A burning sensation on the lip, redness, small blisters filled with fluid, and itching - the combination of all these signs indicates the development of labial herpes. To get rid of discomfort, as well as speed up the healing process, experts recommend the use of local antiherpetic drugs.
A cream for colds on the lips has a quick therapeutic effect. Medicines for external use not only eliminate discomfort and promote wound healing, but also prevent the further spread of the virus (vesicle rash).
What is the best herpes cream on the lips?
In the modern pharmaceutical market, a huge number of ointments with antiherpetic action are presented. Consider the most popular and effective ones.
Ointment "Acyclovir"
What is Acyclovir ointment used for? This is perhaps the most popular drug used for colds on the lips. It is a synthetic analogue of thymidine nucleoside and has a pronounced antiviral activity.
After applying the ointment to the area affected by the rash, its active substance (acyclovir) enters the infected cells and is first converted to acyclovir monophosphate, and then to diphosphate and triphosphate. Thus, integrating into the DNA synthesized by the virus, acyclovir triphosphate completely blocks its reproduction.
So why is Acyclovir ointment used, and why is this drug so popular? In the presence of cold sores on the lips, this drug can prevent the formation of a new rash, significantly reduce the likelihood of visceral complications and skin dissemination, as well as accelerate the formation of crusts and eliminate discomfort.
Indications and contraindications for external use
What helps ointment "Acyclovir"? According to the instructions, such a drug is indicated for use in the presence of:
- genital herpes;
- skin infection caused by Herpes simplex virus type 1 and 2;
- tinea versicolor;
- chicken pox.
As for contraindications, the drug in question is not recommended for use in patients with hypersensitivity to acyclovir, as well as other components of the drug.
With caution, this medication should be prescribed for dehydration, pregnancy, renal failure, and during breastfeeding.
Dosage and side effects
Now you know what Acyclovir ointment helps. But before using this tool for the treatment of herpevirus rash, you should definitely study the attached instructions.
Such a medicine is intended for external use only. A thin layer of ointment is applied to the affected areas of the skin (and the areas bordering them) with clean hands or a cotton swab up to 5 times a day (every 4 hours).
Treatment with the drug is continued until a crust forms on the vesicle rash or it completely heals. The duration of Acyclovir therapy is 5-10 days. In the absence of the proper effect, you should consult a doctor.
According to patients and doctors, Acyclovir is the most effective cold cream on the lips. However, in some cases, such a tool can cause the development of side effects:
- dryness, flushing and peeling of the skin;
- the development of allergic dermatitis;
- inflammation and burning (when ointment enters the mucous membranes).
Cream "Zovirax"
This drug is the second most popular cream for colds on the lips. It has a 5 percent concentration and is intended for external use only. The active substance of the drug in question is also acyclovir. As auxiliary components, the cream contains glycerol monostearate, propylene glycol, sodium lauryl sulfate, white soft paraffin, cetostearyl alcohol, dimethicone, liquid paraffin, Poloxamer 407, purified water and macrogol stearate.
The pharmacological action of Zovirax is similar to that of Acyclovir. The main substance of the drug is converted to triphosphate, which is embedded in the DNA of the virus, contributes to its defect, which ultimately eliminates the likelihood of the formation of new generations of viruses.
Side effects of Zovirax cream, instructions for use
The agent in question should be applied in a thin layer to the affected areas of the skin and the areas bordering them up to five times a day (approximately every 4 hours).
The duration of treatment with Zovirax is 4 days. In the event that the drug does not contribute to wound healing, therapy can be extended to 10 days. If symptoms persist for more than 10 days, consult a specialist.
Herpes cream on the lips of “Zovirax” should be applied to the vesicle rash with clean hands or a cotton swab. This will prevent infection of the affected areas.
In some cases, an antiviral drug can cause adverse reactions such as:
- peeling, short-term redness, burning, itching, or a tingling sensation in the areas where the medicine was applied;
- allergic dermatitis, Quincke's edema.
