20 Best Cure For Cold Sores (2023 Updated)

Releev liquid is excellent for cleansing and treating cold sores and fever blisters — even in the earliest stages when there is only tingling, redness, or swelling. There’s no question that it hastens the healing of sores, blisters, and scabs.

And it’s very effective in preventing infection, which can greatly hinder healing. I believe that this product is overpriced, but it’s so effective that I still recommend it. It comes in a tiny bottle that enables you to squeeze out one drop at a time.

It looks brown when you dispense it, but it dries relatively clear on the face and lips. You can refrigerate it to prolong its shelf life, according to the Releev folks. And you can use it inside of your mouth for sores and blisters in the mouth, as well as outside of the mouth.

I recommend this product if you suffer from cold sores. Catch them early enough, and the sore might not even rear its ugly head. Good luck!.

Okay so like life’s not hard enough but try being a teenager who gets cold sores. Ugh Not because of kissing but because I’ve gotten them since the age of 5! It’s always been so embarrassing for me. I missed countless days of school.

This was right about the time the oral medications came out. Abreva I didn’t even exist yet. The first time I used Abreva it worked but after that forget about , shorten the time from about 14 days to about 7-10.

I have scars from all the cold sores I got during my teenage years. I thought everything changed once I started taking oral medication like Acyclovir but that was no match for being a mother having a job and constantly being sick and rundown.

I had a compromised immune system. They started back up again. I was devastated , couldn’t look people in the eyes. I found Releev and WOW did it help. At first it take them away %100 but as all things we take the virus gets used to it.

but still its a blister blaster !! It takes the blisters away but drying them out within a day-4 Gone once it’s in the scab stage it super easy to cover. Tip Take a hot shower helps remove scabs.

This is my favorite cold sore medicine. For me (and my mom) it pretty much stopped the cold sore from growing or even hitting the tingling phase. It still takes a few days to clear up completely. I like that it is not a white cream that stays visible and it does not hurt when you put it on.

Cold sores suck but this stuff is great.

I highly recommend this wonderful shop. The products sold are well respected brands. The staff are knowledgeable. I’ve walked in with various ailments or conditions and they’ve always recommended good products to help.

You want to shop here. I mean where else can you get a home made bronchial tea? I’ve delivered it to many ailing family and friends.

I have been buying this product for years, I think 10 years. Give or take a year because let’s be honest who keeps track of the exact time frame when using over the counter medicine lol. Anyways when I was at the store today buying this product I noticed a few changes, One change was the Major Price decrease from the last time I got this product.

That’s a Great thing! The last time I got this product I believe it was almost $40 after taxes. yikes. but it works, so I paid the money because I want something that is guaranteed to work and I will pay more for that guarantee and from past experiences with this product I know for a fact it works for me.

I also noticed the reason why the price was soo much lower this time, Sitting next to this product on the right side And the left was new products that look very similar to this product. They even claim that it does the very same thing as this product.

1 was marked for $12. 99 and was an off brand, and the product on the left side of it was marked for $8. 99 and had 2 products in the 1 package of the same stuff. These items looked almost just the same, they even mark on the ingredients that they have the exact same ingredients as each other.

So I wanted to say Thank you and I’m sorry at the same time to the makers of this product. I wanted to say thankyou for making a product that is 100% effective on my lip for a cold sore, Thank you for bringing the price down, even though we both know you really diddnt have a choice on that matter lol.

I wanted to say I’m sorry because the Kroger brand is claiming to offer the same product for half the price sitting right next to your product, And The Kroger brand also has the same product with 2 tubes of the same product in a single package for 1/3 the price of yours.

Soo I wanted to say thank you again for making a product that works, BUT. At the same time im alittle upset with your company, Please don’t jack the prices up 10,000,000x the original manufacturing cost.

Pretty please with cherries on top! I did buy your product today, Even though it was alot more expensive than the 2 products sitting to the left and the right of your product. But that was due to a couple of factors, one bieing that I know for a fact it works on me.

And secondly I am loyal to brands I know work and I trust. And thirdly I kinda felt bad this company was undercutting your product by such a huge margin. Please pull your heads out of your pockets and figure out a way to keep your loyal customers cpmming back time and time again before you loose 80% of them.

