Vitamin C for treatment of cold sores

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Vitamin C for treatment of cold sores

A few small studies have indicated that using vitamin C both orally (in tablet form) and as a topical cream (applied directly to the cold sore) may speed up the rate of healing of cold sores.¹ The liquid form of vitamin C can be soaked in a cotton pad and applied to the cold sore several times a day, and it can be used along with vitamin C tablets (at least ). However, more research is needed before the long-term benefits of using vitamin C to treat cold sores can be confirmed. People with a history of kidney stones should avoid high doses of vitamin C.

Cold sores usually heal on their own without prescription medications or complementary therapies.

References

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Citations
Murray MT, Pizzorno JE Jr (2006). Herpes simplex. In JE Pizzorno Jr, MT Murray, eds., Textbook of Natural Medicine, 3rd ed., vol. 2, pp. 1723–1726. St. Louis: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier.

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Author	Maria G. Essig, MS, ELS
Editor	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA
Associate Editor	Michele Cronen
Primary Medical Reviewer	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer	Alexander H. Murray, MD, FRCPC - Dermatology
Last Updated	March 13, 2008

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Last updated:	March 13, 2008
Author:	Maria G. Essig, MS, ELS
Reviewed By:	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine, Alexander H. Murray, MD, FRCPC - Dermatology
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Michele Cronen

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