Abreva Cold Sore Treatment

Abreva Cold Sore Treatment

• Only FDA approved to shorten healing time and duration of symptoms
• #1 pharmacists recommended brand
• Speeds healing like a prescription without one
• Contains 10% Docosanol
• Dries clear and moisturizes
• Tasteless and odorless
• Tube Size - 0.07 oz (2 g)

Feel a cold sore coming on? Don't wait. Start using Abreva® today - it speeds healing like a prescription, without a prescription. Cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). Once contracted, this virus remains hidden in our bodies in a dormant state until it's triggered to reactivate and cause a cold sore.

ABREVA is the first and only non-prescription cold sore medicine approved by the FDA to shorten healing time caused by a fever blister. It is the #1 Pharmacist recommended cold sore medicine.

• 1 in 5 Americans experience cold sores, typically between one and three outbreaks a year.
• 80-90% of the American population carries the virus, but not everyone gets cold sores.

Docosanol is the active ingredient in ABREVA. Docosanol has been clinically proven to shorten cold sore healing time. Docosanol and its metabolite (n-docosanoic acid) are present in many common foods and are virtually unavoidable in the diet. Common dietary sources of n-docosanoic acid include chocolate, peanuts, and certain oils. It also occurs in a variety of unprocessed fruits and vegetables.

Docosanol works by changing the cell membrane which surrounds healthy skin cells. The modified cell membrane acts as a barrier to the cold sore virus so that the virus cannot enter the cell to begin the process of infection.

Treating cells with docosanol alters the properties of the host cell membrane in a way that inhibits or blocks, the causative agent of cold sores -the herpes simplex virus -from entering the cell via its normal pathway. Although individual virus particles are not inhibited from attaching to or binding to the herpes virus specific receptors on the cell membrane, the viral envelope, and the cell membrane cannot fuse as is required for productive infection. Because there is no viral/cell fusion, the genomic material of the virus is less likely to enter the cell so viral replication cannot occur.*

Docosanol is not classified as an antiviral. Typically nucleoside analogues, like penciclovir (Denavir®) and acyclovir (Zovirax®) are considered to be the only antivirals that are used in herpes labialis, and they are classified as antivirals because their activity occurs in virus-infected cells. Docosanol’s mode of action is distinct from this, in that its mode of action takes place only in healthy cells, where it works on the cell membrane to help inhibit the ability of the virus to fuse with the cell membrane so that the virus is less likely to enter the cell to begin the process of infection.

They are both approved to speed healing of cold sores. However, they work differently. Denavir is an antiviral whereas ABREVA is not. Denavir is available only by prescription whereas ABREVA is available OTC.

ABREVA provides symptomatic relief as a result of the healing process. It is clinically proven to shorten the duration of symptoms, such as tingling, pain, burning, and itching. The cream is a soothing formula that contains no irritants.

Best results with ABREVA are obtained when treatment starts early -at the  tingle/bump/redness stage of the cold sore.

Docosanol has not been tested, nor is it indicated for preventing cold sores.

• For external use only.
• Keep this and all medications out of reach of children.
• Do not share this product with anyone as it may spread infection.
• Do not use if glued end flaps have been opened.
• Do not use if you are allergic to any ingredient in this product.
• Do not use in or near the eyes.
• Apply only to affected areas.
• Avoid applying directly inside your mouth.
• Stop use and ask a doctor if your cold sore gets worse or the cold sore is not healed within 10 days.