Thank you for your reading my opinions / suggestions & concerns About your product “Aberva Cold sore treatment. “I hope to be still buying your product in the future, P. s If you have any indication that your company will stop making this product for Any Reason at all, Please Notify me some how.

So that way I can stop up on a good 25 years worth of products lol. It is always a massive headache and pain for me to see Products that WORK 100% Get pulled off the shelfs because the company can’t afford to make them any longer, and then we are forced to buy the off brand stuff that, and once the good company is out of the picture for good the off brand stuff becomes the Main brand stuff and they Jack the prices wayy up because their is NO more competition.

Thank you, And have a great day. Tim.

I purchased this a few years ago so at the first tingle I started looking for it. I had never used it so I wasn’t sure what it would do. I didn’t have any money to go out and get the product that I was so use to using for my cold sores.

However, in all honesty I didn’t have much hope for Abreva and was using it out of desperation. Lastnight (Saturday) I started feeling that itchy, burning sensation and I knew a cold sore was coming.

I hadn’t seen it in months so I knew if I found it it probably wouldn’t work. However, I found it a few hours later but I had already started applying other creams on it and it had swollen and filled with pus.

I was disgusted and really desperate at this point. I immediately washed my upper lip and dried it by kissing a dry paper towel and putting a small amount on the affected area and rubbing it in. Today is Sunday 1/16/2022 roughly 24 hours from the first tingle and it is practically gone.

The cold sore that was pus filled when I found the Abreva is now back to my normal lip color, the swelling is gone, and there is barely anything there. I was a skeptic being that my family had used that other cream for years.

However, I’m carrying Abreva in my purse from now on and I would highly recommend it!.

This is my go to product for dreaded cold sores. I’ve unfortunately had them when I’m sick or stressed since I was a small child and for years it was just something I dealt with and had to let pass on its own.

It typically would take a week to a week and 1/2 for a breakout to heal on its own but with Abreva it happens much faster. Once I start using Abreva I can expect my cold sore to dry up and heal within a few days.

I’ve found that if I catch that I’m having an outbreak and start using Abreva at the first tingle many times it can stop a full outbreak from occurring at all. The smell is no different than any other ointments one would use and it’s definitely not an overwhelming smell.

There is no burning or discomfort with use, in fact it’s quite soothing and minimizes the discomfort a cold sore brings. This is one product I always keep on hand and highly recommend to anyone that is unfortunate enough to get cold sores.

It’s worth every penny!.

I can only share my experience. I’ve been getting cold sores/fever blisters my my whole life, and tried everything under the sun. All the ointment, prescriptions, home remedies, etc. This absolutely works.

Sometimes I can go years without an outbreak out and some time, like this year I had 4 in 5 months. Directions say to apply when you first get the tingling sensation before a fever blister, but sometimes I just wake up with a fever blister.

I’ll apply several light coats during the day and glob it on at night and very careful not to create a scab. It’s typically healed in 5-6 days, whereas if untreated it can take up to 2 weeks. Only cons are It’s very expensive and wish the ointment wasn’t white.

It’s pretty noticeable when it’s applied. Otherwise great product.

Abreva has always been a lifesaver to eliminate the full outbreak of my cold sore. Typically as soon as I feel the tingle on my lip I start using Abreva or go purchase a tube if I am out. Which this was the case.

I ordered the new pump because that is what was available. The directions say to apply 5 times per day until healed. But the pump only last a few days at this rate. The pump does not allow you to just get a small portion.

It lets out more than is needed each time used. Therefore, I had to rub the cream into my lip for a long time, but some still went to waste. Also, the strength seems to be less potent. The cold sore did not go away and it seems to be lingering on.

I continue to get the tingle in my lip. I am extremely unhappy with this product. I do not understand what the issue could be with this product. But I wonder if other have experienced this problem in recent weeks/months.

I have not have a cold sore in over 5 years, so I am not sure if a new company bought it or what. But it is not the same quality. Disappointed customer.

