Cold sores typically appear on or around the mouth, but they can also appear on other parts of the body, such as the eyelids and nostrils. They hurt a lot and don’t look pretty. They soon form a blister (or a clump or blisters) that swells up and oozes. It’s understandable that you want to heal cold sores in the early stages so, how can you dry out a cold sore overnight?
Fever blisters arise from the herpes simplex virus (HSV-1), and the majority of people will get at least one during their lifetime. The key to drying out cold sores fast is protecting the healthy skin cells and removing moisture with the FDA-approved Virulite Cold Sore Device or HERP-B-GONE cream. It’s just a matter of personal preference. Apply the cream/device immediately at the first signs of a problem and the cold sore will dry out much faster.
Cold sores typically take two weeks to go away on their own. When you’re able to spot the tell-tale signs of an outbreak, which is usually a tingling sensation in that area, you can minimize the time it takes to recover with a good over-the-counter cold sore medicine.
In this article, we will talk about drying out cold sores faster. There are stages that cold sores go through, and it depends on which stage yours has reached as to how long it’ll take. We’ll then suggest treatments that will enable you to heal quicker, or even stop the blister from forming at all.
How to Dry Out a Cold Sore Blister
The sooner you start treating a cold sore, the less suffering you’ll endure. But, when the blister is already beginning to form, it is filling up with an infectious yellow fluid. It’ll start to itch as it heals, so you have to be careful not to scratch it, or disturb the scab. This will spread the infection.
If you allow the sore to run its natural course, it will take about 10 to 14 days to dry up. If you apply a treatment, the healing time can be cut to 3 to 5 days. There are different ways to dry out the fluid in the cold sore without causing the blister to crack open.
- Pro Tip: One of the best natural treatments is tea tree oil. This essential oil has many medicinal properties, and it can dry up cold sore fluid quickly. You should dilute it with another essential oil, such as olive oil, or a few drops of water to reduce its potency.
While it’s still in the blister stage, you may want to put Vaseline or another type of petroleum jelly on it to keep it moist. When they are in the corner of your mouth, they can rip open easily because of talking, yawning, eating, etc. It is important that you keep it moisturized.
It may seem odd to keep a cold sore moisturized when you are trying to dry it out, but by doing so, you are stopping the blister from cracking or splitting open. If this happens, the blistering process will start over again, and healing time will be prolonged, and pain level increased. If your cold sore is giving you pain, you may want to consider an OTC pain medication with ibuprofen or acetaminophen as active ingredients.
How to Dry Out a Cold Sore Scab
If the sore has reached the yellow scabbing stage, it will inevitably become itchier. There’s also a higher likelihood of it cracking open and allowing fluid to come out. You must do all that you can to prevent the infectious fluid from spreading the virus, possibly to others.
- Pro Tip: You can dry out a cold sore scab with Orajel Single Dose Cold Sore Treatment. It contains ingredients that dry up the fluid fast and keep the scab moisturized. It also includes a numbing agent that will numb the pain that’s associated with the blistering.
Best Way to Dry Up a Cold Sore
You can sometimes prevent a cold sore from forming a blister, but no treatment can guarantee this outcome. Obviously, the quicker you use treatment, the more likely you are to benefit. You can apply Abreva, which is approved by the FDA.
If you can catch the sore at an early stage, the medicine in Abreva will stop the formation of the blister or dramatically reduce the healing time. The early stages of cold sores include a tingling or burning sensation. If you notice that happening, apply the cream right away. If you feel under stress or you’ve been feeling exhausted, you can use this cream as a preventative method.
The Right Way to Dry Out & Hide Cold Sores
Don’t use makeup to cover up cold sores. It’s not medicated, and it’ll only lead to other nasty bacterial infections. The liquid inside the blister will take longer to dry out, so the lifespan of the blister will be extended. It’s a quick fix that will only make life more difficult.
There are medicated cold sore patches that can help to treat and hide the condition. The Compeed Invisible Cold Sore Patch not only covers up the blister, but it keeps it moisturized on the outside while drying up the yellow-colored liquid that’s gathering inside. It’s easy to apply, and it’s a great way of avoiding those unwelcome staring glances from strangers.
Even when it’s reached the blister or scabbing stage, there are still ways to dry out a cold sore fast. However, it’s important to appreciate that a cold sore that’s drying out is more likely to split open. If this happens, the healing process will start all over again. If this happens, start again and remain patient. It just has to be considered a lesson learned.
Also, make sure that you sterilize the area around the scab or blister if this happens. Wash your hands thoroughly when you’re done, to avoid spreading the virus to family members, friends, and work colleagues. And, of course, use the Virulite Cold Sore Device to dry out the cold sore so that you don’t have to endure up to 2 weeks of pain and depleted confidence.
FAQS:
What Balms, Ointments, and Medications Dry Out Cold Sores?
To relieve pain, redness, itching, and inflammation, topical steroids or anti-inflammatory cream, such as hydrocortisone, or denavir cream can be applied several times per day for a cold sore.
Can Prescription Antiviral Medication Help Cold Sore Symptoms?
Prescription drugs are available in addition to over-the-counter cold sore remedies. Because a cold sore is often caused by a virus, an antiviral medication might be provided as necessary. Valacyclovir, or Valtrex, is a prescription antiviral drug used to treat cold sores. Other medications include Famvir, Zovirax, docosanol, penciclovir and more are often given by a healthcare professional to remedy herpes simplex virus type of cold sores.
Can a Cold Compress Help Stop a Cold Sore Outbreak?
There are numerous therapies that, when applied early, can help relieve discomfort and swelling – and may even lessen the length of a cold sore. However, one of the most simple available to you is a wet, cold washcloth compress with ice or cold water.
Are There Natural Home Remedies for Canker Sores?
There are several home and herbal remedies for a canker sore, but how well they work has generally not been studied well. Plants such as aloe vera gel, rhubarb and sage are thought to be helpful in treating cold sores. In addition lysine supplements are known for shortening the duration of cold sores.