Home : Health : Remedies : Cold sores : Tea bags

(85) comments about this tip

Tea bags for cold sores

Use a warm tea bag on a cold sore. Press it to your mouth for 20-30 mins. The next day it will be gone! I didn't believe this when someone told me, but I tried it (and felt really silly) - but when I woke up next morning it had completely disappeared!

Visitors comments

omg lol Comments By: Chelsey I felt really silly and my parents even took a picture of me, lol   havent tried it Comments By: anna I'm trying it right now   Tea bags will help a Cold Sore Comments By: Steve Use a warm tea bag on a cold sore. Press it to your mouth for 20-30 mins. The next day it will be gone! I didn't believe this when someone told me, but I tried it (and felt really silly) - but when I woke up next morning it had completely disappeared!   Does it really work?>?>>? Comments By: britanie hambrick Ok I tried this idea and I used it before I went to bed.....then in the morning I woke up and it was brown from the tea bag ....Did I do something wrong was I supposed to wash my face afterwards ?>?> please help me!!!! TipKing Says: Many of the tips sent to the site are trial and error. Maybe this was not the remedy for you.   wow Comments By: Sarah I have the worst time getting rid of coldsores but when I read this review I tried it and my coldsore's size was cut in half the next day. Thanks! :)   Tanic Acid is the Trick! Comments By: V. The teabag compress has tanic acid. This dries and heals the sore. Also try to reduce citrus from your diet during an outbreak. P.S. This cure also works for "below the belt" cold sores (aka: herpes).   disaster Comments By: owie Tried this - it made it WORSE! I guess it works for some people, though.   - Comments By: cassie im trying it right now ahh this is what its come too!   Less than an hour! Comments By: Eric I am not sure if it was a cold sore or canker sore. I'm 32 and never had either of them but my sisters had problems with canker sores over the years. I had it for about 4 days just on the inside of the lip, you could not even really see it unless you were watching while I talked. The pain was very very minor but on the 5th day it became very painful. I tried some topical anesthetics and although they helped I could still feel it. I tried the teabag trick that I read somewhere else but they said to do it 1-2 minutes every hour. Tried it and it failed. My wife went and bought some hydrogenperoxide mixture that the pharmacy recommended but while she was gone I tried the 20 minute tea bag trick. Slightly hot water and put in the teabag, decaff if it matters, just as it was starting to turn the water brown I pulled it out, drained it against a spoon and put it on the sore. Took it off 20 minutes later and literally within an hour it had dried up completely. It hasn't scabbed, the skin is still there, it did peel off a bit and although just a bit tender underneath the sore itself is totally gone. Well worth the try and use warm/hot water to get the tea bag working and releasing its ingredients. Leave is slightly moist and have some papertowel on hand since you will make a bit of a mess deppending on where the sore is.   Tea bag trick Comments By: Brandon Colbert Does IT matter what kind of tea bag you are using? I am going to use green tea. we will see what happens   it sucked Comments By: Keith Flynn that stuff did not work i woke up the next morning the only thing it was was a little smaller   this better work !!! pleaseeee Comments By: claire im gonny try it right now! i hope to god it works! i hate them soo much! i had one for a week now its just going away im getting another ahhhhh !!!!!   the teabag trick- lets wait and see... Comments By: callie i have tried the real stuff that u can buy from chemists and doctors but it just takes tooo long (im very impatient) i've tried honey, as somebody suggested to me, this didnt't do much. i now have toothpaste on it to try and dry it up, but this tea bag idea sounds kinda hopeful, so wish me luck!   Tea Bags Work! Comments By: Clare Yes the tannins in the tea soothed the sores in minutes and I have woken up today much more comfortable. Great remedy... and so cheap, natural and readily available. Is it no always the case though, that the remedy lies in nature. Thanks for the tip!   Hopeful Comments By: Kylee I have gotten cold sores my whole life, and I am only 14 almost 15 years old. This is about the worst time of the whole year that I could get them! I play softball and I didn't wear sun screen and I didn't have a vizor on and I think I have sun blisters, not cold sores! Well, My lips are REALLY swollen, and I don't know what to do! I have Denivir, which works for cold sores but does it work for sun blisters? I got told to put warm tea bags on my lips, but doesn't the heat make my lips swell more?? ughhh!!   