"I have a cold sore and I don't have anything to treat it. What can I do?"

If you have a cold sore and don't have anything to cure it, the most effective treatment is a prescription antiviral medication like Valtrex. It's best to start this treatment within 72 hours of the first symptoms appearing. If you don't have a prescription, it's recommended to speak to your doctor to get one and keep it on file at the pharmacy for future outbreaks. Over-the-counter options are limited but Abreva cream may help and should be applied 5 times a day for 5-10 days. However, prescription treatments are generally more effective.