Menu
 

BestReviews is reader-supported and may earn an affiliate commission. Details

Best Cold Sore Treatments

Updated March 2023
Bottom line
Pros
Cons
Best of the Best
Abreva Abreva with 10% Docosanol, Cream Tube
Abreva
Abreva with 10% Docosanol, Cream Tube
Check Price
Trusted Brand
Bottom Line

A fast-acting formula that also stops irritation instantly.

Pros

Don't be deceived by the small tubes these come in — Abreva is very concentrated and a little goes a long way. Most users report that cold sores disappear within a few days, if not sooner.

Cons

It's a white cream that doesn't blend well, not ideal if you're leaving the house.

Best Bang for the Buck
Campho-Phenique Cold Sore Treatment Gel
Campho-Phenique
Cold Sore Treatment Gel
Check Price
Powerful & Fast-Acting
Bottom Line

This medicated product can be used in the very beginning stages of cold sore treatment to start treating right away.

Pros

Gel formula comes in a .23-ounce tube. Treats symptoms such as itching and burning, and fights against infection. Includes aloe for soothing relief.

Cons

A few customers mentioned a strong smell and burning after use.

Quantum Health Super Lysine+ Cold Sore Treatment
Quantum Health
Super Lysine+ Cold Sore Treatment
Check Price
Award-Winning
Bottom Line

An effective and innovative formula that provides fast relief with a natural active ingredient.

Pros

Quickly relieves symptoms and cuts healing time in half. Includes menthol to bring pain relief quickly and lysine to inhibit cold sore outbreak triggers. Moisturizes as it soothes and treats.

Cons

Didn’t work optimally for a few users with severe cold sores.

Mederma Cold Sore Discreet Healing Patch
Mederma
Cold Sore Discreet Healing Patch
Check Price
Clever Design
Bottom Line

Used to protect the cold sore and reduce scabbing, these patches are designed to conceal without drawing attention.

Pros

Comes in a pack of 15 clear patches. Intended to shield the cold sore and keep it moist to speed up the healing. Contains hydrocolloid gel for additional treatment. Can be used at the beginning stages and for up to 12 hours.

Cons

These tend to come off easily.

Burt's Bees Cold Sore Treatment Rapid Rescue and Medicated Lip Balm
Burt's Bees
Cold Sore Treatment Rapid Rescue and Medicated Lip Balm
Check Price
Customer Favorite
Bottom Line

Uses natural ingredients to soften the cold sore for pain relief during the healing process.

Pros

Comes in a 0.07-ounce tube with a tip that is easy to apply. Uses rhubarb and sage complex with menthol for a cooling sensation and a softening effect. Made without parabens, phthalates, petrolatum, and SLS. Comes with a medicated lip balm.

Cons

Tube is pretty small.

Why trust BestReviews?
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.About BestReviews 
HOW WE TESTED

We recommend these products based on an intensive research process that's designed to cut through the noise and find the top products in this space. Guided by experts, we spend hours looking into the factors that matter, to bring you these selections.

32
Models
Considered
206
Consumers
Consulted
8
Hours
Researched
Category cover

Buying guide for best cold sore treatments

For those who suffer from repeated cold sores, you know the tell-tale signs when one is forming. A small, hard bump begins to form, and within the next few hours a lump becomes visible. Cold sores aren’t pretty  — or fun, for that matter. They cause pain, they can make a person feel unattractive, and they can make it difficult to eat certain foods. Not to mention that without treatment, cold sores can sometimes last for weeks at a time.

There are plenty of cold sore treatments available, but some need to be used when the sore begins to form, while others are used as preventive measures.

Because of those reasons, we’ve taken the time to create this buying guide for cold sore sufferers to find the best treatment for your situation. That way you can treat your cold sore before it starts to take over your lip or mouth area. Delve deeper into our buying guide to discover which treatment will be the best for your specific sore, and check out a few of our favorites.

Content Image
Cold sores often occur at the vermilion border, where the lip meets the skin around the mouth.

Key considerations

Understanding cold sores

Causes: A cold sore is a form of the herpes simplex virus (HSV-1), which is closely related to the herpes virus that causes genital herpes (HSV-2). But don’t be alarmed. HSV-1 is not always spread through sexual contact. Cold sores can be spread by indirect contact, such as from sharing straws or drinks with someone who is infected. Or someone may touch their open cold sore and then touch a door handle. If you grab that same handle moments later and then touch your face, it’s possible to transfer the herpes simplex virus.

Stages: Cold sores pass through several stages before they disappear. It’s important to understand those stages in order to know what step of the healing process your cold sore is in.

First, you experience a tingling and itching sensation near the site of the cold sore on your lip. This lasts for about a day. After that sensation passes, a small, hard lump appears on the site.

Next, the lump turns into a fluid-filled blister. It’s possible for several blisters to form, but usually it’s unique to the individual. For instance, if your first outbreak has only one blister, subsequent outbreaks will also have only one blister. These blisters begin to peel off in layers as the days progress.

Finally, as the blister(s) begins to break, a hard crust forms over the top. Each time this happens, your cold sore is beginning to heal. It takes two to four weeks for the blisters to completely disappear, and during that time it’s likely that the blisters will crust over continually.

