My boyfriend has a cold sore he's had it for a few days now and he is in pain and its starting to become white. What can we do to reduce the cold sore and stop the pain?

If it is truly a cold sore, he can try the over the counter remedies, such as Abreva and Campho-phenique. He can also see a doctor for a correct diagnosis and possibly prescription medication to shorten the duration of the cold sore.

Sometimes what people call a cold sore is actually a canker sore. A cold sore is the result of a form of herpes virus (not necessarily the sexually transmitted form). A canker sore can be a sore in the mouth resulting from an abrasion or irritation of the soft tissue in the mouth. I find that swishing warm salt water in the mouth periodically helps with a canker sore in the mouth but the remedies already offered - abreva and so on or a prescription - will help with a true cold sore (normally on or next to the lips).

A very, very good salve for cold sores is Carmex; available at Dollar stores, or any food store. If that doesn't work, putting some on every 2 hours or so, and curing it in about 2 days, I would see a doctor. I had to have a prescription to stop some that kept coming back; kind of like a virus. Good luck, and hope you have a great new year.