if this dont work im eating a 9mm Comments By: ozzieguillen im gonna give it a shot....last resort effort here....i have my harvard interview tis thursday and go into it with herpes all over my face.....   last ditch effort Comments By: Lipcrazy I'm going on a cruise, and this intrusion started on Tuesday. It's Saturday, and I think I tried everything; two different otc's, toothpaste, listerine, even earwax. I want it GONE!!!   feel stupid Comments By: anon the pain is going away im really tempted to suck on it to get the tea i love tea lol   this time trying tea Comments By: aGIRL I get them every time I'm sunburned,stressed out or get frost bite.SICK OF IT!!!it is day 2,looks bigger than yesterday.I'm trying earl grey bags(for 30 min).I can tell you what doesn't work:alcohol,draining whats inside it,antibiotic cream,ice-although it does relief pain,crushed aspirin.LET'S HOPE TEA WORKS!!!   this time trying tea Comments By: aGIRL It worked!!!!I mean it's not like my lip looks perfect but it looks and feels like I have it for over a week(it's day 3),so:it is dry,I have a little scab and it doesn't itch or burn.It is healed!!!TEA ROCKS!!!   nnnnnnoooooooo Comments By: anon it made it worse and more dark   i burned my self Comments By: loz i burned my self and it really hurt i forgot you said warm ones so it was like boiling hot and it hurt awww i cant believe i did that but hey it got rid of my cold sore i think   hahahaaaa Comments By: Emma i'm doing it right now! i've suffered with coldsores all my life, and i am praying this works for me! I feel so silly!!   visible sores can green tea still help? and a tip as well Comments By: miss embarrased i have multiple on my lower lip right now cuz i just had a horrible fever which really got the virus attention, and they are already visible so will the green tea bag still help them heal?? oh and if you apply just any triple antibiotic ointment (which contains a good amount of zinc) will help if go down and also applying cold ice   hope! Comments By: sezz ive tried absolutly every method possibe to get rid of theses awful coldsores! im definatly giving this a go....such a simple thing i dont think ill mind looking silly for a while lol wish me luck   helpp :) Comments By: Elliiee x hey, im 14, i hate my coldsores i get them all the time, its awful going to school with them, cause you get laughed at, i have started to do the tea bag remedie because it seems the least painful, but how many times do i need to repeat the process and how quick will my coldsore dissapear aprox? :)   cold sores suck!!! Comments By: Angela ok i don't hate anything as much as much as i hate cold sores it just ruins your whole day, my boyfriend was going to make me dinner tonight but since i got a stupid cold sore i didn't go and now i'm sad but i'm trying the tea bag hopefully it works guys and lets hope they find a damn cure for this soon because i'm getting sick of it!!!   Does It Really Work Comments By: IhateColdsores I Have To Go skwll on monday does it really work or just make it work. Omg i hope it Works Wish me luck !   Not sure Comments By: cdyf I have really been stressing out witht his dam thing. I got the flu and then suddenly i find sweelling on the side of my lip and I FEAKED out. The day i was going to ask my wife to marry me I get the worst... Although ive had it for about a week and the swelling has gone down very little. The blister itself is very small and i dont give a crap about it but the swelling is very noticeable... So I've decided to find the peoples views and cures... I chucked a teabag witch was soaked and made it hot in the microwave. and the next day the swelling was half cut. and by 2 days its gone... THANKS   Giving It A Try Comments By: Shakayla Im 19 and this is the first time ive had a cold sore. I want to cry. I start a new job this coming week and i dont want to go in with a cold core. I dont want to pay lots of money for some silly creames and i have a large amount of tea bags available. Wish Me Luck! Im trying it as we speek, Thanks For The Tip!   NO Comments By: Shakayla I Tried It And It Only Made The Itchy/Tingly Feeling Go Away For A Few. So I Went And Bought A Thing Of Abreva, Only 14-16 bucks. So Far Its Stopped The Itchy Feeling And The CS Has Been Getting Smaller. Looks Like It Should Be Gone In Another 2 Days Or So.   I'm trying Comments By: John I'm 18 years old and i'm having a new years eve bra and panties party at my house tomorrow. Just so happens, I get a cold sore, 2 days before it. I'm trying this tea bad method, hopefully it'll work. Wish me luck =\.   :| Comments By: D I Sooo Hope This Works Im Going To A Water Park Tomorrow And This Big Baby Isnt Goin Out In Public!   ice Comments By: drew martin i tryed ice on day and it actually went away the next . might have just been a lucky one i'm tryin t-bag now   they suck Comments By: tom z i got a cold sore the size of texas it emmbarrising and makes me worrie too much its all i think about so im just gonna keep puttin on tea bage it realy sicks i stay home from school because of it now i gotta make it up life sucks keep you heads up pce n luv   It REALLY Works! Comments By: Samantha I hate cold sores and nothing worked for me except waiting until it went away in like a week or two. I tried the tea bags and it made it half the size after the first time. The second time it cut it in half even smaller. It is not noticeable at all and only takes a couple of days instead of 2 weeks to heal. I love tea in more ways than one. Natural remedies usually work best...but the doctors dont want you to know that cause they want you to spend money.   