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9 Common Treatments for Cold Sores

Cold sores are red and filled with blisters that appear near the mouth or other locations in the face. They could also appear on fingers, nose, and inside the mouth; herpes simplex causes cold sores and can spread from one person to another through direct contact such as kissing. They can be spread from one person to another even when they cannot be seen.

There is no cure for cold sore. However, patients with herpes complex don’t have outbreaks regularly. When cold sores appear, they can be treated in the following ways:

Ointments and Creams

Cold sores can be excruciating and uncomfortable. When the pain becomes intolerable, antiviral ointments can be applied. An example of antiviral cream is penciclovir (Denavir). Ointments are more effective if they are used as soon as the first signs begin to appear. This ointment should be applied four times a day for five or six days.

Docosanol (Abreva) is another treatment alternative. It can be bought in a pharmacist shop and can reduce an outbreak anywhere from some hours to a whole day. Docosanol (Abreva) must be applied more than once a day. [1]