cold sore cream - Any alternatives to Zovirax?

I_know_my_ABC_and_my_CMYK

Toothsmith wrote: »

Alcohol doesn't really do much for cutting down the length of time the thing is present. It's not antiviral.

Some people swear by it, like many remedies, but there's no science behind it.

Thanks for clarifying that Toothsmith

InaPickle

I get cold sores as well. I got one bad outbreak just after my finals at uni. When I say 'bad', I mean 'horrific': I had a ring of coldsores around my whole mouth, apart from one tiny corner. It was the most revolting thing I've ever seen, brought on by massive stress and a bad viral infection. My mum is an aromatherapist and she recommended that I put tea tree oil neat onto the coldsores. They were kind of weepy and horrible. I wasn't sure, but literally could not believe the results: withing a day they had gone from weepy to kind of solid, and it really helped them heal more quickly.

I know that this isn't directly related to the thread, but I've rarely 'felt the tingle' and had the opportunity to use products like Zovirax, but for those of you out there who who find yourselves in a similar position, you might find the tea tree trick useful. I certainly did!

Lugh_Chronain

I've heard that tea tree oil, or any other oil like that, isn't necessarily 100% pure as there may be additives in some commercial types. I was told once that if you have a need such as this you'd need to use the organic types as these would be more inclined to be 100% or near it.

InaPickle, did your cold sores disappear in about 7 days or did they go in less time than that after using tea tree oil? Or was it just that you noticed a difference in the healing process?

medders2604

The home bargains cream is called Virasorb and does work very well I usually stock up on a few tubes whenever I happen to get near one. Sorry OP I know no good for you but might help others.
I have also ben putting a small blob of spot cream on ( clearasil etc) and that seems to help clear it up quicker as dries it out usually gone within a couple of days if I don't catch it at the tingle stage with virasorb

jenhug

I take lysine tablets daily. It helps stop them coming and if you do get one they are less painful and don't stay as long.

I use cymex cream on the actual sore.

crystaltipps74

I've started to use compeed patches and find they work really well - clear them up quicker and help shorten the "crusty" :-( stage. I got mine in Tesco but I've also seen them in Boots. One pack did me for two separate cold sores. Hope this helps someone.

puss14

I also swear by lysine tablets and eating well, sleep, water etc. Cold sores only come when I let myself get run down.

RebekahR

freakyogre wrote: »

I used to get cold sores quite often (especially when I eat salt and vinegar crisps which is weird) and found Zovirax to be rubbish. I used to use one in a yellow tube but for the life of me I can't remember the name, I think it started with a C...

Cymex!Got some here. Feels lovely when you put it on too.

purcel

I use Blistex too, I am having cold sores usually twice a year, one in spring and once in Oct/Nov.They are much smaller now and I only have one coming out, where as a few years ago I used to have 3 coming out in the same time!
Zovirax didn't help at all, Blistex is in a bigger tube and lasts me 4 times more than Zovirax, also you can use it even when you do not have a cold sore as it's a good lip moisturiser.
Hope this helps!