im not really an expert about them, but when my sister gets cold sores she uses store bought medication, that'ss really the only way i know of. what you can also do to help prevent cold sores is freeze your cups, im not sure how that helps, but it seems to work. hope i help :)

I've been getting cold sores ever since i was 4. I usually get this spice called Alum, which can be found on the spice aisle of any grocery store, wet my finger and dab some of it on there and leave it on as much as possible, reapplying often. It might sting but it dries up the cold sore very fast. Sometimes in between I will also apply Campho-Phenique onto it as well, which also contains drying agents. Cold sores are the suckiest thing on earth. Good luck

Hi Sandra,

Hopefully this doesn't reach you too late. There are many options to getting rid of coldsores with home remedies, some that are immediate and some painstakingly slow.

I'd highly recommend tea-tree Oil if you have any in your house. You may purchase this at any local grocery store or health store. Tea Tree oil is the strongest anti-coldsore cream there is.

I don't really recommend abreva or any other "topical" cream out there.

For Home remedies, I'd recommend:

• Ice. Ice applied prior to your sore opening up tends to stop the herpes virus in its tracks - But will actually slow healing if applied after the sore blossoms.

• Alcohol. (External not internal - save the party until you are cold sore free) Use a cotton swab or ball with alcohol to keep the sore sterile and clean. Use with any and all other treatments.

• Lysine. Taken orally, will help heal your current cold sore quicker and may reduce future occurrences. Lysine is usually taken in doses of 2000 to 4000 mg. per day to get rid of a cold sore. Have not seen much success putting lysine directly on the cold sore.

• Garlic. Crush a garlic clove and put the oil on the sore. If you have an Aloe Vera plant, put the leaf juice on after the garlic oil has been applied.

• Tea bags. Use frozen wetted tea bags in place of ice. Use warm after cold sore blossoms open.

• Zinc. Good topical and internal way to get rid of a cold sore fast. Do not use zinc oxide - will just sit on top of the skin. Use zinc sulfate or zinc gluconate for topical application. Zicam is a gel form of zinc gluconate used for common colds that costs about $8.00. For internal use, take a good vitamin and mineral supplement that provides 15 to 25 milligrams.