What can I do to prevent getting cold sores?
Non-Prescription Products Some commonly used non-prescription products for cold sores include Abreva (docosanol) cream, Blistex , Carmex, and Lipactin gel that contains the active ingredients of zinc and heparin. Skin protectants can also be an effective cold sore cure or cold sore remedy. These skin protectants and lip moisturizers usually contain some or all of the following ingredients: allantoin, dimethicone, cocoa butter, white petrolatum, or glycerine. These ingredients act to keep the lips from drying out and to protect the cold sores from irritation, which would aggravate the outbreak and slow the healing process. They also form a barrier that helps prevent a secondary infection of the cold sores. For pain and discomfort, topical products that may contain benzocaine, lidocaine, benzyl alcohol, camphor, or menthol and phenol will bring some relief. Oral pain medication such as ibuprofen can be given when the cold sores are causing significant discomfort. Prescription Drugs * Zov
