What is the best and fastest way to heal a cold sore?

I got a cold sore last week, and I took this (prescription) medication for it called "Valtrex". I've also been using a topical cream (also prescription) called Zofirax.

It's beginning to dry up, but I feel like the healing process is almost more obvious than before.

Is there any way for it to peel off or dissolve quickly? Any tricks you know for speeding up the process or for covering it up?

Thanks!

The absolute best treatment for cold sores is a prescription medication in pill form called Valtrex. It was intended for genital herpes, but cold sores are caused by the same family of viruses, and Valtrex stops colds sores in their tracks. None of the other treatments come close to the effectiveness of Valtrex, not the ointment you mention and not Abreva or anything else. Ask your doctor about it to see if you would be a good candidate for the meds. My doctor prescribed it for me for cold sores about five years ago and after taking it only a couple of times I hardly ever get a cold sore any more, and I was having several attacks a year. On the rare occasions that I do get one, it is gone almost immediately when I take the medication - in about a day. Ask your doctor about it.

In the meantime, here are a couple of informative links.

Unless you really like hanging around clinics, there is generally no need to visit a doctor to get cold sores treated. Non-prescription ointments are available to ease the pain, and an oral analgesic may also help. That said, however, there is a remote chance of complications. For instance, if the infection spreads to the eyes, the result can be blindness. There is also increased risk of more serious infections for people with defective immune systems or eczema, and also for infants. So if you are in a group at increased risk, or if you are having severe symptoms, or if there is an itching in your eye while you have cold sores, or if you have a crush on your medical care provider, it鈥檚 best to see your doctor. Whatever you do, avoid touching your eye after touching a cold sore. Wash your hands frequently to avoid spreading the disease.

Severe infections can be brought under control 鈥?they may be treated with a prescription cream, Zovirax. But, regardless of its severity, no cold sore can actually be cured. If treated early, however, the period of viral activity can be shortened with drugs like Penciclovir, Aciclovire, Valicyclovir, and Ganciclovir. A derivative of castor oil, undecylenic acid, is also thought to be effective against viral skin infections.

abreva works pretty well for me. It takes a few days, but it makes it less noticeable pretty quickly. however, it is pretty expensive. also, peeling it off won't help, I have a bad habit of trying to do so, and it just makes it worse, so resist the temptation to do so. good luck!

Tea tree oil will help it dry up. you can get lip balm with tea tree oil in it. Also carmex works pretty good.

are you sure it isn't zovirax?

For my cold sores, I use camphophenique. It's at wal-mart and is available OTC.

Use Sister Gomez;s herpacilin cream. It does wonders and made from herbs and spices.

ABREVA!

rub some dirt on it and walk it off

ive had my cold sore for so long, i would try going down to ur chemist and buying a cold sore cream

abreva