Comments By: Tina :) Ok well i have the tea bag on my lip right now i hope it works! i missed school today because of my cold sore! I think i might try it tonight again. i hope it works   funnnyy Comments By: mary ok so i have a fkn coldsore and i just found out today that i got a job and my training starts tomorw...im currently putting the tea bag on my lip i reaally hope its gone by tomorww thanks for the tip/// im also using abreva do u think its guna make it disseaper even faster?   These are a killer Comments By: Anon I've had this problem my whole life. It's BEYOND embarassing, lol. I'm trying the tea bag now as we speak actually, it did take the swelling down a bit. Ive been doin it all day, and then putting abreeva on afterwords. I don't know about you guys, but abreeva doesn't really work on my cold sores. Toothpaste doesnt work, or witch hazel. If anything, it made it worst. lol sorry to vent.   Oh, I hope it works! Comments By: Brooke I've had this darn sore for 3 days now, Im going on a second date with this guy in 2 days, and I cannot go with this huge thing on my lip! I got a tea bag on it now, (I feel dumb) but I hope it works. Wish me luck!   crossing fingers Comments By: courtney i get them every 4-5 months, i think mine are from stress, i have tryed everything. and abreva was the worst thing ever. the sore was on the corner of my mouth, and it literally spread onto my skin.and left a scar. i hope this works!!! :(   dang Comments By: larun well i am 14 years old and i have a cold sore and it is so embarising cause i am currtnly attanding high school and everyone be looking at it but that is not the onlt thing thos i get to at a time omg i am trying a tea bab right know i hope it works   Comments By: amyp well i have just finished with the teabag no my face so fingers crossed it works   ugh! Comments By: t.k. Mannn I woke up with this thing on my lip never had one be4! Its ugly! Got the tea bag on my lips rite now hope it works!   5 days and gone Comments By: Methodman Ok, I used to only use abreva, and typically I'd be looking at 1.5-2 weeks of visible sores. After researching all of the remedies online, I found a method that cut the time down to 5 days. Here's what I did each day: Day 1: I woke up and there were 3-4 blisters forming, but not very big or "blistery" yet. I immediately put ice on it for 10-15 minutes. While icing, I read about the tea method, so when it felt like my lip was back to body temp. I used a warm tea bag for about 20-30 min. Then I applied abreva and did not bother it for about 2 hours... I repeated this process for the remainder of the day. (Probably 5-7 times) Day 2: I woke up and found though the existing bumps got bigger and eventually blistered, there were no new ones that formed, and usually mine got much bigger and developed more blisters by day 2. I continued to ice, tea, and abreva the sore at about the same frequency as the day before. Days 3-4: By day 3, the sore had burst and began to show signs of scabbing over. At this point, ice was not going to help the healing process, so I just used the tea method each time before applying abreva (about 3-5 each day). Day 5: The scabs began to flake off, and though there were still signs of the sore, they were very minimal. As the day went on, it got smaller and smaller. The next morning, it was hard to tell I had ever had one. I understand that everyone reacts differently to different treatments, but I truly feel like this cut down the healing time by half. Also, I'm sure it wouldn’t hurt to use other remedies like lysine, garlic ect... Good luck, and I hope this method works as well for you as it did for me.   Another victim.... Comments By: Victimized I am another unfortunate victim to cold sores. I have had them since I was young, but as a recent grad working two jobs they have become more frequent and more vicious. They are getting bigger, and spreading.. FAST! I tried to put vitamin E oil on the cold sore and that only seemed to make it worse, so I am going to try the tea bag method. I have been sick for the last few days with a nasty virus (that is another story in itself), so between this and the cold sore, I am not feeling my best. My boyfriend is graduating in a few days and I want to look nice on his arm, seeing this will be the first time I meet most of his family, and some of his college buddies, so I sure hopes it goes down in time because I CANNOT show face looking a mess. Wish me luck, I will post my results.   