Acyclovir Cream for Cold Sores

Cold sore is a common condition affecting almost 90% of adults by the age of 50 as per the National Institute of Health. Cold sores are the blister around the lips, cheeks, and nostrils and are caused by Herpes Simplex Virus type 1 and type 2. It is a contagious infection which can travel from one person to another person when comes in direct contact. Most of the cases, the virus remains in dormant state and gets activated by triggers like fever or infection.

Cold sores are recurrent in nature and have a horrible tingling sensation. Is there any solution to extremely painful and damaging cold sores? By far the most effective treatment option available in the market is a topical form of Acyclovir for cold sores. The medicine is indicated for the suppression and prevention of recurrent cold sores in immunocompromised patients in adolescents of age 12 years and older.

Acyclovir treating cold sores

A synthetic nucleoside alternative which is active against herpes simplex virus causing infection of cold sores. It is antiviral in nature and acts against the causative virus and reduces the severity and length of their outbreaks.

Acyclovir Cream can strongly bond with the enzyme thymidine kinase which is encoded by the HSV virus. The medicine when taken gets converted into acyclovir triphosphate which competitively blocks the enzyme viral DNA polymerase and gets entered into viral DNA. It blocks the process of viral DNA synthesis, thus reduces the outbreak of the virus. It is highly selective in nature and has low cytotoxicity.

Acyclovir Dosage for Cold Sores

It is available in the topical dosage form and contains 50 mg of Acyclovir as an active ingredient. It is available with Acivir Cream 5%. The therapy is initiated when lesions start appearing. Applying medicine as early as you discover any lesion will always give the best results. The dose is usually recommended 5 times per day for consecutive 4 days. The dose is same for the adolescents 12 years of age and older as in the adults. The best and effective dose is always recommended by the doctor depending on the severity of the condition.

Few tips:

1. Wash your hands before you apply the cream
2. Clean and dry the skin with towel
3. Apply the cream to cover the cold sore and rub it gently until it gets absorbed
4. Repeat the procedure 5 times or as per the doctor recommendation
5. Wash your hands after applying cream so that cream should not be left on it
6. Ensure the cap on the tube is tightly closed
7. Store the cream at room temperature and keep them out of the reach of children

Acyclovir is intended for topical use only. Avoid applying it near the eyes, inside the mouth or nose. It should be applied on the affected and external areas of lips and face. In case of any hypersensitive reaction consult your doctor. Till date, acyclovir cream is one of the most promising medicines for the reduction of lesion outbreaks on the skin.