In this article, I’m going to teach you how to use the Salt on Cold Sore Method. While most people just think about flavoring their food with salt, or perhaps avoiding too much salt in their diets, salt actually has many medicinal properties.
I won’t be going into all of the uses for salt, because I want to strictly focus on teaching you about the benefits of using salt for cold sores.
Putting salt on a cold sore is an awesome method of home treatment.
Now let’s discuss how putting salt on a cold sore can help, so you can heal your cold sore and get on with your life.
Salt on Cold Sore Method – How Does Salt Help?
You may enjoy salt on certain types of food, and now you can also enjoy the benefits of using the Salt on Cold Sore Method.
How does salt help?
Salt benefits cold sores in the following ways:
- Acts as an antiseptic
- Draws out moisture and fluid, allowing the cold sore to dry out
Both sea salt and table salt can be used for the Salt on Cold Sore Method. While the antiseptic ability of salt helps prevent bacteria from growing, the best benefit is salt’s “drying out” property.
Salt on Cold Sore Method & HSV
You may be wondering why it’s so beneficial for salt to dry out the moisture from the cold sore.
Let me explain…
Cold sores, also known as fever blisters, are groups of small blisters that form on or near the lips. Cold sores are a result of something called herpes simplex virus (HSV).
There are two types of HSV, and both can cause cold sores. HSV-1 typically is responsible for cold sores, and HSV-2 is most often the cause of genital herpes.
However, both types of HSV can cause cold sores or genital herpes.
After primary infection, the virus resides in the associated dorsal root ganglion where it lies dormant until an external stimuli (such as stress or immunosuppression) initiate reactivation of the virus from dormancy.
The virus lives on forever, and that’s why people continue to get cold sores over and over again.
Now let’s get back to how salt helps cold sores.
The Salt on Cold Sore Method works because the herpes simplex virus requires a warm, moist environment to grow. Putting salt on a cold sore can draw the moisture out, thus making it harder for the virus to replicate.
Here is a picture of the virus.
How To Use the Salt on Cold Sore Method
If you like what you’ve read so far, and are ready to use salt on a cold sore, here is a step-by-step plan for you to follow.
Salt on Cold Sore Method:
- Step 1: Get some powdered salt. You can either buy it powdered, or you can use a rolling pin or something else to crush regular table salt.
- Step 2: Wash your hands with warm water and antibacterial soap.
- Step 3: Moisten either your finger or a Q-tip, dip in the powdered salt, then apply to your cold sore, and hold it there for 40 seconds.
- Step 4: Gently rinse off with some warm water.
You can use the Salt on Cold Sore Method several times a day. Some people even use a mixture of salt and toothpaste for cold sores. A common remedy is to put this mixture on a cold sore before bed and leave it on overnight.
The key to cold sores is to prevent them from forming in the first place.
Thus, I encourage you to check out my Ultimate Guide to Preventing Cold Sores.
It’s free and has absolutely everything you need to know.
If you have any comments or questions on the Salt on Cold Sore Method, please post them in the comment box below.
Korey Kriz says
I am shocked and impressed. I deal with a lot of people, daily. This cold sore was bugging me and Abreva never worked quick enough. I came across this article when I was getting ready for work and decided well it cant get worse. By the afternoon. 6 hours later. The blisters where gone. My lip had scabbed over. The swelling was damn near gone. By the evening I had NO swelling and just kept a glob of salt paste on my lip. Going about my business. This does work. Plus its pretty cool to watch the salt suck the moisture out. The salt grains get so big. Kind of gross. I am trying the toothepaste and salt method overnight. However, I do caution. It stings but you can feel it working right away. I cant thank you enough for giving me this me this method. Saving me $26 out of pocket for Abreva. -Cheers
Matt says
What a WONDERFUL success story Korey!! Congrats on your awesome results using salt on a cold sore. And then the toothpaste and salt method as well. Hooray for home remedies! – Cheers ????
Samantha Rodriguez says
Hi Matt .. does it matter what kind of tooth paste it is??
Matt says
Hi Samantha,
There is debate on this topic as to which is the best. But I’ve read that any toothpaste can work. Herpes simplex virus needs moisture to survive, so putting toothpaste on the sore overnight dries out the sore and prevents the virus from replicating.
Some people have had great success using Colgate or Crest, and others have had success using natural toothpastes.
Catrice Stewart says
Can I use be Aloe plant gel on my family e after applying the sale and toothpaste technique
Matt says
Yes, it can really help to soothe the skin after. Here is an article on the subject:
How To Use Aloe Vera For Cold Sores>>
Ashley says
How often to apply the salt to cold sore throughout the day? And how long does it take to bring the swelling of the cold sore down?
Matt says
At least 3-4 times throughout the day. And it typically works pretty fast. ????
Shanie says
I can say the salt method is the fastest way to get rid of a cold sore. It kills the virus in just a few hours if you keep it on at home for a good length of time. It works for me every time.
Matt says
Great testimonial Shanie! Thanks for sharing. ????
