The 7 Best Cold Sore Medicines of 2021

Our editors independently research, test, and recommend the best products; you can learn more about our review process here. We may receive commissions on purchases made from our chosen links.

First Look

Best Overall: Abreva Cold Sore Treatment at Amazon

"The only FDA-approved, non-prescription medicine to treat cold sores with the active ingredient Docosanol."

Best for Blisters: Zilactin Cold Sore Gel at Amazon

"Creates a protective layer over cold sores and envelopes them with pain relief."

Best For Kids: Cold Sores Begone at Amazon

"Safe for children and still lessens the duration of cold sores with natural and organic ingredients."

Best Patch: Compeed Cold Sore Patch at Amazon

"These handy patches conceal while they heal even the most painful cold sores and offer multiple benefits."

Best Device: Virulite Invisible Light Electronic Cold Sore Treatment Device at Amazon

"Uses light technology to shorten the healing time of your cold sore."

Best Lip Balm: Lip Clear Lysine+ Cold Sore Treatment at cvs.com

"Swipe on instant soothing relief with this lip balm."

Best Natural: Immune Support Formula (H Rescue Discreet) at Amazon

"Boosts the immune system to fight cold sores and other forms of herpes."

Cold sores are uncomfortable and, unfortunately, very common. “Up to 80% of the US population has herpes simplex virus (HSV) antibodies to herpes circulating in their blood, meaning that they have personally been exposed to the HSV virus. You can have these antibodies, but never actually develop a herpes sore on your skin. "About 20-40% of the population will develop at least one lesion in their lifetime,” according to Tsippora Shainhouse, M.D., FAAD, board-certified dermatologist in Beverly Hills.

HSV is the virus that causes cold sores. Like the chickenpox virus, it lives permanently in a nerve with branches to the skin, and small amounts of virus are constantly shed via the skin, blood, and other body fluids, with or without an active lesion. However, when you do have an active cold sore, it is very contagious.

Being proactive with your treatment is key. “Many people have a prodrome period immediately before the sore develops,” says Dr. Shainhouse. “You can feel pain, itching, tingling up to one day prior to the sore developing. It is associated with viral replication and nerve irritation. This is the time to treat with oral medications to prevent the sore from developing. If you can catch it early, you can hopefully prevent the blisters, or at least reduce the severity and duration of the episode.”

“The sore itself may start off looking like a small pimple, which then grows, often starts to weep clear liquid and develops a crust. It can take one to two weeks to heal. It is very contagious while it is wet/crusted.”

Here are the best cold sore treatments on the market.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall: Abreva Cold Sore Treatment

Pros

FDA-approved, non-prescription option
Works at first signs of cold sore
Safe for children over 12

Cons

Pricey

Abreva is great for abbreviating cold sores. It’s the only FDA-approved, non-prescription medicine to treat cold sores with the active ingredient Docosanol. The sooner you catch the initial signs of a cold sore, the better this cream works to block the virus that causes it.

When applied upon the first tingle, it eliminates pain, itching, and burning and knocks out the cold sore in as few as two and a half days. It is safe for external use for adults and children 12 and over, but avoid putting it directly in your mouth.

Active Ingredients: Docosanol | Dose: Apply a small amount to the affected area. Rub it in gently. Apply 5 times a day until healed. | Uses: Relieve symptoms, shorten healing and treat cold sores and fever blisters on the face or lips

Over-the-counter options like Abreva can be applied when you first sense a sore coming on and can be reapplied to keep the sore from growing and help heal any open sores or cracks. —Chris Airey, M.D., Medical Director at Optimale

—

Best for Blisters: Zilactin Cold Sore Gel

Pros

Dulls pain for 6 hours
Can treat canker sores and gum irritations

Cons

Uncomfortable application
Protective film formed can be hard to remove

This gel creates a protective layer over cold sores and envelopes them with pain relief. The active ingredient, 10% benzyl alcohol, is designed to heal and dull pain relief for up to six hours, and it’s safe to be used around and in the mouth.

Because it’s safe inside the mouth, it helps treat canker sores, fever blisters, and gum irritations in addition to cold sores. It makes all activities more comfortable as the cold sore totally heals. “Zilactin works amazing because even if you miss the first step it helps heal everything amazingly,” according to customers.

Active Ingredients: Benzyl alcohol | Dose: Apply with a cotton swab or clean finger up to 4 times daily. | Uses: Relieves pain caused by cold sores, fever blisters, canker sores, mouth sores, and gum irritations

“Herpes lesions develop on keratinized skin, meaning the white or lip outer lip area, nose, cheek, and chin. This is different than canker sores that develop inside the mouth and tongue, which are not herpes at all."—Tsippora Shainhouse, M.D., FAAD, board-certified dermatologist in Beverly Hills

—

Best For Kids: Cold Sores Begone

Pros

Safe for children
All natural ingredients

Cons

Not a medicated treatment
Can sting when first applied

This herbal remedy is safe for children and still lessens the severity and duration of cold sores with natural and organic ingredients. Ingredients include coconut oil, beeswax, lemon balm, L-Lysine, grapefruit seed extract, echinacea, chaparral extract, goldenseal, and peppermint and eucalyptus essential oil.