I get stress/hormonal fever blister only on one specific part of my lip. I have tried Carmex, Abreva, even new Pimple/spot patches to attempt to remove whatevers inside said blister to no avail. Nothing helped and they lasted for weeks, causing the trickle down to my self confidence etc.

Flash forward to me standing in the lip aisle bawling because I was at my wits end with paying so much for products that did not help. A wonderful woman saw me in hysterics and told me she swore by this and actually had a tube in her purse.

It was less than half the price of any other produ, so decided to give it a try. The only times I used this was at night, put a glob on my spot and let it be for the night. Within 48 hours you couldn’t even tell anything had been wrong, this stuff worked immediately! Due to it being stressed/hormonal related, I’ve never experienced pain/blisters/scabs/etc, so can’t speak personally if it also helps those issues for others with severe cold sores.

But this stuff right here is DEFINITELY worth the try! I used this at night, and use the Herpecin ChapStick (mainly due to the SPF 30 in it) throughout the day and poof! Fever blister was gone! Both products I got STILL was less than one small tube of off brand Abreva.

This truly works!.

I don’t know about cutting the healing time in half – but I do know that it makes the healing process more comfortable. If you, like me and many others, feel self conscious about the cold sores that you’re stupid brother gave you when he shared a drink with you after sipping on it with his crusty lips before either of you knew what herpes simplex virus was – look no further.

Rather than Abreva’s “I just ate sour cream like a child with no hygiene awareness” milky appearance – you can instead opt for a smooth, lanolin-like balm with a yellow tint that somehow makes everything feel better while making it look almost 1000 times worse.

Thankfully, our new societally acceptable mask wearing tendencies have allowed us to conceal what one can describe as “what looks like a layer of liquid pus tenderly swaddling an angry blister” with relative ease.

When your coworkers inevitably ask why you’ve gone back to wearing a face covering, simply respond “I don’t know, Margaret. Maybe you should cover your mouth when you sneeze. ” Work isn’t for friendships anyway.

The bottom line is this: it works. It makes your lip look disgusting. You can hide it with a mask. Margaret really does need to knock it off.

I’ve struggled with frequent cold sores since I was about 6 yrs old. They’re typically intense and tend to spread to other areas on my lips. OTC creams never worked for me, so I was prescribed to Xerese cream which helped a lot but left my cold sore sorely scabbed and my lips peeling from how much it dried it out.

As of recent Xerese is no longer covered by insurance, so I sought out a good OTC brand. I am THRILLED with this cream. I can’t believe that it works better than the $1,200 tube of prescription cream I used to use.

This month alone I had three cold sores and the cream got rid of all of them within a few days, rather than a painful week from my prescription medicine. It also heals the coldsore while moisturizing it, so it never scabs and only fades away.

I’m so happy to have found it, it literally changed my life!.

Oh my goodness. where do I even start!? I’m an avid review reader, but never take the time to write my own. With this product, I have to!! I have suffered with cold sores since I was young. They are usually stress induced and pop up at the worst possible time.

My go-to treatment is usually prescription Acyclovir, lots of L-Lysine, and tea tree oil/vitamin E oil. I stumbled upon this in the store the other day and figured I’d give it a shot. I never had luck with Abreva or any other topical treatment, so I was initially weary.

Let me tell you. I had a honkin blister that popped up before I could stop the formation. After a day of applying this product, I noticed a visible difference in the swelling of my lip. The next day, almost all swelling was gone and the blisters were starting to shed.

And not in the bad, crusty, bloody way. This product does tingle some, but it’s a calm menthol tingle. I will never go without this product because paired with my prescription, I can get rid of a cold sore now in less than 5 days!! If you suffer with cold sores, this is a MUST HAVE!.

An amazing little product!. I had the worst skin rash due to the damn variants and having to constantly wear a mask as in my hometown there’s a mandate 🤦🤷 thanks to the ignorant people that do not want to follow the rules and do not wish to get vaccinated we all have to pay the price of irresponsible people.

This product absolutely delivered what it claimed this product retails for $11. 97 at Walmart. Unfortunately the first time that I had to purchase this I purchased it at CVS and it was a lot more expensive needless to say I paid $13.

99 for it. Its only for that reason I recommend that if you have to purchase this product being that is super effective I suggest you purchase a at walmart. com or in store, so you can get the best price possible.

