Cold Sore Relief: Prevention, Home Cures & Faster Healing

Stopping a cold sore from forming involves early intervention with vitamins, ice, or salt. Learn how to reduce fever blister swelling and manage symptoms safely while breastfeeding or dealing with flu-like symptoms.

Can Taking Vitamin B12 Shorten Cold Sores?

Published Aug,14 2017 | By M. Gideon Hoyle

Cold sores are common, highly contagious skin lesions triggered by infection with herpes simplex virus type 1, also called HSV-1. They differ from common non-contagious skin lesions called canker sores. Taking vitamin B-12 will not shorten the duration of a cold sore outbreak.