Is Cold Sore Medication Necessary to Treat the Viral Infection?

May 12
18:44

2021

Bruce Markey

Bruce Markey

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Cold sore medication mitigates the pain of cold sores and blisters and speeds up the healing process.

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Clusters of blisters on and around your lips may be a sign of a viral infection called cold sores. The blisters are filled with fluid and,Is Cold Sore Medication Necessary to Treat the Viral Infection? Articles if left untreated, will burst, leading to wound scabs that persist for several days. The most common cause of cold sores is herpes virus infection. The herpes simplex 1 virus, which causes chickenpox and shingles, and herpes simplex 2, which causes genital herpes, are the potential causal agents of cold sores.

Antiviral medicines like acyclovir in the form of pills or creams for topical application are the most commonly administered modes of administering cold sore medication. Acyclovir helps to restrict the spread of the infection and also reduce its symptoms. In severe cases, antiviral medication is also given in the form of injections to alleviate the symptoms. Doctors also prescribe analgesics to patients with cold sores to assuage the throbbing pain that tends to follow the blisters and scabs.

Apart from taking cold sore medication, there are a few self-care guidelines recommended to take the edge of the discomfort and severity of the infection.

Ï    The red blisters that characterize cold sores tend to be painful and itchy. However, scratching aggravates the condition and causes the fluid from the blister to leak and further spread the infection around the mouth or to other parts of your body. Therefore, it is necessary to refrain from irritating the blisters and scabs.

Ï    Avoid touching the clusters and also keep from touching others when you are infected. Kissing others will cause the virus to transfer to others as herpes viral infection is highly contagious.

Ï    While infected, try to keep your lips moisturized to prevent chapping, as dry lips only facilitate easy cracking of the tissues. Avoid direct exposure of affected areas to the sun to prevent drying of the lips.

Ï    Cold sores are characterized by redness of the skin in affected areas on and around the lips. You can try to alleviate the burning and redness by using cold compresses. Cold compresses also help to prevent the sores from crusting. On the other hand, a warm compress may give you mild relief from the throbbing pain of the sores.

The symptoms of infection usually go away without taking any cold sore medication over a few weeks; however, antiviral drugs expedite the healing process and alleviate the pain of blister clusters. If your infection is accompanied by fever and severe pain, antiviral pills will effectively relieve the symptoms.

When is consultation with a doctor necessary in the case of being infected with cold sores?

Although it generally manifests as a mild to moderate viral infection, cold sores are painful to deal with, under which condition visiting a doctor will give you the appropriate medical solution to speed up the process of healing. If cold sores are a recurrent condition for you or are accompanied by eye irritation, consultation with a medical expert will help identify what triggers the infection and get a suitable cold sore medication prescription.