I am a Savvy shopper that loves to inform people and pass on the savings!!. I must definitely recommend 🙋🤷.

I get about 4-6 cold sores a year, typically with weather changes or stress. I have been prescribed medications and ointments, and still always struggle with getting rid of my cold sores in 2 weeks or less.

I am SO thankful that I picked up this product yesterday afternoon when I felt a cold sore coming on. I started applying this treatment at 4 pm on Friday, and applied every 2 hours until 10pm. When I woke up Saturday morning, the sore was COMPLETELY gone.

I could NOT believe it. I am going to stock up on this product for the rest of my life. So amazing! Even better that its made from clean ingredients. Seriously can not believe the results.

I was skeptical of this but I never had a cold reverse and in such a short time. I usually use Zilactin. Which forms more of a barrier on top of the cold sore which is nice as it protects it from spreading.

However once applied it hardens and you can tell you have some on, it also tends to look shiny and make it more obvious. It started to work less and less on me so I decided to switch and try something new.

I put this on right as I felt a tingle however forgot it at home the morning of and didn’t get to reapply until late evening. I had to wear a mask and it was fairly warm so a small cluster of sores formed throughout the day.

I also didn’t get to apply anything else. I applied this once I got home, and continued throughout the next day. The small cluster reverted back and one by one and disappeared. The tingle started on a Thursday morning, unfortunately formed and I had officially put it on consistently Thursday evening, it’s now Saturday afternoon and it’s almost completely gone.

I consistently applied it, it dries down fast, and even kinda tones it down making it less noticeable.

70% of Americans get cold sores. It’s a miserable and embarrassing experience. I am pretty lucky I feel one coming on days before I get the actual cold sore. My lips start burning, get really chapped , and I get a tiny sore on the corner of my mouth.

I’ve been getting them since I was a kid and never realized what it was until recently. I read a ton of reviews and picked Camphor Phrenique. This stuff is amazing. It kinda burns at first but then starts to numb.

My lips were nearly healed overnight. Cuts the time down dramatically.

I felt the onset of a cold sore yesterday evening, and applied this gel; within moments, I noticed relief. Furthermore, it seems the cold sore has been stunted, as usually mine have a tendency to grow larger after a day, and this one seems to have already begun to diminish.

An area for improvement is the overwhelming scent. Yes, it is medicine, but if there is a way of mitigating the scent, it would definitely make an already unpleasant experience more bearable. I’ll end on a positive note: compared to the competition, this product is affordably well priced, which is greatly appreciated!.

I’ve been using Herpecin L for years to prevent cold sores. It is 100% effective at that for me, but something in their formula seems to have altered lately. The product is still just as effective, but I’m noticing more and more that it doesn’t hold its shape as well anymore and breaks apart until it’s just chunks in a tube.

I’m not sure what changed, aside from the packaging which is no big deal, but wish the stuff would stop breaking apart and hold its shape like it used to do. So for that reason, I gave it 4 stars. But in terms of effectiveness, it’s still a 5-star product in that regard.

THE BEST FOR COLD SORES! Don’t second guess yourself with the other expensive products! ( Abreva) This product is from GOD literally! I get cold sores once a year it doesn’t matter the seasons it could happen at any time I’m the only time I know a cold sore is coming is when I feel a slight teeny tiny little bump on my lip and it’s red and I know I have to go out and buy a herpecin this is my second tube the other one I lost, because I would probably of still had it, I got the cold sore the night before last which was started New Year’s Eve I went the next day when I felt the bump getting a little bit bigger I would straight to Walmart body tube I was at Walmart for $4.

44 there was an additional $0. 55 save now coupon on the box so I pay just a little under $4 which was great I’ve applied it don’t get nervous because this medicine will speed up the process significantly which is better in both cases it’s been 24 hours and my cold sore is already at the crust and stage where it dries out and it also made the redness go away you could barely notice it on my lip! I have not found out why cold sores happen but let me tell you what when I stumbled upon this product last year I was thinking no way this could be better than Abreva but I also didn’t feel like spending $20 again and I would still have to go through 5 days with a cold sore Abreva wasn’t doing anything!!! I was so self-conscious I felt like everything I did someone was staring at my lip! do not second-guess with anyone else listen to me buy this and I promise you won’t regret it you will be thanking me and everyone else that recommended this product great product!!!! it’s only been 24 hours and it’s almost gone and it help the pain that is associated with a cold sore !!! I recommend this five stars all the way!.

