If you’re looking for Abreva Reviews online, you’ve just landed on an article that can answer all of your questions, and then some.
Years ago, I frequently used Abreva for cold sores, and it actually helped better than anything else I had tried up to that point in my life.
In this comprehensive Abreva Review article, I will teach you everything you need to know about the pros and cons of using Abreva Cream for cold sores.
After learning about Abreva, you’ll be able to make an educated decision on whether or not to use Abreva Cream for cold sores.
Abreva Reviews – How Does Abreva Work?
Abreva Cream is the only over-the-counter medicine approved by the FDA to shorten the healing time of cold sores.
The active Abreva ingredient is docosanol 10% cream.
Docosanol is used for the topical treatment of recurrent oral-facial herpes simplex episodes (cold sores or fever blisters).
Docosanol works by inhibiting fusion between the human cell plasma membrane and the herpes simplex virus (HSV) envelope, thus preventing viral entry into cells and subsequent viral replication.
Abreva Reviews – How Fast Does Abreva Work?
According to the Offical Abreva Website, “Its unique formulation penetrates deep to help knock out your cold sore in as little as 2½ days,* when used at the first sign of a cold sore.
*Median healing time 4.1 days. 25% of users healed in 2.5 days.”
They are able to legally state this because of the favorable results of a multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial.
Here are the results of the study:
- According to the trial, the docosanol 10% cream treatment group healed on average one day faster than the placebo group.
- In addition to the positive treatment effect for the primary efficacy parameter in the trials, docosanol 10% cream also demonstrated statistically significant reductions – when compared to placebo – in the duration of the important oral-facial herpes simplex associated symptoms of pain and/or burning, itching or tingling.
- A subgroup in the trial noted that docosanol stopped cold sore episodes from progressing to the blister stage in 34% of patients who applied it at the early sign of an outbreak (redness) compared to 23% in the equivalent placebo.
So does Abreva really work? Yes. And how fast does Abreva work? It is clinically shown to knock out your cold sore in as little as 2.5 days.
Abreva Reviews – Abreva Directions
How to apply Abreva is pretty simple and straightforward. You need to make sure that you follow the Abreva directions to be safe. The following Abreva directions and helpful tips below are taken from Abreva.com.
Abreva directions:
- Apply Abreva Cream at the first sign of a tingle, bump, or itch for the best results. Don’t wait until a blister or scab forms.
- Use either your finger or a cotton swab to apply Abreva Cream. Completely cover your cold sore and the surrounding area. Make sure to wash your hands after applying.
- Apply Abreva Cream 5 times throughout the day with a cotton swab or your finger. Use an ample amount to completely cover the sore and surrounding area.
- Rub it in gently and completely. If you miss a dose, just apply it as soon as you remember and continue on schedule.
- Keep using Abreva Cream until your cold sore is fully healed, for a maximum of 10 days. If the cold sore persists, talk to your healthcare professional.
Helpful tips for using Abreva for cold sores:
- Keep it clean – Remove any cosmetics before applying Abreva Cream. Always wash your hands with soap and water before and after treating your cold sore so the virus doesn’t spread to other parts of your body.
- Don’t share – Cold sores are contagious. Don’t share your Abreva Cream tube or pump with anybody else.
- Use makeup carefully – You can apply cosmetics, like lipstick, over Abreva Cream after it has completely dried. Always use a separate makeup applicator, like a cotton swab, to avoid spreading the virus.
Abreva Reviews – Abreva Side Effects
Some people will actually get side effects from using Abreva Cream for the treatment of cold sores.
Abreva side effects, according to WebMd.com:
Redness or swelling may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly.
If your doctor has directed you to use this medication, remember that he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects.
A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare. However, seek immediate medical attention if you notice any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing.
This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.”
Abreva Reviews – Abreva Price
Right now, you can get Abreva Cream on Amazon.com for around $15. In my opinion, the cost of Abreva is well worth it, especially considering one tube of Abreva Cream typically lasts for 3-4 cold sore outbreaks.
If you’re wondering where you can buy Abreva other than Amazon.com, there are many other websites to choose from, and if you want to buy Abreva locally, it should be in, or close to the “Cough & Cold” section in drug, discount, and grocery stores.
Abreva Reviews – Abreva Coupon
If you click here, this link will take you to Abreva.com, where you can fill out your name, zip code, and email address, and you’ll get a $1.50 Abreva Coupon.
While not life-changing money, I think it’s worth providing that information to get an Abreva Coupon that saves you $1.50.
You can also check to see if stores like Rite Aid and CVS Pharmacy currently have Abreva Coupon specials going on.
Abreva Conceal Reviews
Abreva Conceal is another product made by Abreva. It’s a clear, non-medicated patch that instantly conceals your cold sore and enables you to apply makeup on top.
The Abreva Patch can last up to 8 hours.
Microair technology allows air in while keeping contaminants out.
Abreva conceal patch is non-medicated. However, it does cover and protect your cold sore. You can purchase Abreva Conceal Cold Sore Patch on Amazon.com for about $8, and you can also read over 100 reviews.
Some people gave it 1-Star, others gave it 5-Stars. The main complaints I noticed from the low scores were from people stating it didn’t stick on well.
Abreva Reviews – Conclusion
Overall, I’d say that using Abreva for cold sores is a great way to shorten the healing time and reduce unpleasant symptoms.
I like how it’s clinically shown in studies to shorten healing time as fast as 2.5 days when it’s applied at the first sign of a cold sore.
In my own experience using Abreva for the treatment of cold sores, I’d have to give it 4 out of 5 Stars.
Out of all the over-the-counter topical remedies I tried, Abreva Cream was by far the best one, and I stuck with it for years once I found it.
Here is a quick look at my Abreva Review…
The Pros:
- Clinically shown to shorten healing time and minimize symptoms
- Inexpensive
- Doesn’t require a prescription
- Easy to apply
- Makeup can be worn over it
The Cons:
- Possible side effects
- Possible allergic reaction (though rare)
- Not clinically shown to heal cold sores in less than 48 hours
The key to cold sores is to prevent them from forming in the first place.
Thus, I encourage you to check out my Ultimate Guide to Preventing Cold Sores.
It’s free and has absolutely everything you need to know.
If you have any questions or comments after reading this Abreva Review, please feel free to post them in the comment box below.
Chris says
My skin looks really red and shriveled up around the sore I’m in the scabbing stage is this normal?
Matt says
Yes, sometimes it can take awhile for the area to heal after a cold sore. This is quite typical.