This has gotta work Comments By: megatron 3000 ok im seeing this pretty girl 2 moro so this has gotta work,i felt it coming thru lastnight,teabag here i come   FML! Comments By: Ce ugh woke up today with the devil on the corner of my left upper lip! usually do this remedy when it starts to itch, and the blister never fully comes out. BUT this time, it advanced further than normal bcuz I slept in! it's already swollen and looks like it's somewhat of a pimple lol. hope it freakin works this time around..! got work tomorrow and summer school on monday ahhhh!   i'm trying it now Comments By: Anon I have had my coldsores for about a week now and i am getting sick of them!! one is on my lip and the other is just above my mouth. i'm going to try the teabag now, hopefully i works!   it really worls Comments By: sandra i have found that as soon as you start feeling one come out is the best time to start using the tea bag. as with any condition the longer you wait the longer to get rid of it. i put a tea bag on as soon as i feel it starting to come out and within an hour you can notice the difference. i have tried all types of other medication even prescription and the tea bag has worked the best   hopeful :) Comments By: Nicole I have two cold sores on either corner of my mouth, yeah you guys think you have it bad with just one, unfortunatly I didn't catch them when they first started out..so last night I put 1 teabag on each coldsore for 30 min. and then i put carmex (really good lip stuff, good for cold sores too)and the next day my cold sores were slightly smaller, and I just did the teabag thing again for 30 min, then put the carmex on, so wish me luck! hopefully they will be gone in the next couple of days! I would recomend this remedie.   trying it now Comments By: beth ok I just got over a cold sore outbreak. took famvir and only had for 7 days or so. finally completely healded and anouther comes. WTF!!!! i just poopod 3 famvir tabs at once and am tryin the teabag. hope it helps. im desperate. my dr said cold/hot will just make worse, but at this point ill try anything. tried iv=ce last time but still got and when i went to dr he said stop, will make worse. please please please tea bag work. =(   omg i hate this! Comments By: ashley I've tried abreva and it made is worse. i tried ice ans it didn't work at all. i'm gonna try the tea bag and i hope it works, because i'm going to my boyfriends house in a couple of days and i want this GONE! I've been getting cold sores since i was born and i am 16 and want to just chop off my mouth. wow i can actually feel it working. the hole tea bag thing. :) this is awesome! thanks guys!   trying it now Comments By: Harry is it supose4d to be damp yeah   Disappointed Comments By: Natalie I have 3 coldsores at the moment as a result of being in the sun too much. Yesterday they were managable but I thought that I would give this a try....It made them worse. Today my lips have swollen severley and I am unable to leave the house a look horrific. I am confident that if I had not done the teabag thing yesterday they would have at least stayed the same. Don't risk it!! If you suffer from bad coldsores the likelyhood is that if you put any compress on it for 30 mins you will spread the virus across the dampened area, which is what has happened to me.   Trying everything. Comments By: Nicky :) I have tried literally everything to get rid of my coldsore but its just not going away. I really hope this works because i'm going to alton towers with my boyfriend tommorow.   Tryin it right nw lol Comments By: Kay Hope this works neva had a coldsore in my life nd woke this morning with multiple lol   I need a miracle Comments By: Betsy ok i have five cold sores flared up right now im in so much pain i havent eaten anything all day im trying to eat atleast a pudding. but im going to try it and hopefully it goes away soon because i have to go to school monday so i have three days for it to go away ill get you all know if it worked.   Painful, crappy cold sores Comments By: Darlene I've had cold sores all my life. Tried EVERYTHING. The one I have right now is very painful. Put the green tea bag on it and it took the pain away instantly. Hope it heals faster now. It's HUGH. Taking over my whole mouth.   Valtrex and reduction of sugars Comments By: Fred Your doctor can prescribe Valtrex for you and it'll prevent the swelling and cut the coldsore time in half. Not perfect, but helps a great deal. I also learned that sugar (refinded) is my weakness. Lots of sweets reduce my immune system and allow cold sore breakouts. So, discipline is important for me.   TAKE SOME LYSINE PILLS!!!! Comments By: Jay Teabags aren't bad, but if you wanna shorten the duration of the cold sore go to your local drug store and pick up some LYSINE PILLS. They help reduce the recurrence and severity!!   Trying the tea bag Comments By: Brittany It's me and my boyfriends 11 month anniversery this friday and I got this cold sore monday.. I'm going to try this tea thing tonight! I hope it works. [=   hope it works Comments By: hannah i really hope it works, it seems like a good idea and im doing it right now. i have just finished taking it off and i can feel it tingling is that a good sign /?? :)   cold sores suck!!! Comments By: S Ok well last week i was sick and since i have been getting these nasty things my whole life i just knew i would get 1!! I am leaving sat to orlando and then thurs ill be with fam for thanksgiving! so a sore coming tues is NOT COOL...I woke up and felt it growing...rushed to the kitchen and rubbed salt and peroxide and it got swollen but the sore didnt get to come out since the salt kills the virus...