This stuff is wonderful. It moisturizes lips very well and protects them from the sun. It also has nutrients to prevent cold sore breakouts. And if you do get breakouts, it helps them heal up faster and moisturizes the scabs when they dry up so that you can avoid cracking and bleeding.

It is a more expensive stick so I would avoid it if you just need a regular lip balm.

Zilactin is something I keep in my bag for coldsore emergencies but I feel like it doesn’t target the virus and kill it from multiplying or worsening. When I use Zilactin it seems like I have to ride through the whole course of the coldsore.

All Zilactin does is put a protective layer on top of the coldsore. When you wash your face, mouth or even brush your teeth, it starts to crack or peel and you either peel it and deal with the fresh coldsore, or stack another protective layer on top.

Not a fan but I’ll keep it.

This stuff is wonderful. Especially if you are a Denture wearer. Just a little bit, helps heal and the sore spot is gone, very quickly. Other places sell it for MUCH MORE MONEY. I chose to get it from The Online drugstore for a MUCH BETTER PRICE.

It arrived in a timely fashion & I am really pleased. Both with the company & the product.

All the other products are thin and lose their effectiveness within a short time. This product coats the sore with a thin covering that lasts for 1/2 the day. The only drawback is it hurts like hell when you apply it to large sores.

It is the numbing agent that causes this.

I am reviewing the Abreva tube of cold sore medication. NOW HERE THIS: USE IT WHEN YOU FIRST FEEL the sensation of a cold sore and THIS WORKS !!!! Abreva is one of the only topical treatments that I have used that stops my cold sores from “blowing up” into a blistery, scabby mess.

It stops the sore from getting worse and it heals the sore once you have it. Abreva is not cheap to buy, but you only use the size of a small pea, and thank goodness, it works for me.

I get cold sores here and there and have since I was in 4th grade (that is why you shouldn’t share lipgloss). I started using this in middle school/high school to help heal them quicker and reduce irritation and I still use it now.

If you catch them early enough it seems to work well, but if not it may just treat the symptoms.

I have suffered with cold sores all my life. I took a trip to California a few years ago and while on that trip. I had an out break of cold cores. With no cream I had to find something. I walked into CVS Pharmcy and found abreva.

For me it is the ultimate in cold sore cream. Best ever!!!! You can not get it in the UK which is disappointing yet I always have some with me. Just in case.

I found Lysine Lip Clear several years ago after trying several other options to get rid of my fever blisters. I have had them all my life and my father had them also, he just put Old Spice After Shave on his and while it hurt a lot it dried them us.

Well I was not really wanting to use that method, as a female I prefer something other than Old Spice ! The Lysine works GREAT, within 2 days it is practically gone, with no pain. I have tubes of it all over the house and in my purse always.

It is wonderful !.

I am extremely pleased & very grateful for this product! I apply this every 2 hours along with the tablets when I feel a cold sore coming on. Heals in record time & very inexpensive. I’m going to consider taking the tablet daily for preventative measure & other health benefits.

I feel sad for those that don’t get the same results. Cold sores are so uncomfortable & embarrassing cause they are icky to look at.

Just bought this stuff I will update with my results. I usually use 91%alcohol, witch hazel, and lysine pills if u have them. I dry the hell out of it most people keep it moist but I mostly use the alcohol and it’s gone Ina day, but with covid it’s hard like really hard to find 91%alcohol in AZ.

So I’ll update my review on how I think it works I currently have a small blister.

I’ve suffered from cold sores regularly since experiencing a lip injury during sport in my teens and with these patches, I’ve figured the best way to reduce my typical healing time of around 10/12 days to around 5/6 days.

My cold sores always develop after a combination of sleep deprivation and stress, I typically feel a pulsating sensation under my lip which is sometimes visible! So my first course of action is a cold sore cream which reduces the initial swelling, which if left alone I would look as though I’d been punched in the mouth.

