How to Get Rid of a Sore on the Side of the Lip

If you have a sore on the side of your lip, there's a good chance it's due to the very common herpes simplex virus. Before treating any new sores, be sure to get a diagnosis from your doctor. Cold sores, also called fever blisters, won't go away overnight, but there are things you can do to speed up the healing period.

Things You'll Need

• Ice
• Lysine supplement
• Zinc supplement
• Lemon
• Petroleum jelly
• Abreva

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Instructions

• 1

  Press ice against the spot for several minutes as soon as you feel or see the beginnings of a cold sore. Not only does ice numb the uncomfortable tingling of a cold sore, but it may result in a less severe outbreak.

• 2

  Apply Abreva, a cold sore cream, directly to your sore. Abreva is the only cream the FDA says will shorten the duration of a cold sore, but other topical creams and gels can be used for pain relief.

• 3

  Take 15 mg of zinc a day until the sore is healed. Zinc fortifies your immune system and blocks the virus from replicating and making a bigger sore.

• 4

  Take 1,200 to 3,000 mg of lysine, an amino acid that supports healthy mouth tissue. Do this daily until the sore is completely healed.

• 5

  Squeeze fresh lemon into a full glass of fresh water. Drink five to eight glasses of water a day, adding lemon when you can. Lemon can help limit the reproduction of the virus.

• 6

  Use a cotton swab to dab petroleum jelly onto the sore when it begins to get dry. This will help healing and relieves some of the discomfort of cracked lips.