Treatment

Some treatments offer a one-time application, with stronger ingredients designed to attack the cold sore and begin healing it, while others require continuous use. It depends on whether the product’s purpose is pain relief or speeding up the healing process.

Ointments and creams: These are perhaps the most common type of cold sore treatments. They come in small tubes and require that you apply small amounts to the cold sore site. The directions usually indicate you’re to use just enough ointment to cover the cold sore itself. The purpose of these treatments is to jump-start the healing process.

These treatments have a lotion-like, lightweight consistency. There won’t be any visible residue on your lip. They can be used throughout the day without drawing attention to the cold sore site. The tube itself likely has interchangeable applicators or a lid to protect the tip from picking up any other germs or bacteria.

Balm: Balms are slightly different in terms of consistency and how the treatment works. Balms have a waxy, dry consistency that leaves a film over the top of the cold sore site. The purpose is to minimize topical pain while protecting the site from any outside particles or germs. Most balms numb the site or provide some pain relief, but they are not all guaranteed to speed the healing process. You must continually apply the product until the cold sore heals on its own.

Pill: Cold sore treatments that come in pill form are often used for treating cold sores rather than treating cold sore symptoms. Some pills are large and difficult to swallow, with dosages of several times per day. Pills are the rarest form of cold sore treatment.

Features

Active ingredients

Benzyl alcohol: Designed to help heal cold sores and provide pain relief for as many as six hours, benzyl alcohol is most effective when you’re first feeling the symptoms of a cold sore forming.

Docosanol: This antiviral drug  treats cold sores directly to speed up healing while decreasing uncomfortable symptoms.

Lysine: This is present in many ointments or balms. Applying it every two hours for about two weeks can help slow down or prevent the growth of cold sores. If you’re trying to prevent a cold sore from occurring, use 1 gram daily.

Benzalkonium chloride: This antiseptic agent slows or stops the growth of microorganisms to prevent infections. This ingredient is not approved by the FDA for aiding in cold sore relief.

Content Image
Did you know?
The herpes simplex virus (HSV-1) has no cure. Once you suffer from a cold sore outbreak, you will be susceptible to outbreaks for the rest of your life.
STAFF
BestReviews

Cold sore treatment prices

Inexpensive: You can find topical cold sore treatment that cost between $5 and $8. These are most likely balms that provide some relief for cold sore symptoms. Balms will easily provide relief for the duration of your cold sore outbreak, but they won’t treat the cold sore itself.

Mid-range: You can find cold sore treatments that quickly relieve symptoms and include several tubes of treatment for between $10 and $15. Again, these products don’t treat the cold sore itself. Rather, they provide relief, albeit more quickly than a balm.

Expensive: For more than $20 you can find a remedy that does treat cold sores and speeds up the healing process. Most of these treatments come in small quantities, and you might need to purchase a new one each time you experience an outbreak. Even though they’re the most expensive option, they will heal your cold sore in the shortest amount of time.

Tips

  • Don’t touch the cold sore. Resist the urge to pick at any crusted skin or blisters while suffering from a cold sore. Picking at the skin will only postpone the healing process. The crust protects the open sore.
  • Try ice. Cold sore sufferers often describe a cold sore as feeling inflamed. Use an ice pack or ice cubes wrapped in a paper towel on the cold sore to lessen that burning feeling.
  • Throw out lip products. If you’re a frequent lip balm or lipstick user, be sure to discard any tubes that you used during a cold sore outbreak.
  • Don’t share items. During a cold sore outbreak, don’t share eating utensils, towels, lip balm, or razors.
  • Wash your hands. Do this after applying a cold sore treatment. That way you won’t be unintentionally exposing others to the virus.

Other products we considered

Of course, there’s a plethora of products available to help treat and prevent cold sores and their symptoms, and we’ve added a few honorable mentions to our list. In particular, Campho-Phenique is a maximum-strength treatment ointment that comes at a relatively low price point. It helps prevent infection to promote healing of the cold sore. However, consumers have stated that it must be used excessively in order to notice relief. There’s also DocoShield Cold Sore Prevention Lip Balm that uses the same active ingredient as Abreva. While this product is good for preventing cold sore outbreaks, it doesn’t treat active cold sores. It can be used for dry or chapped lips, but its use is limited when used for treating cold sores.

Content Image
Children are often exposed to HSV-1 early in life when sharing is labeled as “caring.” Think of all the instances when a five-year-old shares toys, drinks, and eating utensils. It’s not until later in life that cold sore outbreaks occur.

FAQ

Q. Are cold sore outbreaks completely random?
A.
No. Usually you will experience an outbreak if you have a weakened immune system, you’re experiencing high levels of stress, or you’re eating certain foods. Women may experience outbreaks during times of hormonal changes, such as during menstruation or when taking birth control pills.

Q. If I have a cold sore, does that mean I have an STD?
A.
No, not necessarily. Cold sores can be spread through means other than sexual contact. However, it’s possible for them to be spread through oral sex. If you have a cold sore, it’s recommended to refrain from any sexual contact with your partner that involves the site of the cold sore.

Q. Will cold sores leave scars on my lips?
A.
No. If left untreated, a cold sore will go away within two to four weeks. After it disappears, your lip will return to how it normally looks.