So Day 1, I’ll alternate between ice cube treatment and cold sore cream. Then from day 2, I’ll use these little patches to stop the spread of the virus and prevent scabbing. I’ll use them day and night continuously and usually by day 5, I’ll have soft, barely marked skin underneath and no subsequent scabbing when I stop using the patches.

Although the patches can be tricky to keep on the lips depending on the location of the sore (must be placed on dry skin and avoid inside of the mouth which is damp), they WILL reduce healing time but you need to ensure you keep using them until the sores heal completely and are not allowed to scab over.

I always have a box to hand.

Before purchasing I did read reviews and a fair few mentioned how the applicator was not great. I found that if you apply it on your cold sore and then peel back slowly the patch similar to peeling double sided tape it works wonders.

The product itself is amazing. I won’t say anything about the heeling process as I have not used it long enough however it hides the cold sore. It relieves the area from pain and that itchy feeling. It feels good on knowing that it is protected under the patch.

Really pleased with the product.

The biggest issue I have with coldsores is really the look. How it affects my self confidence. The patch is amazing for that. However as I get coldsores on my lips, I always have a part of the patch on the inside and if I talk/drink/eat it will start to come off.

That would be the down side. Also the part that is on the “mustache” really hurts to peel. I would recommend maybe after some days to stop using them maybe as I feel it keep filling with yellow liquid, and removing them can peel off the first layer.

This product works. And it works even better if you eat clean and follow a diet that doesn’t aggravate and fuel HSV 1 and 2. The product smells nice, provides soothing relief, especially when that annoying tingling itch starts.

This product is a great price and the shipping is free. you won’t be sorry. I love this cream.

Seems to be a really great product for the money. Cold sore has all ready been relieved and calmed down some. What’s great about it is non-staining, and relieves dry lips around that area as well. Can’t say anything bad in the least about the ointment.

I have also always gone to naturalist, not doctor with prescriptions per say, so this was right up my alley with the ingredients. Haven’t had a cold sore in a long time, in fact forgot about them!, but this product has made me forget about them again! Thank you for the listing.

I have been suffering from Herpes for 15 years. Tried many things over the years. Nothing has worked this FAST. HerpeBLAST is truly a blessing for me. I researched the contents of HerpeBLAST before buying it.

A truly remarkable blend. Worked wonders for me. A+ Quality. Good Value.

Firstly the application doesn’t work, the patches stick to the green part and can only be removed with tweezers which is unhygienic. Then if you are lucky enough to get one stuck to the clear plastic, the patch won’t transfer without physically grabbing the edge.

Once on your lip they are so large it’s completely noticeable and they will fold up with any eating. Laughable that anyone would suggest you can wear lipstick over these, there’s just no way. I’ve succumbed to only using these overnight as they do help to protect from getting all over your pillow but that’s about it.

I’ve suffered from coldsores for 5/6 years now. I get them very bad about once a month. I was previously using the cream which worked okayish but over the summer I had one on my bottom lip that ended up spreading to my top lip! My friend recommended these as they prevent spreading.

I’ve been using them ever since and they are my go to for coldsores! They definitely speed up healing, mine heal in about 5-7 days with the patches but with the cream it would take almost two weeks. They help contain the coldsore and prevent it from spreading to other parts of your lips.

They are quite expensive for only 15 patches as you sometimes have to use 2/3 to cover a big sore. They also can unstick easily after eating or drinking water or the shower. I find they stay overnight but you need to change a couple times through the day.

Expensive but probably the best over the counter product for coldsores!.

This an excellent product, equally effective as the leading brand, and at a fraction of the price. I thoroughly recommend it

This cream acts exactly like Zovirax in my opinion. When I felt a sore about to break through I used a small amount of this cream for about 2 days and the burning sensation retracted. Be careful on opening these tubes so as not to squeeze a large amount out which can happen with too much pressure.

I am tired from purchasing things like that,which come almost empty. So, you pay for brand new Cold sore cream, open it and it’s full with air. This is my second time trying to order (different brand) Cold sore cream and it’s the same problem.