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Many folks eat high lysine foods prior to or during a cold sore event, and avoid high arginine foods. For many folks, healing cold sores fast has been as simple as taking 1,000 milligrams to 3,000 milligrams of lysine in capsule supplements during an outbreak. High lysine foods to eat are most meats and dairy products.
Ice packs will help reduce the swelling and also help reduce the pain. Use an ice pack for about 15 minutes several times a day. Generally this treatment works best if you do it as soon as you feel the cold sore coming on. Soak a cotton ball in milk and apply it to the cold sore.