(at least for me) Started reading online...Found this site...Went to the bathroom to wash off the salt and then got a teabag...Read all the reviews...And now while i am typing this...The swelling is hardly noticeable and the sore itself is brown but i really dont even think it will be here by the night time...It worked for me...I used a green tea tea bag...Thank god!!! I am no doc so i am not going to tell every1 to try it but i do know what i saw for my self so i am a happy camper right now :)   I JUST POSTED ABOUT MY COLD SORE... Comments By: S I just told u guys that i am going to orlando sat and seeing fam for thanksgiving next thurs...On top of the salt peroxcide and tea bag i also took a lysine pill!! I take them a lot and i hardly get bad sores anymore, i would sometimes get them every month and BAD! but the lysine pills help A LOT so you should ask a doc about that if u are not sure!!   i think its working Comments By: victoria Byrd im pretty sure its working. its making the redness less noticeable and the swelling has gone down some. thank you very much!   No : ( Comments By: Tigger Didn't work for me, made it worse,it hurt like hell when i put the tea bag on it and when i took it off the cold sore nearly came of with it and it was white. It hurt like mad, i was holding my mum's hand so tight i nearly broke her hand!!!   WHY US???!!!! Comments By: @!!#$^)&(@$#!$ I hate cold sores ... tea bags help a little for me but not overnight as claimed!Time unfourtunately is the best remedy for me!!!! Its like having a third eye only its a dif. color and on your lip!   New Boyfriend / Christmas Cold Sore. Comments By: Sally This couldnt be a worse time for me to get a cold sore. Just met a new guy. And its christmas eve. TWO COLD SORES. Trying the teabags. Hope to god that they work for me. Also applying "Chemists own" cream in between bags. Im just gonna repeat all day and night and see what happens tomorrow.   Is this normal? Comments By: Lea I have left the tea bag on for about 5 or 10 mins or something like that, the cold sore is gone but there is a red thing left where the cold sore was and I was wondering if this is normal and will it go away?   IT WORKS Comments By: CrazyColdsoreGirl Ive been getting coldsores most of my life and im only 13. I got a coldsore just yesteday and there is a party tonight, so as you can imagine its at the satge were your lips start to swell up, i put a PG Tips tea bag on my coldsore for about 20 minuets dunking it back in boiling water and leaving it for a bit to cool down then reappling it to my face and its starting to go! i have also been using perscripted cream from my doctor, so you should try that to. thanks anyway. :)   Im not too sure about this Comments By: Hazel I have a teabag on my cold sore right now, i hope it works, but i just read some more of the comments and people are sayinbg it makes it brown? i hope to god it doesnt go brown..i HATE getting cold sores!!! PLEASE GOD! LET IT BE BETTER BY TOMORROW !!   Great Idea Comments By: Michelle To all you sufferers, I used to use all these tricks, and noticed the tea works the best to get rid of cold sores (on the mouth)fastest. Howver, my dermatologist told me to start taking L-Lysine daily to prevent them. You can buy it at Wal-Mart (500MG, 250 pills) for about $5. Take it daily for at least 3 months and you should build immunity against the cold sores. I started by doubling the recommended dose on the bottle for about a week, then continued daily with the regular dosage.. I use it daily as part of my vitamin regimin, but ran out once and forgot to buy more. I was without it for a couple months and never have had another cold sore.   Yes, It works for some. Comments By: Isa Im not sure if it works for everyone, but so far it has worked for me. When i have stress i get at least two cold sores on my bottom lip. I used green tea and placed a folded damp tea bag on my bottom lip and kept it on continuously. Its made it less visible and less painful. Dont make it wet with warm water too much though. You want the cold sore to become dry and the heat will keep moisture in it.   It is working for me!! Comments By: Anon Read about the tea bag remedy, decided to try it with Campho-Phenique cold sore gel with drying action. Both remedies along with a little ice here and there throughout the day IS working even at the blister stage. Please give it a try!!!   