Margaret Desjardins says
It’s been about 4 days now I have this ugly cold sore. The scap has already fallen once and a new one has formed. Is it too late to put the salt mixture.
Matt says
It’s not too late to put the salt on it.
Michelle says
Can it be used on the genital?
Matt says
Yes. Anywhere a herpes simplex 1 or 2 lesion manifests on the body.
Jeff Woods says
Seems like you need a doctor.
Elizabeth says
Does it have to be powdered salt?
Matt says
No, but it works much better if it’s powdered.
Leon says
I never actually knew salt wad a good cure for cold sores.. I’ve been doing it when I get cold sores to relieve the intense stinging feeling I feel all day.. thanks for the article. I now know it actually helps more than I had realized!
Matt says
Great to hear Leon! You’re welcome! Take care. ????
Moesha says
Hi, when I put the salt on the cold sore and held it there it burned. Did I do something wrong?
Matt says
No, depending on how big and inflamed the cold sore is, the salt could burn, but that doesn’t negate the salt’s healing abilities.
Caleb says
I got My very first cold sore(s) yesterday and my upper lip is swollen. They started oozing today. How long do i keep the salt on for? 40 seconds seems too short. Thanks
Matt says
If you like you can just keep the salt on it as long as you like.
Catrice Stewart says
I have a cold sore that burst and a huge 1 on my cheek. I believe I didn’t know what it was until it was 4 spots and feels like my cheek hairs has a rash of it from ear to ear. It’s now been 8 days and I’ve used all my hospital creams and meds. It’s now day 8 and I’ve used just common salt for a day- which was very effective. I bathe in it. And pure alone cane gel. Which gets hella dry. So now day 9. I’m reading this article and just grabbed my Colgate and common salt and based my entire face after 2 good rub off of a lot of rash sacks I didn’t know we’re there like spores in my skin. I’m trying not to cry. Because I can see and feel it working and crusting. And these spores are very alive!!!! And fall off and try to reattach to another part of your skin. Anyways. Can’t wait til morning. God knows I shouldn’t have plucked my cheek after peroxide made the biggest area skin fall off. But now I’m covered cheek to cheek in this remedy. Thank you. And another thing. How do I rinse? Do I rub it iff with a towel dry or wet? 2. Will I be spreading it? And 3. Can I use sunblock spf 15 in my entire face afterwards?
Matt says
Wow so glad this remedy is helping you! That is GREAT news!
And to answer your questions:
1. And you can rub it off either way so long as you are gentle when you remove it.
2. Wash your hands with antibacterial soap afterward and every time you touch the sores.
3. Sunblock can be worn just use a kind that doesn’t irritate you.
Lots of people are sensitive to certain ingredients in sunscreens. Zinc oxide is actually subblock that actually works as a physical block from the sun, and it also helps to heal cold sores faster. It’s very healing. I’ll post a link to that article to learn about zinc oxide and perhaps you’ll want to get a zinc oxide sunblock product.
But other sunscreens will work too. It took me years and years before I found the right facial products and sunscreen that didn’t irritate my sensitive skin and actually help my skin look better!
Here is the article on zinc oxide:
How To Use Zinc Oxide For Cold Sores>>
Jon says
Neato, I generally thought Salt would be a good thing to apply–but I really don’t think I quite understood how or the best way to do it. This article and steps vastly increased my understanding–I can say I literally can feel this damn cold sore getting better by the moment, I suppose using a little toothpaste couldn’t hurt afterwords? I heard that it can help. Anyway great article thanks
Matt says
Yes, the “Salt and Toothpaste Method” is one of the most popular methods people use. I’m going to provide a link to an article I wrote on toothpaste for cold sore for you to check out:
How To Use Toothpaste On A Cold Sore>>
V says
Mine started Saturday morning in the corner of my mouth, starting using a cold sore cream til Monday morning. Found this article and decided to give it a go. Definitely helps with the swelling, but once it scabs over what is your recommendation. I get a cold sore once or twice a year, and it annoys me to no end that I cannot figure out how it’s triggered. Sometimes obvious, other times – ? Please help what do I do next?
Matt says
Once it turns into a scab it will heal fastest if you leave it alone. Be careful when eating to not break the scab and in the shower don’t wash your face, but instead use a cotton pad to clean your face while avoiding your scab. Left alone, the scab heals pretty quick and underneath it heals the wound. I used to HATE how the scab looked so I would often get impatient and take a shower and let the water pressure remove the scab. While that makes things look better temporarily, this ultimately delays the healing process by at least a few days and increases the risk of scarring. So to answer your questions:
1. If you can, be mindful to avoid anything that can take your scab off and wait until it falls off naturally.
2. Check out my free resource to learn all of the triggers and how to prevent each one: Ultimate Guide To Preventing Cold Sores>>
Gaby says
Is the cold sore still contagious once it has scabbed over?
Matt says
It can be. It’s best to be very careful until the scab has fallen off. It’s much less contagious at this stage but not 100% safe.
Nakia says
What I wanna know is while you are doing the salt method what do I do when I rinse of the salt?. Do I use some kind of moisturizer or leave it dry until it’s scabs up?