"Since I’ve started using this stick every night before bed I have not had a single outbreak nor have I ever felt any of the warning signs of an outbreak coming on. This stick is honestly amazing and it lasts so long," one customer wrote. Another added, "This is the best prevention and healer of cold sores, it moisturizers as it heals. If you catch the sore at the first tingle, you can prevent it from progressing."

Active Ingredients: Coconut oil, beeswax, lemon balm, L-Lysine, grapefruit seed extract, echinacea, chaparral extract, goldenseal, peppermint essential oil, eucalyptus essential oil | Dose: Apply at first tingle a few times a day. | Uses: Lessen the severity of cold sore pain

Best Patch: Compeed Cold Sore Patch

Pros

Helps conceal while cold sore heals
Offer 12 hours of protection
Help prevent spread

Cons

Patch difficult to apply if close to mouth
Make-up can make patch more visible

These handy patches conceal while they heal even the most painful cold sores and offer multiple benefits. One patch offers up to twelve hours of protection and reduces scabbing. Customers call them “amazing” because they cover the cold sore completely and offer quick relief. The patches also remove the worry that the virus is spreading to others and eliminates the “gross scabby period of time.”

"Cold sores suck, but a big stressor about them is worrying that I'm accidentally spreading the virus while it's shedding," one customer wrote. "These cover them up, removing that worry, and they also help avoid the gross scabby period of time, too, since they're covering the sore and keeping it moist."

Active Ingredients: N/A | Dose: Apply one patch every 12 hours. | Uses: Helps conceal and protect cold sore while it heals

Best Device: Virulite Invisible Light Electronic Cold Sore Treatment Device

Pros

FDA approved and available without prescription
Mess-free
Helps shorten healing time

Cons

Pricey
Not as easy to find at stores

This breakthrough cold sore gadget uses light technology to shorten the healing time of your cold sore. It’s cleared by the FDA and available without a prescription for at-home use. It’s clinically proven to shorten the healing time of cold sores when it’s used three times a day for two days. It’s mess-free and convenient, but the results garner a ton of positive feedback.

While it's a little pricier than some of its competitors, the Virulite Invisible Light Electronic Cold Sore Treatment Device is a great investment for anyone with regular cold sores who is tired of replacing their topical cream treatment every few months.

Active Ingredients: Light | Dose: Use 3 times a day. | Uses: Helps treat and shorten the healing of cold sores

Best Lip Balm: Lip Clear Lysine+ Cold Sore Treatment

Pros

Soothes pain and other symptoms
Can help shorten healing

Cons

Contains beeswax, a potential allergen
Not for children

Swipe on instant soothing relief with this lip balm. Pain, burning, and itching are diminished on contact. Research studies demonstrated the balm cut cold sore healing time in half and can fully cure symptoms in as little as three days. The active ingredients include menthol for pain relief and lysine. Lysine inhibits arginine activity, which is a common trigger of cold sore outbreaks.

Active Ingredients: Menthol, Lysine | Dose: Apply as needed. | Uses: Temporarily relieves symptoms of cold sores and fever blisters

Lip balms primarily work by working the skin and providing a moist environment for healing. —Suzanne Friedler, M.D., board-certified dermatologist with Advanced Dermatology PC

—

Best Natural: Immune Support Formula (H Rescue Discreet)

Pros

All-natural ingredients
Works to boost entire immune system

Cons

May interact with other prescription medications

Topical treatments aren’t the only option, and these capsules boost the immune system to fight cold sores and other forms of herpes, including shingles. They contain an all-natural blend of lysine, vitamin C, zinc, olive leaf extract, and more ingredients. These pills work best when taken at the first sign of an outbreak. Then, they work to minimize symptoms.

It is a dietary supplement so speak with your doctor before adding it to your regimen.

Active Ingredients: Lysine, vitamin C, zinc | Dose: Two capsules four times daily. | Uses: Boosts immune system to help prevent cold sore outbreaks

Final Verdict

As the only FDA-approved, non-prescription medicine to treat cold sores with the active ingredient Docosanol, Abreva Docosanol 10% Cream (view at Amazon) blocks the virus that causes cold sores and relieves the unpleasant symptoms. But, if your goal is avoiding the mess and discomfort consider the Compeed Cold Sore Patch (view at Amazon). These protective covers offer relief and keep the contagious virus from spreading as it heals.

