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Many folks eat high lysine foods prior to or during a cold sore event, and avoid high arginine foods. For many folks, healing cold sores fast has been as simple as taking 1,000 milligrams to 3,000 milligrams of lysine in capsule supplements during an outbreak. High lysine foods to eat are most meats and dairy products.
Cold sores are contagious and spread by touch. An over-the-counter medicine called docosanol (brand name AbrevaÂ®) may help cold sores heal faster and reduce symptoms. Studies show that Abreva can help cold sores heal one day sooner than when no drug is used.