Abreva in Action

ABREVA^® is an over-the-counter medication that contains real medicine — 10% Docosanol — to speed healing and help protect healthy cells against the cold sore infection.

When you first apply ABREVA, you'll notice that it immediately soothes the cold sore. The medicine then goes deep into the skin to strengthen the cell membranes that surround healthy skin cells. ABREVA turns these cells into barriers against the cold sore virus and blocks the virus from entering healthy cells.

How to use Abreva

ABREVA is recommended for adults and children 12 years and over, and should be used five times a day until the cold sore is healed, for a maximum of 10 days.

For best results, remove any cosmetics prior to applying ABREVA. And always wash your hands with soap and warm water before and after treating the cold sore.

Apply ABREVA directly to the cold sore at the first sign of a tingle, redness, bump or itch for best results. If you wish, you can apply cosmetics such as lipstick over ABREVA. To avoid spreading the infection, always use a separate applicator, like a cotton swab, to apply cosmetics to an unhealed cold sore.