How to Get Rid of Cold Sores Fast If you’ve ever had to deal with the pain and embarrassment of having a nasty cold sore gone wild then you will definitely want to cash in on the following tips on how to get rid of cold sores fast. Don’t ignore that tingling feeling Unfortunately cold sores, like the common cold, sometimes just can’t be prevented. But if you act quickly you can get rid of your cold sore a lot faster than if you ignore those early warning signs. Applying a topical lidocaine lotion to the area immediately after feeling that first tingle coming on can nip a cold sore in the bud. But ignoring the tingling can result in a cold sore the size of New York State erupting on your face and sticking around for weeks. Don’t touch it! As much as you think you are helping the healing process by pinching prodding or squeezing at your cold sore, you are only making things worse. Putting your fingers (which are full of germs!) anywhere near your cold sore is not how to get rid of cold sores it’s actually a great way of effectively spreading the cold sore across your face. Unless you are applying lidocaine lotion to the cold sore using clean hands then keep your fingers off your face! Be weary of what you put on your cold sore Lip balms and chap sticks might be great for keeping your lips moist, and they might even try to sell themselves as a solution for how to get rid of cold sores, but the fact is, putting un-medicated lip balm on a cold sore can make it spread. Make sure that the topical medication you use for your cold sore is antiviral with some kind of lidocain or benzyl alcohol.