Giveaway: Abreva How to Treat a Cold Sore

Did you know that approximately 80 million Americans will experience at least one cold sore during the year? Cold temperatures and illness are just two triggers that can cause cold sore outbreaks. Other triggers include sun exposure, injury to the mouth, lack of sleep and stress.

See how much you know about cold sores by take this true/false quiz:
- It is possible to cure cold sores permanently.
- Pricking your cold sore with a needle can relieve the pain and speed healing.
- Treating a cold sore at the first sign of an outbreak can shorten healing time.
- You should start treatment at the first tingle.
- It's ok to kiss during the cold sore cycle, especially towards the end.
- A worn-down body finds it harder to keep the virus inactive.
- Sun exposure during the winter is not a trigger for cold sores.
- Applying alcohol or witch hazel to dry out a cold sore can heal it.
- Holding a tea bag or ice on a cold sore can speed up healing.
- Injury to the mouth and lack of sleep are not triggers for cold sores.

Answers: F, F, T, T, F, T, F, F, F, F

There are many home remedies for cold sores - such as ice or tea bags, pricking it with a needle - but these remedies have not been clinically proven to heal cold sores or shorten the healing time. They may make it temporarily feel better, but can possibly make the cold sore worse.

Abreva is the only over the counter cold sore medicine that is FDA approved to shorten healing time. It speeds healing like a prescription but without one.

Tips on How to how to treat and lessen you risk of a cold sore:
- Get plenty of rest. A worn-down body is more likely to get sick and finds it harder to keep the virus inactive.
- Don’t share personal items or kiss for the entire cold sore life cycle.
- Use sunscreen to avoid over exposure to the sun, even in the winter.
- Go to Abreva.com for more information on triggers and treatment.
- If you are one of the 20 to 40 percent of people who have the virus and actually experience an outbreak, have your solution handy and start your treatment at the first tingle.

How to Use Abreva Cold Sore Treatment
- Remove cosmetics before applying, you may reapply cosmetics after
applying Abreva.
- Apply directly to your cold sore at first sing of tingle, redness, bump or
itch.
- Leave the cold sore alone – don’t pick, scratch or squeeze.
- Wash hands after touching cold sore or applying Abreva.


See this video for more information on how to use Abreva.

To enter the giveaway, leave a comment about how you treat your cold sores - or how your family/friends treat their cold sores. One winner would be randomly selected to receive a free tube of Abreva.

Disclosure: I received a tube of Abreva as a thank you for posting this giveaway.