Cold sore treatments
Cold sores can be treated using antiviral medications, and the pain can be relieved by using analgesic products.
Antiviral medicines
Antiviral medicines should be applied at the first signs of a cold sore (the ‘tingle’ stage) to help limit the attack and speed up healing. If the cold sore is fully developed, products containing pain relievers may be helpful. Some products also contain a local anaesthetic.
Antiviral medicines such as aciclovir are available from your chemist. Others, such as idoxuridine and povidone-iodine are for general sale. You should apply the treatment exactly as directed by the manufacturer.
Analgesic/anaesthetic medicines
Menthol and camphor products are analgesic and antiseptic, and should be applied as early as possible at the onset of the cold sore. Some cold sore balms also contain the anaesthetic lignocaine.
Supplements
The following vitamin and mineral supplements may also help:
- lysine;
- zinc;
- multivitamins with zinc and vitamin C; and
- vitamin B complex.
Last Reviewed: 05 June 2002
