sore outbreak heal quickly, you can try some ice for cold sores.(1) In this article, we are going to look at some of the ice to use in treating cold sores.
How to use ice for cold sores
Holding a cool ice against your herpes outbreak, can help make your oral herpes less red and crusty and help it to heal more quickly than if you let it alone. If an ice pack is applied earlier, it can keep herpes outbreaks from developing, and if the sore does appear, it will cause them to heal more quickly. Using lip balm can also provide relief during a herpes outbreak.
On the other hand, ice compress helps to keep the sores hydrated, preventing it from drying, cracking and developing a secondary infection. (2) To try this remedy, you will need to get a small towel and an ice pack. As we continue through this article I will give you a list of ice packs that you can try.
Get some ice and wrap them up in a small towel. Place the wrapped ice directly above the oral herpes sores for about three minutes. The coldness from the ice will help to numb the area, providing immediate relief from pain and discomforts from oral herpes outbreak. Now, let’s look at some of the best available ice for oral herpes.
Ice for cold sores
1.Yeti Ice
Yeti Ice is a durable and break-resistant ice pack that stays cold for more than 24 hours. It is perfect for people experiencing pain from herpes sores. When frozen, the lemon balm-infused ice pack freezes quickly and remains re-usable and sweat-free.
2. Nordic Ice Gel Pack
The Nordic ice gel pack is safe for cold sores during a herpes outbreak. It is biodegradable and non-toxic, and can be used with antivirals for genital herpes (HSV). The gelly ice pack is completely re-usable and has a multi-layer construction to prevent sweating in your cooler. It can last up to 12 hours, but exhausts itself quicker without additional ice in the cooler.
3. FlexiFeeze Ice Sheet
This is the best cooler ice packs for many people with genital herpes. If you are looking for an ice pack that is flexible and safe to be used on cold sores caused by HSV, FlexiFreeze Ice sheet is a great option. Flexi Freeze is chemical free and 100% water based. In addition, the ice pack can be easily customized to your taste. It provides flexible coverage and can fit into your lunch boxes, smaller coolers or insulated picnic baskets. During the application on your cold sores, the water-based ice sheets can be cut to fit the size you need. It’s one of the best antivirals for managing a herpes outbreak.
Final Thoughts
Cold compress is one of the effective ways to help your cold sore outbreak heal quickly. If you suffer from cold sores more often, it is very important for you to see your dentist or doctor. A health professional may recommend taking an antiviral medication regularly to help reduce the symptoms and prevent frequent outbreaks. In the meantime, try as much as possible to avoid those factors that trigger your outbreaks, like stress or sun exposure. You can read this posts to learn more on – cold sores triggers.
However, ice for cold sores works well but antiviral drugs and cold sores creams can be used to help your cold sores heal even more quickly. In my previous post, I gave a list of effective medicinal creams for treating cold sores. You can check the list here – cold sores creams.