Treatments for cold sores They are always of vital interest to those of us who suffer from burning cold sores. There are new treatments coming out all the time. Many claim to be the final answer to their prayers. Some cold sore treatments are worth it and some are not.
You be the judge.
Take a look at some of the most commonly used cold sore treatments that are popular right now. Please understand that these are just my opinions based on personal observations. In no way should this information replace your personal health care provider.
- Campho Phenique: Camphorated phenol is the active ingredient, which is mainly a pain reliever and will prevent bacterial infection. There are several formulations now. One contains petroleum jelly to keep the scab soft, which greatly reduces the pain of the scab cracking when you move your lips. This has been around for many years and has been a blessing to millions of people. one of the oldest cold sore treatments.
- Novitra: A zinc-based ointment that uses zinc sulfate. Zinc has long been known as the healing mineral. Zinc sulfate is a good option. Zinc sulfate is more easily absorbed into the sore and cells than most forms of zinc. This is not the full answer. But it helps the healing process, dries up the sore and helps kill the virus. Very good product but it is expensive. There is no temporary pain relief, so it is best used in conjunction with a pain relieving product, as mentioned above.
There is another form of zinc that I like: zinc gluconate. This form of zinc is the basis of a product called Zicam. It comes in the form of a gel that is absorbed in seconds through the mucous membrane of the nose. It works great for head colds and you can apply it directly to cold sores at any stage. And it’s about half the price of Novitra. They still do not market their products as cold sore treatments.
- drink: The active substance is docosanol. Docosanol prevents cold sores from growing by forming a protective barrier around the healthy cells that surround the cold sores. It works well to limit the size of a cold sore if you catch it early. But, by the time cold sores bloom, the damage has already been done. A curative treatment for cold sores is what you need now. The makers of Abreva recently paid $1 million in a settlement regarding false claims about this product. Studies I have seen show that Abreva will shorten the cold sore event by two to three days. I have seen results just as good or better by simply applying ice as a cold sore treatment.
- relieve: This cold sore treatment is based on the active ingredient benzalkonium chloride. The main function of this chemical is antiseptic. It will clean and dry the cold sores. It seems to work quite well. The manufacturers claim that this cold sore treatment can reduce cold sore symptoms with just one day of treatment. Maybe it does for some people, but I haven’t seen it. Do not use if you are allergic to the daisy family. Do not use if pregnant or breastfeeding. I would be nervous to use it on children as well. there are better cold sore treatments.
- zilactin: A cold sore gel that forms a protective film over the cold sore. This is actually a very good idea. It also contains a pain-relieving ingredient called “benzyl alcohol” that gives you about three hours of peace. It also contains boric acid and salicylic acid. Salicylic acid is related to aspirin. Salicylic acid normally irritates the skin, so I question the value here. It could make the pain worse. Also, if you have an allergy to aspirin, do not use this cold sore treatment.
- lysine bursts: A variety of cold sore ointments available in pharmacies and vitamin stores contain lysine. Lysine is reputed to prevent cold sores and other forms of herpes. Studies show this to be true when taken internally. Helps maintain normal pH. The use of lysine placed directly on cold sores has not been very successful, from my personal observation. I would rather see you try the zinc products mentioned above.
New treatments for cold sores are coming out all the time. The market for these products is huge, with almost nine out of ten people in the world carrying the cold sore virus. Medical science has yet to solve this problem, but they are working hard on it.
At this time, you will find that natural science is still the best solution to the age-old problem of cold sores. Natural home remedies continue to prove to be the safest, cheapest, and most effective cold sore treatments.