What to Look for in a Cold Sore Medicine

Ingredients:

Cold sore medications, both prescription and OTC, rely on a variety of different active ingredients to offer relief and healing, per Dr. Shainhouse. There are drying agents (Domeboro solution, calamine lotion, zinc oxide, witch hazel), which when dabbed on the sore help dry up the blister and its fluid. Topical steroids or anti-inflammatory cream (hydrocortisone) can be applied a few times a day to reduce the pain, itch, redness, and inflammation. They provide comfort and can be used with anti-virals. Prescription topical anti-viral creams can reduce the severity and duration of a cold sore. The most effective are penciclovir and acyclovir and should be started ASAP at the first signs of a prodrome, per Dr. Shainhouse.

Another option is topical anesthetics, like prescription lidocaine or OTC benzocaine, which are available as mouthwashes, creams, and ointments. They can be applied to the sore up to three times a day as needed for local pain relief. Dr. Shainhouse recommends applying them before eating, especially if the sore is making it too painful to eat.

Form:

Cold sore relief comes in many different forms. There are oral medications and topical options as well as devices and patches that block the virus causing the cold sores and treat symptoms.

Topical over-the-counter cream (Abreva) has not shown significant efficacy in medical studies, per Dr. Shainhouse. “One study suggests that it may reduce the total time of the cold sore episode by 18 hours.”

Topical barrier gels and ointments help lessen discomfort while the sore heals. “They act as a barrier from outside irritants (food, drinks, talking) and may keep out bacteria, which can cause a secondary infection in the viral sore. Try Vaseline, Aquaphor, Chapstick (don’t double-dip or keep the stick/jar for cold sores only!). Topical hydropropyl cellulose adheres to the lesion to keep out irritants (Zilactin and Ziladent are both over the counter), per Dr. Shainhouse.

Certain medications, such as Abreva, may also help cold sores heal faster if used as soon as you feel a cold sore developing. Abreva works by helping to prevent the herpes virus from spreading to healthy skin cells. —Jin Lin, D.M.D., pediatric dentist with Hurst Pediatric Dentistry

—

Frequently Asked Questions

Does cold sore medicine work for canker sores?

Cold sores and canker sores are two different things and so treatment is different for both.
“Cold sores are blisters, caused by the herpes virus, that often form around the lips, although they can also form on the gums or the roof of the mouth. Once the blister pops, a scab forms,” explains Jin Lin, D.M.D., pediatric dentist with Hurst Pediatric Dentistry.
“Canker sores, in contrast, are small ulcers that appear inside your mouth, often on the inside of your cheeks or lips,” he continues. “They typically have a white, yellow, or grayish center and a red border. The exact cause of canker sores is unknown, but common triggers include stress and trauma to soft tissues in the oral cavity—for example if you bite the inside of your cheek.”
Most medications aimed at treating cold sores are antivirals in order to stop the herpes virus from replicating. This means they won’t work on canker sores, where there is no virus.
In addition, says Chris Airey, M.D., Medical Director at Optimale, “most cold sore medicine you can buy without a prescription is not meant to be ingested and is intended for topical use.” So you can’t apply them inside your mouth. One notable exception is Zilactin, which is safe for inside your mouth. Its active ingredient is benzyl alcohol, which helps numb the pain of canker sores and cold sores, though it doesn’t treat cold sores in the same way as Abreva.
Can you use cold sore medicine while pregnant?

It depends on the medicine, which is why in general, it is best that a pregnant person to run all of their medications past their OB/GYN.
However, “Abreva and Zovirax and Valtrex (two prescription cold sore options) are considered safe for pregnant patients,” says Todd Minars, dermatologist with Minars Dermatology. “The FDA hasn't specifically evaluated the products for use on pregnant patients [but] research has been done to suggest they're more than likely safe.”
In addition, he adds “once a parent passes their 36th week of pregnancy these antivirals carry less concern for the developing baby.”
How long does it take cold sore medicine to work?

“It depends on the patient, their cold sore history, and the medication,” says Minars. But in general, topical OTC creams should cause you to show improvement somewhere between 72 hours to four days later. Sometimes, though, it can take a week or more. But in general, your OTC medication should speed up recovery by two to three days.
That said, according to Airey, "sometimes if medication is taken at the first signs of a cold sore, you can prevent a breakout entirely.”
Plus, while the healing does take time, some topical treatments can reduce your pain within just a few minutes, making you feel better even if the cold sore hasn’t gone away.

Why Trust Verywell Health?

As a seasoned health writer, Jennifer Nied understands how vital quality product recommendations are for treating symptoms safely and effectively at home. For over 10 years, she has reviewed products, interviewed experts, scrutinized ingredients, and pored over research studies and claims, to help readers like you understand what works for your specific conditions. Every product in this piece was selected taking into account recommendations from doctors, published research, and real customer reviews.

Additional reporting to this story by Simone Scully

Simone Scully is a New York-based writer and editor with years of experience writing about health, wellness, science, and lifestyle. Her byline has appeared at Healthline, Well+Good, Narratively, Romper, Motherifigure’s magazine, Nautilus, Narratively, AskMen, among other places.