Cold sores, otherwise known as fever blisters, develop around and inside the mouth due to specific strains of the type 1 herpes simplex virus. When you get a cold sore scab, your first thought may be to get rid of it as quickly as possible. Instead of working to get rid of the scab, you may be better served by working to hasten healing. According to the Mayo Clinic, cold sores can be spread by sharing eating utensils, razors or even towels with an infected person who is experiencing an outbreak.
When you intend to speed the process of getting rid of a cold sore scab, you may do well to take care with washing your face. Experts usually recommend washing the area around the cold sore but avoiding the scab itself. If some water touches the scab while you are washing, this is unlikely to present a problem, but it’s best to avoid getting a lot of soap on it. After washing your face, you can pat the sore area dry if it has become damp and then avoid reusing the towel until it has been washed — this way, you can prevent the spread of the virus that causes cold sores.
It is interesting that the best way to get rid of a cold sore scab is to let it heal on its own. You might feel tempted to pick at a scab in the interest of making it go away faster, but in doing so, you may actually delay healing. The scab that forms over a cold sore is a natural part of cold sore healing, and if you leave it alone, it will eventually drop off on its own. If you pick at it or irritate it, however, you may not only slow healing, but also cause the area to become infected. Instead, it may prove best to work on speeding the healing process.
Though it’s not absolutely necessary to do so, you may also consider applying an over-the-counter ointment to the scab.One of the most popular over the counter treatments for cold sores is Zilactin. Zilactin works mostly by its active ingredient called benzyl alcohol. Benzyl alcohol(C7H8O, CAS:100-51-6) dries out the sore, making it difficult for the virus to thrive and spread. Zilactin also creates a thin shell, similar to a Band-Aid, over the sore as it dries. The shell keeps irritants from entering the sore and also helps prevent the viral shedding that can spread the infection.
Suppression therapy is a proactive step to prevent cold sore outbreaks before they occur. Suppression therapy uses smaller doses of antiviral medications (such as acyclovir) on a daily basis to keep the virus from being able to grow enough to break through the skin.
Susiexue is the freelance writer for e-commerce website in the chemistry. Guidechem.com is just a place for you to look for some chemicals! Our guidechem provide the most convenient conditions for the international buyers and let these leads benefit all the business people.
susie438 