Some things that work for me Comments By: Daria My cold sore just started tingling this morning and is swollen, but it hasn't blistered yet. I'm trying the tea bag as we speak and should be done with it by the time I finish this post (about five more minutes). While it seems to be relieving some of the pain, I haven't noticed a difference in the swelling at all yet. I get cold sores any time I'm extra stressed or not getting regular sleep (going to bed too late, getting less than 8 hours, etc.). I've noticed that if I take action the day it starts tingling, I can usually prevent a cold sore from blistering up and be done with it within 1 day. Things that work for me if I start AS SOON AS I feel tingling and swelling: -Abstaining from sugar, chocolate, and nuts -taking a vitamin C supplement -Carmex (the regular kind--NOT the cherry or other flavored kinds) -getting extra sleep/relaxation -avoiding exercise or any kind of activity that will strain my body (parties, singing, yelling, crying) Also, if you can see the doc immediately, a prescription of Valtrex on the first day used to zap it completely for me. I don't have this luxury anymore since I lost my medical insurance, but it's really helpful if you can get it. Things that HAVE NEVER WORKED for me: -Abreva (DO NOT waste your money) -popping the sores (that actually seemed to make it worse for me) -peroxide -continuing to do things as usual When your body is stressed, it will let you know. If you get a cold sore, the best remedy is to take it easy and take care of yourself, get enough sleep, eat right, etc. It's also the best way to prevent future cold sores. So it's been 30 minutes with a green tea bag and the verdict is...it's not gone completely but the swelling and redness has gone down a little. I'm not convinced yet, but we'll see how it looks tomorrow!   Im trying it now Comments By: Bridget I was in Juvenile Detention center , and it was warm outside when I went in there ,and I got out expecting it to still be warm and there was snow on the ground . Well my lips were already chapped from being in there without any chapstick ,and since the weather had drastically changed I got two cold sores . They aren't that bad , but they are still nasty . I hope this works .   A miracle! Comments By: HAPPY CAMPER i have tried everything. including tooth past with salt..peroxide..alcohol..earwax...everything. now im trying the tea bag and within 5 minutes it shrunk in size and damn near dried up...thnkx for this   the teabag method Comments By: keith redfearn next time i get one of those namn coldsores im gonna try a teabag first thank you for the tip   It workss Comments By: BigBlackMan da fucking thing acherly works loool i get cold sores yearly and its fucking annoying the zovirax cream does work but i had no money yesterdya lol so i did the teabag thing yesterday and by morning its now its in scab stage(healing stage)im am happy with the results of an out-of-date peppermint teabag i used looool :D:D still get the cream its better lol but if ure broke like me at times just use this loool   Hmmmmm Comments By: Lacey Well pain went away but the sores are STILL there. Still swollen and visible as ever though. I used the tea bag for 20 mins. Will do it again in 2 hours.   WHAT KIND OF TEA?? Comments By: Rita Geary i am going to use Lipton tea??? i don't know i REALLY hope it works becuase i always get coldsores and absoulty HATE them!! i looked at the tea bag tip and would give it a try i hope it works!!!   i hope this works Comments By: beeeee i hate hate hate cold sores and i hope this tea bag thing rly works. cross fingers!   i love it!!! Comments By: breezeeeee it real works! not as fast as i would of liked it too lol but i woke up in the morning and it looked a little better but by 6 oclock that night u could barely see it! its just a scab now but i also used releev which is a cold sore medicine but its awesome and i used the Lipton tea packets if anyone wanted to know. its definetly worth the try becuase i was super nervous it wasnt gonna work, just heat up some water the hotter the better, and make sure you squeeze the tea bag either with a spoon or ur fingers, and hold it on for 15-20 minutes. ive only done it twice and its done alot of progress so i think the more the better. i recommend once every hour. hope it works for u guys too!   A fast remedy Comments By: Lionheart Well, we all have tried most home recipes or otc's... Well, last night after dinner i felt the familiar tingle- woke up today to find that i had a blister. Serves me right for enjoying the beautiful weather this week w/o protection. Anyway, immediately i went to the store and bought a btl of L-Lysine, b-12, vitamin C, milk, yogurt, avocado, eggs, cheese, and made plenty of ice cubes. Mind you i have a new job i start in 2 days, i need this to vanish!! Well, this is the first night, i can tell you that the swelling has went down next to nothing. The small cluster has seemed to be in submission. I am right now trying the t-bag method because i ran out of cream (used it all in one day), as i ran out of abreva, i find that i does not help kill but it does not allow it to fester. Keep your fingers crossed that the teabag and h-proxide are enough till' 2moro. If anyone tries my method (early stages only) please tell me the results. Good Luck & Keep Smiling