People who suffer from cold sores know very well that a painful tingling on their lips is an early indication of the recurrence of a cold sore. The cause of a cold sore is the herpes simplex virus type 1, which remains in the body after the initial infection. Certain factors, or triggers, can reactivate the virus, causing a new cold sore outbreak, according MayoClinic.com. There is no known cure for cold sores, but there are medications that can relieve the symptoms and shorten the recovery time.
Antiviral Medications
If started early, prescription antiviral medications, such as acyclovir --- brand name Zovirax, famciclovir --- brand name Famvir, and valacyclovir --- brand name Valtrex, may decrease the cold sore duration and ease discomfort and pain. Doctors also prescribe these drugs to prevent recurrence of cold sores for people who have frequent outbreaks. These antiviral drugs slow the growth of herpes simplex virus, helping the body to fight the infection. Drugs.com recommends taking them for the entire length of time prescribed by the doctor, even if symptoms disappear sooner.
Cold Sore Ointments
Prescription antiviral acyclovir is available as Zovirax ointment and cream. Over-the-counter ointment, Abreva --- generic name docosanol topical --- can decrease the discomfort and shorten the healing time, according to the Drugs.com. OTC topical anesthetics, such as benzocaine --- brand names Zilactin, Anbesol Cold Sore, or lidocaine, numb the area of the cold sore, thus relieving pain. If not used as advised by the doctor, numbing medications can lead to overdose.
Pain Relievers
OTC pain relievers can reduce pain and discomfort associated with cold sores. They include aspirin, acetaminophen and ibuprofen. MayoClinic.com advises not to give aspirin to children, since it can cause a rare but fatal disorder called Reye's syndrome.
Home Remedies, Supplements and Lifestyle
It is important to let the cold sores heal and avoid squeezing or picking at blisters. Lip moisturizers, especially those that contain zinc, can help to prevent the cold sores from cracking and bleeding, and sometimes even reduce the recovery time. MayoClinic.com recommends using cold or heat to relieve the cold sore symptoms. The amino acid lysine, found in foods such as dairy, fish, wheat germ, and meat, has been tested and used as a supplement to treat and prevent herpes infections, according to Drugs.com, but the FDA has neither approved lysine for treatment of cold sores, nor evaluated it for safety, effectiveness, or purity. Avoiding possible cold sore triggers such as stress, insufficient sleep, exposure to sunlight and UV light, or cold weather, injury to the skin around the lips, including cracked lips, can help in preventing an outbreak.
Considerations and Warnings
Cold sores generally clear up without treatment within two weeks, although medications may provide some relief and shorten the duration. There are no medications that can cure cold sores or treat them overnight. Also, Drugs.com recommends talking to a health care provider before using any cold sore treatment, especially for children, pregnant and breastfeeding women, and those with allergies or other diseases.
References
- Mayo Clinic: Cold Sore
- Drugs.Com: Cold Sores (Herpes Simplex Labialis) Medications
- "Canadian Family Physician"; Treatment and Prevention of Herpes Labialis; Wim Opstelten, MD Ph.D., Arie Knuistingh Neven, MD Ph.D., Just Eekhof MD Ph.D.; December 2008
- "Alternative Medicine Review"; Safety and Effectiveness of an L-Lysine, Zinc, and Herbal-Based Product on the Treatment of Facial and Circumoral Herpes; Betsy B. Singh, Ph.D., Jay Udani, MD, Sivarama Prasad Vinjamury, MD, Claudia Der-Martirosian, Ph.D., Sonal Gandhi, MD, Raheleh Khorsan, MA, Dinesha Nanjegowda, Ph.D., and Vijay Singh, Psy.D.; 2005
