Unfortunately, there is no cure for cold sores.
However, there many products that are available today to help speed up the healing process or make you feel better as the cold sore heals. It is important to treat the cold sore early to help shorten the recovery period and to provide you relief from the pain and itchiness.
Here are 5 products that can help you recover from your cold sore quickly and make you feel better at the same time.
Mederma Cold Sore Discreet Healing Patch
Mederma Cold Sore Discreet Healing Patch is a tiny patch that you can apply over the cold sore to protect it. The patch can stay in place for up to 12-hours and you can apply make-up or lipstick over the patch. Each package includes 15 patches.
Ingredients: Hydrocolloid Gel
Pros:
- Protects the cold sore by covering it up with a small patch.
- Can apply make-up or lipstick over the patch to further conceal the cold sore.
Cons:
- May not fully cover the cold sore if the cold sore is large or irregularly shaped.
Campho-Phenique Cold Sore Treatment
Campho-Phenique Cold Sore Treatment is a gel that you apply directly to the cold sore. The gel is safe to use on adults and children 2 years and older.
Ingredients:
- Active Ingredients: Camphorated Phenol (Camphor 10.8% and Phenol 4.7%). Pain Reliever/Antiseptic.
- Inactive Ingredients: Colloidal Silicon Dioxide, Eucalyptus Oil, Glycerin, Light Mineral Oil.
Pros:
- Inexpensive cold sore treatment.
- Can be used on children 2 years and older.
Cons:
- Scent of the gel may be unpleasant for some users.
Abreva Docosanol 10% Cream Tube
Abreva Docosanol 10% Cream is a cream that can be applied to face or lips. The cream penetrates deep into the skin to the source of the spreading virus. Contains non-prescription ingredient approved by the FDA to shorten cold sore healing time. This product is HSA and FSA eligible.
Ingredients:
- Active Ingredient: Docosanol 10%
- Inactive Ingredients: benzyl alcohol, light mineral oil, propylene glycol, purified water, sucrose distearate, sucrose stearate.
Pros:
- Only non-prescription ingredient approved by the FDA to shorten cold sore healing time.
- Works fast — 25% of the users healed in 2.5 days.
- HSA and FSA eligible product.
Cons:
- Most expensive cold sore product on this list.
Cold Sore KUR
Cold Sore KUR is a product that uses all natural ingredients to treat cold sores. Cold Sore KUR was formulated and developed by Dr. Skanchy, a practicing Periodontist and mouth sore specialist with over 20 years of experience. Cold Sore KUR can be applied during any stage of the cold sore.
Ingredients: Sea Buckthorn Oil, MCT Oil, Aloe Vera Oil, Melissa Oil, Tea Tree Oil, Clove Oil
Pros:
- Contains all-natural ingredients.
Cons:
- The organic oils in Cold Sore KUR may spread away from the application site.
Orajel Moisturelock Cold Sore Symptom Treatment
Orajel Moisturelock Cold Sore Symptom Treatment contains 6 active ingredients to provide instant pain relief and helps mask the redness of the cold sore. Can be used on adults and children 2 years or older.
Ingredients:
- Active Ingredients: Allantoin, benzocaine, camphor, dimethicone, menthol, white petrolatum
- Inactive Ingredients: caprylic/capric triglyceride, Prunella vulgaris leaf extract, propylene glycol, water, tocopheryl acetate, retinyl palmitate, Zea mays (corn) oil, tocopherol, cholecalciferol, titanium dioxide, yellow 5 lake, iron oxides, blue 1 lake
Pros:
- Contains 6 active ingredients to treat the pain, itchiness, and dryness.
- Can be used on children 2 years and older.
Cons:
- Should not be used if you have an allergy to local anesthetics.
If you want to find out more about cold sores, click here to get the facts on cold sores.