Topical medicinalCold Sore Creams – Top 6 Picks for the Best Relief products, such as anesthetic gels, balms or cold sore cream are sometimes recommended for patients to alleviate pain, speed up cold sores healing and prevent recurrence. Most of these creams and gels are very effective that they can shorten the duration of cold sores, usually by 2 to 4 days.
Normally, cold sores takes up to 2 to 4 weeks to heal on their own without treatments. Health professionals discovered that when topical products are used frequently during the first sign of an outbreak, they may help to reduce the pain and speed up the recovery process. However, these oral medications are much more effective when started within the first 48 hours of the outbreak. When it comes to treating cold sores, it’s always advisable that you should have the right medications at hand earlier before the sores develop fully. When the sores are treated on their earliest stage, there are high chances that they will clear out in less than a week time. Below is a list of best cold sore cream and gels available in the market today.
Cold sore cream
1. Abreva Docosanol 10%
Abreva is the first non-prescription cold sore medicine approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to shorten healing time and the duration of symptoms. This antiviral cream contains an active ingredient known as Docosanol. It works best if you apply it when you start to feel the telltale tingle that often comes before you can even see a cold sore. Hundreds of customers worldwide have used Abreva and confirmed that it worked as promised. Aciclovir is another popular antiviral medication for treating canker sores.
How Abreva, an aciclovir cream, works is that it blocks the activities of the herpes virus that causes cold sores. This medicine deals with the pain from cold sores and speeds healing. The cream containing aciclovir can cause cold sores to heal in as little as 2½ days, when used at the first sign. One more thing, Abreva is only recommended for adults and children over the age of 12. Remember not to put the aciclovir cream directly in your mouth, apply it only as directed on the package.
2. Zilactin Cold Sore Gel (Benzyl alcohol)
Zilactin is a gel that relieves the pain of cold sores and may help shorten the healing time. Apart from cold sores, Zilactin is also used to relieve the pain from canker sores and gum irritations. All these are possible, because the gel contains an active ingredient known as benzyl alcohol. The gel is specially designed to help both with the healing of cold sores and provide pain relief.
Once applied, the aciclovir gel forms a protective layer over the herpes cold sores or any other affected area, making talking, eating, and drinking less painful and more comfortable. Zilactin, an effective cream, is most effective when it is used as soon as the herpes cold sores begin to form.
3. Herpecin-L Lip Balm
This particular small, portable lip balm stick from Herpecin-L is specially designed to relieve cold sores pain with aciclovir and also speeds up the healing. Once the product is applied, it moisturizes your lips and protects them from the sun. All these creams can help to keep your lips hydrated, and also reduces the pain and itching of cold sores, including gingivostomatitis.
Also, depending on the stage and nature of your cold sores, the aciclovir lip balm can be mixed with lysine, lemon balm, and other vitamins designed to provide relief and healing. Some satisfied customers reported that Herpecin-L lip balm works amazingly well to prevent outbreaks and also helps to prevent cold sores from returning. Additionally, abreva creams are also effective in treating cold sores.
4. Lemon Balm Cold Sore & Shingles Salve
This 10% natural herbal formula, skin balm promises to soothe cold sores and lots of other skin problems such as shingles or bug bites, chicken pox, and many others. The balm is 100% natural, the ingredients include – shea butter, the oils of lemon balm, tea tree, and peppermint. Additionally, it can be used alongside aciclovir or abreva creams for effective treatment on the lips.
When this aciclovir balm is applied on cold sores, it helps to relieve the pain and itching and even potentially decrease the frequency of cold sore outbreaks. Many satisfied customers and reviewers on Amazon reported that “LEMON BALM Cold Sore & Shingles Salve” works amazingly well as promised, thanks to its active ingredients.
5. Releev 1 Day Cold Sore Treatment
This topical product from Releev promises to relieve cold sore symptoms and pain in one day. The abreva product has an active ingredient known as benzalkonium chloride (an organic salt). The creams dry very fast and can be used on sores on the outside of your mouth and even on the sores that are present on the inside of your mouth. Loyal customers and reviewers reported that this treatment works amazingly well when it’s applied early at the first signs of tingling and itching, reducing healing time.
However, Abreva is a recommended product for adults and children over the age of 2 to treat cold sore outbreaks. Ensure to follow the instructions on the package and apply the sore cream several times throughout the day to soothe and heal sore patches.
6. Anbesol
This product promises instant pain relief for toothaches, gum pain, canker or cold sores and denture pain. The product contains 20% Benzocaine to relieve pain and is also available in liquid form. Anbesol is a topical pain medicine, it can relieve pain and itching of cold sores and may also speed up the recovery. However, it is very important that you should follow the directions on the package. Since Anbesol contains benzocaine, do not use the product for a child under the age of 2.
7. Orajel Maximum Strength Gel Oral Pain Reliever
Orajel provides great pain relief and oral care solutions for canker sores. Before using sore creams, it is important to consult your doctor or physician. Always apply a small amount of the product only to the affected area. You can use sore treatments up to 4 times daily or as directed by a physician or healthcare provider.
What Orajel pain reliever does is that, it provides an immediate pain relief effects for soothing a teething baby, pain of a toothache or cold sores. The product is in gel form, allowing users to have more control of product placement during application.
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