If these treatments aren’t effective, you can see your doctor about getting a prescription for an anti-viral medication, such as Zovirax or Denavir. You can also help ease the pain by using topical pain creams that contain lidocaine or benzocaine, or take over the counter (OTC) pain relievers, like Acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin), and others.

If you have frequent outbreaks, your doctor may prescribe an oral medication, like Valtrex.

There are also several alternative options that make dealing with your cold sore more bearable, including:

Use Compresses

Regularly applying cool, damp compresses to your cold sore can reduce redness, help remove crusting from the broken sore, and speed up healing time. Some people swear by whole milk compresses, which are said to ease pain and accelerate the healing process. Because whole milk contains compounds called immunoglobins, or antibodies that help fight off the virus.

Try Vanilla

Pure vanilla extract (be sure that yours is real extract, rather than artificial vanilla flavoring!) is a natural cold sore treatment. Vanilla extract’s alcohol base helps dry out the blisters, helps kill the virus, and can also clear up the problem faster. To maximize results, soak a cotton swab in vanilla extract and apply to the sore for about a minute, repeating several times daily until your cold sore heals.

Apply Herbal Balms or Petroleum Jelly

Applying herbal lip balms, such as an herbal lemon balm – available at most health food stores - can help seal the cold sore. One recent study, according to Rodale News, showed that applying lemon balm to cold sores reduced redness and swelling in just two days. Even applying regular petroleum jelly to your cold sore can provide a barrier and help ease the discomfort of an open, painful blister.