Product Review: Abreva Medicine for Cold Sores--And Tips to Boost Its Effectiveness

The best way to treat a cold sore is when it is still a tingle. Recognizing the warning signs of a cold sore is key to preventing them. Early treatment is the most effective way to speed up healing time and shorten the duration of the symptoms of cold sore. Does Abreva medicine for cold sores help?

What is a cold sore and how is it different from a canker sore?

According to the American Dental Association, a cold sore is also called a fever blister or herpes simplex. It is the visible eruption of a viral infection of the skin, usually on the outside of the mouth. This is one of the primary ways that a cold sore is different from a canker sore. Canker sores usually occur inside the mouth.

A cold sore is different from a canker sore in appearance as well. A cold sore is made up of a group of blisters. These blisters fill with fluid until they break open. A cold sore frequently causes pain, because of the blisters and local swelling. A canker sore is not a blister, but an ulcer. It often has a grey or white base with a red ring around it. A canker sore may or may not be painful.

Cold sores are usually caused by the herpes simplex (type I) virus. They are extremely contagious.

How does Abreva work?

Abreva is a white cream that comes in a tube or pump. The manufacturer's Abreva FAQ state that Abreva "won't sting or burn and it has no smell or taste." In our test, this generally was true. Any time you rub a cream into an active cold sore, however, there will be some discomfort. The discomfort was minimal and not an obstacle to using Abreva.

We found that learning more about how Abreva works helped us know what to expect. It also helped us decide what additional treatments might have synergy with Abreva.

The active ingredient in Abreva is docosanol. According to Glaxo SmithKline, docosanol works on healthy cells. Essentially, it puts up a shield that helps healthy cells fend off invasions of the herpes simplex virus. This prevents the spread of infection locally, which makes it easier for your body to clear the cold sore.

Because it works by preventing the spread of the viral infection, it is critical to deploy Abreva's docosanol "shield" as early as possible---even at the first tingle---in the cold sore process. Fewer cells invaded by the herpes simplex virus means fewer blisters. Fewer blisters means a smaller cold sore (if one even erupts). It also means a shorter duration of cold sore symptoms and a faster healing time.

We tried Abreva. Did it help?

Kids often don't pay attention to the first tingles of a looming cold sore and parents may miss the subtle visible warning signs as well. Also, once cranking, a cold sore can go "from zero-to-60" in a very short time. That's what happened to my child with his last cold sore episode.

The manufacturer states that Abreva is less effective if the cold sore already has reached the stage of "forming an ulcer or even a crust." The cold sore we treated with Abreva definitely had hit maximum eruption status. After learning about how docosanol worked, we decided to use salt water irrigation as an adjuvant therapy.

Using a salt water rinse to help heal cold sores

Salt water has been used as an anti-infective and wound healing agent for forever. Since Abreva's active ingredient, docosanol, works by shielding healthy cells from infection, we thought gently cleaning the cold sore also would reduce the viral content at the sore.

The manufacturer recommends that Abreva be applied about every 3-4 waking hours (about five times per day). It also recommends that you wash your face first. This is to help remove the herpes simplex virus that is causing the cold sore. We went further and also "washed" the cold sore itself.

How do you "wash out" a cold sore?

First, we used a disposable plastic cup and filled it with very warm water with table salt dissolved in it. Then, my child put the cup in his mouth and closed his lips on it tightly. He then let the warm salt water cover the cold sore, all the while he was careful not to swallow any of the salt water.

Once he was comfortable with the process, he was able to gently rock the water back and forth over the cold sore for an extended time. This flushed out much of the pus and necrotic skin. The salt water rinse made a tremendous improvement in the appearance and pain level of the cold sore.

Salt water irrigation of an open wound, such as a cold sore that has popped blisters and pus, is not a very comfortable experience. But then again, neither is having a virulent cold sore. To cope with the initial discomfort, you can adjust the saltiness of the water you use to rinse a cold sore. Over time, you may be able to tolerate more salt and longer rinses. Again, be careful not to swallow any of the salt water and closely supervise a child using this technique.

Adding in Abreva

After preparing the cold sore by using a salt water rinse, we took a break. This allows the sore to settle down and also dissipates any lingering effect the salt may have on the effectiveness of Abreva. After about 20 minutes of Spongebob, we returned to the bathroom and applied Abreva. We followed the manufacturer's instructions and applied Abreva to completely cover the cold sore and the surrounding area.

We followed this regimen for five days. By this time, the cold sore was well on its way to resolving. As this had been a large, painful eruption of the type that had lasted much longer in the past, we decided that Abreva had been quite helpful. If there is a next time, we hope to pick up on the warning signs much earlier. But if a cold sore eruption catches you off guard, using Abreva, along with salt water rinses, may help you, too.

*** This product review is not intended to and does not provide any kind of medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Sources:

"Frequently Asked Questions about Abreva," Abreva.

"Common Mouth Sores," American Dental Association.