Skincare Treated

Medical Options to Treat Cold Sores

Cold sores are painful blisters filled with fluid which appear on the lips, nose and mouth. These fever blisters are also contagious, especially during the active stage. And though there is no cure for the condition, there are many medical options that can ease the pain and severity of the disease.

Non-Prescription Medication

There are different categories of products available to treat cold sores. A variety of over the counter medications can alleviate the symptoms which accompany an outbreak of cold sores.

These are non-prescription drugs or topical application that you can purchase off the shelf.

Topical medications include creams and ointments which are applied directly to the skin. Those which are effective for cold sores contain ingredients such as lidocaine and benzocaine to relieve the burning and itching but the effects are shortlived.

Recurrent Outbreaks

Lip balms which contain sunscreen can help prevent recurrent attacks. This is because too much exposure to sun activates the virus in the body.

Moisturizers containing petrolatum and allantoin help to soften the scabs on cold sores so that they don’t crack and bleed.

Patients may also use analgesics or pain-relievers containing Ibuprofen or paracetamol to relieve the pain.

Most of these medications, however, only alleviate the symptoms while the sores run their eight to ten day cycle. But some patients report that docosanol cream, applied five times a day, does speed up the healing process.

There are some topical ointments prescribed by doctors for cold sores, such as acyclovir and penciclovir.  These decrease the pain and healing time. The disadvantage of topical treatment is that ointments are unable to penetrate to the site of the virus and are therefore less effective.

Countering the Virus

Medical options also include certain oral medications such as acyclovir and valacyclovir that can be prescribed by doctors to keep the herpes simplex virus in check.

These are effective in decreasing the time taken to heal, especially when treatment is started in the early stages.

A few side effects such as nausea and diarrhea have been reported but these drugs are usually well tolerated by patients.

The first attack of HSV infection is generally the most severe and should be treated with oral medication. Recurrent outbreaks can be treated by topical ointments and creams. 

Some people suffer from recurrent outbreaks several times a year.  In these cases, suppression therapy is being researched.

This involves daily treatment with drugs like acyclovir and famciclovir to reduce the frequency of outbreaks.

Anti-Viral Drugs

Products containing zinc, lysine and phenol are said to have antiviral properties which limit the ability of the herpes virus to form cold sores.

Antibacterial agents have no effect on the herpes virus but can hasten healing by preventing a secondary bacterial infection.

Other types of treatment and medical options for cold sores include a variety of home remedies. Ice packs applied on the affected area numb the sores and reduce pain and itching, and hamper the growth of the sore if used in the initial stages.

Tannic acid which is present in tea is said to have antiviral properties. Hence a warm tea bag placed on the blisters for half an hour, again in the early stages, can prevent lesions from developing.

Herbal remedies like tea tree oil, witch hazel and sage are said to provide relief. Lemon balm extract and aloe vera gel may also help. But home remedies may need to complement other medical options.