How to get rid of a cold sore — fast

Key takeaways

• Cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus and typically heal within 1 to 2 weeks. Starting antiviral treatment within 24 hours of early symptoms like tingling or burning may shorten healing time by about 1 day.
• Prescription antivirals like valacyclovir (Valtrex) or over-the-counter docosanol (Abreva) cream can help speed healing and reduce pain. People with frequent outbreaks may benefit from daily antiviral medications to prevent recurrences.
• To support faster healing, avoid touching, picking, or squeezing the sore, as this can spread the virus or introduce bacteria. Steer clear of acidic or spicy foods that may irritate the blister.

Overview

Cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus, and they appear on your lips or around your mouth when the virus is activated. They’re very transmissible and cause painful blisters.

Cold sores typically clear up on their own with time in people with robust immune systems and no underlying conditions, but there are ways to speed up the healing process if you seek treatment quickly.

————–

Need a prescription or refill? You can get discreet and expert on-demand care in as little as 15 minutes. For $39, answer a few questions online and get a treatment plan from a US-licensed healthcare professional. Get started here.

What helps a cold sore heal faster?

In otherwise healthy individuals, cold sores usually go away within 1 to 2 weeks without treatment. However, the symptoms can be bothersome, so you will likely want to speed up this process wherever possible.

The best way to speed up the healing phase is to seek treatment as soon as possible. Many people notice warning signs before a blister forms, such as:

• tingling
• itching
• burning
• tightness around the lips

Beginning treatment with antiviral ointments, creams, or oral tablets at this stage may help limit the size of the sore and shorten healing time by about 1 day. In order for the treatment to work effectively, it has to be started within 24 hours of these early symptoms.

How are cold sores treated?

Antivirals are medications that can fight against viruses and limit their growth and spread. They’re the primary treatment option for cold sores, which are caused by the herpes simplex virus.

Over-the-counter (OTC) antivirals

Docosanol (Abreva) is an antiviral cream that’s available OTC. It’s currently the only OTC antiviral that’s approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to reduce the duration of cold sores.

You can apply docosanol to the affected area up to 5 times per day until the cold sore is healed, but you should reach out to a doctor if the sore isn’t healed within 10 days.

Prescription options

The primary recommendation for oral herpes is oral valacyclovir (Valtrex) twice per day for one day. Some other possible options include:

• acyclovir (Zovirax) oral tablets or topical cream
• famciclovir oral tablets
• penciclovir (Denavir) topical cream

If you have chronic outbreaks several times per year, doctors might recommend lower dosages of antivirals taken daily to prevent outbreaks.

These medications help by speeding up the healing process, but they can also reduce pain and reduce the spread of the virus to others.

————-

If you need help covering the cost of medications, the free Optum Perks Discount Card could help you save up to 80% on prescription drugs. Plus, you can now get them delivered to your home in as little as 3 days. Search for your medication here.

Other methods to speed up healing

Certain habits can slow healing or increase the spread of the virus. Avoiding these common habits can help speed up the healing process and prevent complications.

Try to avoid:

• Touching your mouth: Touching the sore could introduce bacteria from your hands, increasing infection risk. What’s more, if you touch the open blister and don’t wash your hands immediately afterward, you risk the virus spreading from your hands to someone else.
• Popping, squeezing, or picking at the scab: Squeezing or trying to pop a cold sore won’t make it smaller. You may just squeeze viral fluid out and onto your skin, and the virus may unintentionally spread to someone else or other areas of your body. This could also increase infection risk.
• Scrubbing the skin: Vigorous scrubbing does not help a cold sore and may irritate your skin further. Wash it gently and avoid any harsh treatments while you heal.
• Acidic or spicy foods: Acidic foods, like lemons or tomatoes, can cause a burning sensation when they come into contact with a cold sore. You might want to avoid acidic foods and opt for blander foods for a few days to reduce pain and irritation

Online care for cold sores

Oral herpes symptoms can be uncomfortable, and many people report that outbreaks have a negative impact on self-esteem and overall mood. What’s more, stress is a common trigger for further outbreaks. Seeking treatment quickly may help reduce the stress you feel during outbreaks.

And, for treatment to be most effective, it’s important to start it as soon as you notice symptoms.

Online care services, including Optum Perks Online Care, may make getting treatment easier. With these services, you can submit an online form answering a few questions about your symptoms, and a US-licensed healthcare professional will respond soon after to prescribe a treatment plan.

Next steps

If you’re prone to cold sores and want to heal quicker, here are some next steps to consider:

• Keep track of symptoms: Being aware of the signs that a cold sore is coming can help you seek treatment faster.
• Keep OTC creams to hand: You can stock up on OTC creams so they’re ready as soon as a blister appears.
• Ask about a prescription: If you’re prone to regular outbreaks, your doctor may allow you to have a prescription ready so you can start taking it as soon as possible after an outbreak.
• Avoid touching the sore: To aid healing, avoid touching, rubbing, squeezing, or scrubbing a sore.

—————

Download the free Optum Perks Discount Card to save up to 80% on many prescription medications. Plus, you can now get them delivered to your home in as little as 3 days. Search for your medication here.