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Lifestyle and home remedies
By Mayo Clinic staffCold sores generally clear up without treatment. In the meantime, the following steps may provide relief:
- Use ointments. Over-the-counter (OTC) ointments, such as topical lidocaine or benzyl alcohol (Zilactin), can help ease discomfort.
- Take an OTC pain reliever. These include aspirin, acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others). But don't give aspirin to children. Aspirin may trigger a rare but potentially fatal disorder known as Reye's syndrome.
- Use cold or heat. Try applying ice or warm compresses to the blisters to ease the pain.
- Let it heal. Avoid squeezing, pinching or picking at any blister.
