Creams, patches, serums Warentest tests remedies for cold sores – absolutely none of them help really quickly
Warentest has tested which remedy effectively relieves the symptoms of cold sores
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Cold sores can be annoying. The blisters tingle, hurt, are not pretty to look at and are stubborn. Many remedies promise quick relief from the symptoms. But is that true? Stiftung Warentest has tested herpes products.
Your lip itches, it tingles, your skin feels tight and then they appear, the nasty little cold sores. Not only do they hurt, they look nasty too. And it takes a while to get rid of them – usually one to two weeks. Cold sores are a nuisance for those affected. According to the manufacturer, creams, patches and thermal pens are supposed to bring about a quick cure. Stiftung Warentest wanted to know whether the products keep their promises and tested 26 herpes remedies. The result is sobering.
Cold sores are caused by herpes simplex viruses. Most people, about 90 out of 100, carry these viruses in their bodies. The likelihood of being infected increases with age. But that doesn’t mean that all carriers of the virus also have to struggle with the annoying blisters. It is estimated that an infection leads to cold sores in only around 20 to 40 percent of those affected.
However, many of those affected have to struggle with a thick lip several times a year. Certain factors increase the risk of the infection flaring up. These include, among other things, a weakened immune system and stress. But too much sun can also be a trigger. Herpes sufferers rely on products from drugstores and pharmacies to relieve their symptoms. But how effective are they really?
Cold sores – no remedy helps quickly
Not as much as many sufferers hope. That is at least true of the 26 non-prescription cold sore remedies compared by Stiftung Warentest. Whether serums, plasters, thermal pens, creams and gels – all of these products are “not very suitable for noticeably alleviating symptoms and significantly shortening the healing time”. And this despite the fact that the providers sometimes explicitly advertise rapid help à la “heals within 24 hours”.
The result of the test: Creams with the active ingredients aciclovir or penciclovir shorten the period of suffering by a maximum of half a day to a day, while products containing silicon such as patches or gels also shorten the symptoms by only around half a day, according to studies. There can be no question of quick healing.
Herpes patches can be useful
Nevertheless, it can be useful to use herpes patches and certain serums. The hydrocolloid patches and the Herpatch serum ensure that the areas are covered and protected from contamination and germs. However, not every patch is suitable. According to Warentest, the Pharmadoct patch with tea tree oil is not recommended. The criticism is that there is no evidence of its medical benefits, and that tea tree oil can even cause allergic skin reactions.
You can read the entire text of the herpes remedy comparison by Stiftung Warentest for a fee here.