Ice is considered by many to be an effective treatment for cold sores. It’s believed that it works by preventing the herpes virus, which is responsible for cold sores, from traveling from the nerve to the skin.
When you feel the first signs of a cold sore, usually a tingling sensation on your lip, rub some ice on the area as soon as possible. It will lessen the swelling and relieve the pain temporarily. For many people this will prevent the cold sore from even forming. If you use a bag of frozen vegetables or something similar instead of ice cubes, be sure that you throw it away afterwards so you don’t spread the virus.
Ice is also effective at treating a cold sore once it has actually appeared. Wrap an ice cube in a cloth and hold it against the outbreak for as long as you are able to, but preferably for at least 15 to 20 minutes. Repeat three or four times each day for a couple of days or until the cold sore is gone, which should be faster than it would be otherwise.
Some people claim that they never get a cold sore in the same spot again after using this treatment. By using this technique regularly for the treatment of cold sores, the problem will actually diminish in frequency.