The drug for external use "Vivorax"
The third most popular antiherpetic medicine is Vivorax ointment. This is a uniform, white or almost white 5 percent cream, intended for external use. Its active substance is acyclovir.
The antiviral drug Vivorax is a synthetic analogue of purine nucleoside. Its pharmacological action is similar to that of Acyclovir and Zovirax.
Such a remedy is prescribed in the presence of skin infections that were caused by the Herpes simplex virus of types 1 and 2, including genital herpes, cold sores, shingles and chicken pox.
It should be remembered that the cream "Vivorax" is contraindicated for use in patients with hypersensitivity to valaciclovir and acyclovir, as well as in childhood and adolescence.
With extreme caution, this medicine is prescribed during pregnancy, during lactation, in case of detection of renal failure and dehydration.
Dosage and adverse effects
Cream for colds on the lips of Vivorax is used only externally. A thin layer is applied to the affected areas and the areas adjacent to them, up to 4-6 times a day or every 4 hours.
Therapy with this remedy is continued until the vesicle rash is covered with a crust or completely healed. On average, the duration of treatment with Vivorax is 5 days (should not exceed ten days).
It is important to remember that the treatment with the ointment in question should be started only with a recurring infection during the prodromal phase or at the very beginning of the development of the disease.
In some cases, Vivorax causes side effects such as:
- burning sensation (at the site of application), erythema, dry skin, dermatitis, itching and inflammation (if mucous)
- anaphylactic reactions, including urticaria and angioedema.
Ointment "Oxolin"
Does Oxolinic ointment for herpes on the lips help? Experts cannot give a definite answer to this question. On the one hand, such a drug for local and external use is antiviral, and, it would seem, it should contribute to the recovery of a patient with a cold. On the other hand, the active substance of this drug is oxolin, which does not have a pronounced antiherpetic activity. However, many patients constantly use the mentioned cold cream on the lips, as it is present in almost every home medicine cabinet.
Pharmacological action of the drug
What is oxolin ointment? According to the instructions, such a tool has a pronounced antiviral activity. After application to the affected area, the active substance of the drug blocks the binding sites of influenza virus (mainly type A 2) with the surface of cell membranes, protecting them from the penetration of harmful microorganisms.
Indications and contraindications
When can I use Oxolinic ointment? The indications of this drug are rhinitis and viral skin diseases. Also, the medication in question is used to prevent influenza.
Oxolinic ointment is forbidden to prescribe to patients in the presence of individual intolerance to its components.
Dosage, side effects
Oksolin ointment is intended for external use. It is applied to the affected areas up to 2-3 times a day. In order to remove warts, a 3 percent preparation is used 2-3 times a day for 2 weeks to 2 months. To enhance the therapeutic effect after applying the ointment, it is recommended to cover it with wax paper.
It should be remembered that when using the drug in the area of pathologically altered skin, the patient may experience a burning sensation.
The benefits of ointments for herpes
Why are local antiherpetic drugs more popular than, for example, oral medications? Specialists report that drugs produced in the form of creams, ointments or gels have the following advantages (compared to tablet forms):
- rapid prevention of the spread of viral disease to healthy areas of the skin;
- the maximum concentration of pharmacological active substances of local preparations in the shortest possible time appears directly in the lesion area;
- ease of use (there is no need to comply with the dosage);
- drugs on a gel, ointment or cream basis have a high degree of tolerance, as well as a minimal risk of side effects;
- the possibility of combining several therapeutic agents that differ in principle of action (combination therapy gives a more pronounced effect and quick result);
- the use of antiviral ointments for the treatment of herpes infection is possible even with advanced cases;
- ointments, gels and creams faster than oral forms eliminate and alleviate the symptoms of the disease.
Important!
Using any drugs for herpes, you should know that such a disease is incurable. All existing drugs only suppress the virus and its symptoms, and also prevent further spread.