Oh boy, –here it comes again. It starts with the burning, tingling and itching sensations around the edge of your lip. Then the redness and swelling soon appears. Next comes the gradual onset of painful fever blisters. You’re officially experiencing an onslaught from the herpes simplex virus (HSV-1), aka: the common cold sore. Unfortunately, once you’ve been infected with the virus, it will stay in your body for the rest of your life and cannot be gotten rid of. The good news is that the virus is not life threatening–rather it is just a permanent bother that you’ll occasionally have to deal with. Knowing that you’re stuck with this disruptive and potentially embarrassing annoyance, there are several cold sore treatments ranging from home remedies for cold sores to cold sore medication that can help you speed the healing process and ease the discomfort of an outbreak. Here are 5 simple things you can do to alleviate cold sore symptoms:

1. Avoid stress. Stress can trigger an outbreak. Learn and practice techniques to alleviate stress. Ideas may include exercise, meditation, reading, painting, etc. Find your outlet, and participate regularly.

2. Avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight. Cold sores are prone to flare up after exposure to prolonged periods of sunlight. If sunlight is unavoidable, be sure to cover your lips and mouth with a sunscreen or chap stick with SPF 15 or higher. It may also be a good idea to wear a hat that will shade your mouth as well.

3. Apply a protective petroleum-based product to the infected area. This will add another layer of protection to the weakened skin and assist in preventing a secondary infection with bacteria. Additionally this will accelerate the healing by the skin’s elasticity, which will prevent cracking during the healing process. Tip: Don’t use makeup as a coverall - it can smother and irritate the cold sore and prolong the required time to heal.

4. Choose your foods wisely. According to Herpes.com, People with cold sore symptoms can benefit from a diet high in the amino acid lysine and low in arginine.

5. Apply an over-the-counter anesthetic. Putting a local anesthetic ointment containing benzocaine on the cold sore can help give you temporary pain relief by numbing the affected area. Benzocaine can be found in ointments like Anbesol and Orajel. These can be found in your local pharmacy. By the way, a good pharmacist is an excellent resource for information about prescription and over-the-counter medications. Don’t be afraid to ask them for additional ideas regarding cold sore treatments.

6. Home remedies for cold sores. Did you know that licorice has anti-viral properties? The secret is found in glycyrrhizic acid–one of the ingredients in licorice. Just be sure you buy the real thing and not the artificially flavored stuff. You can tell its real licorice if the ingredients include “licorice mass”. Don’t overdo it though, licorice in large amounts can be harmful. Other home remedies for cold sores can be found in your freezer. Ice packs and popsicles can bring temporary relief from painful cold sore symptoms. Just be sure to avoid juice bars (the acidic nature of the fruit will cause more irritation.)

While the above ideas may be helpful as cold sore treatments, none of them will cure you of your cold sore symptoms. A final word of advice: If you have frequent or severe cold sore symptoms, you should probably see your doctor. In some cases, an antiviral medication can be prescribed to help prevent or minimize future outbreaks. In the mean time–hang in there! You’re going to be alright.