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 herpes blisters. 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. wanted to know whether the products do what they promise and tested 26 herpes remedies. The result is sobering.
Cold sores are caused by herpes simplex viruses. Most people, around 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 deal with the annoying blisters. It is estimated that an infection only leads to cold sores in around 20 to 40 percent of those affected.
Many sufferers then have to deal with a swollen lip several times a year. Certain factors increase the risk of the infection flaring up. These include a weakened immune system and stress. But too much sun can also be a trigger. People suffering from herpes then 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 of those affected would hope. At least that applies to the 26 over-the-counter cold sore remedies in the Stiftung Warentest comparison. Whether serums, plasters, thermal pens, creams and gels – all of these products are “unsuitable 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 acyclovir or penciclovir shorten the suffering time 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.
Source: Stern
I’m Caroline, a journalist and author for 24 Hours Worlds. I specialize in health-related news and stories, bringing real-world impact to readers across the globe. With my experience in journalism and writing in both print and online formats, I strive to provide reliable information that resonates with audiences from all walks of life.
