What to Put on a Cold Sore

Cold sores are a bane to most of the population. However, some people are more prone to having a serious outbreak of cold sores than others. The most effective means of fighting cold sores is through a combination of prevention and treatment with newly developed prescription medication.

Cold Sore Prevention

• Recent studies have shown that those most prone to an outbreak of cold sores lack a key amino acid. Researchers concluded that this specific amino acid prevented the herpes simplex virus, which causes cold sores, from replicating, and in so doing, reduced the risk and/or severity of a cold sore outbreak.

  The amino acid is L-lysine, a nutritional supplement available in most pharmacies. Doctors recommend that those who experience frequent outbreaks of cold sores take 1,500-3,000 mg of L-lysine daily. The supplement should be taken between meals. At the first sign of a cold sore, begin taking 3,000 mg daily if not already at this level.

Treatment of Cold Sores

• Cold sores can best be treated at the first sign of an outbreak. This is most often a sudden tingling in a lip. As cold sores usually recur in same location, the warning sign should be recognized easily. Ignoring the initial indication will make treatment more difficult and increase the severity and extend the duration of the outbreak.

  New medications are effective in controlling the herpes simplex virus. One inexpensive generic prescription ointment, Clobetasol Propionate Ointment, USP, 0.05%, is applied twice daily, once in the morning and once at night. A thin layer is spread over the affected area and gently rubbed in. In most cases, application of the ointment provides noticeable and immediate relief.

  L-lysine ointment also is available as a topical treatment. In one pilot study, 40 percent of those using L-lysine ointment reported the outbreak was limited to three days, compared with a typical untreated duration of 14 days.

Precautions Concerning L-lysine

• Pregnant and/or nursing women should consult their doctor to determine an acceptable dose of L-lysine.