Cold sores are small, fluid-filled blisters that usually appear on or around your lips. They're caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV-1), and they often start with a tingling, itching or burning feeling before the blister shows up.1
If you want to know how to get rid of cold sores fast, timing is everything. This guide covers what triggers them, which cold sore treatments actually help, and which home remedies are best left in the cupboard.
That first tingle is your cue. Treatment has the best chance of helping when you start it before the blister appears.
What causes cold sores?
Cold sores are caused by HSV-1, a very common virus. The World Health Organization estimates that around two thirds of people under 50 worldwide have it.2
Once you've caught the virus, it stays in your body for life. Most of the time it lies dormant (inactive). Every so often, something wakes it up, and a cold sore appears.1
Cold sores are contagious from the moment you feel that first tingle until they've completely healed.1 The virus spreads through close contact, like kissing or sharing a lip balm.
What triggers cold sores?
Triggers vary from person to person. Common ones include another illness (such as a cold), stress, strong sunlight and periods.1
Being run down
Stress and poor sleep can both affect how well your immune system works.3,4 When your defences are lower, the virus has more chance to reactivate.
Looking after the basics helps. That means regular sleep, a balanced diet and finding ways to manage stress. Vitamin C and vitamin B12 both contribute to the normal function of the immune system. If you find it hard to get enough from your diet, supplements such as OneVit Vitamin C and OneVit Vitamin B12 are an option.
Sunlight
Strong sun on your lips is a well-known trigger. If sunlight sets off your cold sores, use a lip balm with SPF 15 or above.1
Dry or chapped lips
Many people find that dry, cracked lips come before a flare-up, especially in cold, windy weather. Keeping your lips moisturised is an easy habit to build.
Spot your pattern. If a cold sore always follows a sunny holiday or a stressful week, you know where to focus your prevention.
Can you get rid of a cold sore in 24 hours?
Sadly not. Cold sores usually clear up on their own within about 10 days, and no treatment makes them vanish overnight.1
But you can help them heal faster. Antiviral creams can speed up healing if you start using them as soon as you notice the first signs.1
So if you feel that familiar tingle, act quickly. Completing a cold sore consultation early means a pharmacist can check which treatment suits you.
Which treatments get rid of cold sores fast?
There are three main options. They each do a slightly different job.
Antiviral creams
Zovirax Cream contains aciclovir, an antiviral that stops the virus multiplying. It works best when you start it at the very first sign of a cold sore.5 Follow the instructions on the pack for how often to apply it.
Antiviral tablets
Aciclovir 400mg tablets are a prescription medicine. A prescriber may suggest them if your cold sores are severe or keep coming back.5
Cold sore patches
Compeed Cold Sore Patches aren't antiviral. They're clear patches that cover the sore and protect your skin while it heals.1 They also make it less noticeable, and they help stop you touching it.
Creams and tablets tackle the virus. Patches protect the sore while it heals. They do different jobs, so choose based on what you need most.
Is there a way to get rid of cold sores naturally?
Left alone, a cold sore will clear up by itself.1 In the meantime, a few simple things can make it more comfortable and stop it spreading:1
- take paracetamol or ibuprofen for pain
- eat cool, soft foods and drink plenty of fluids
- wash your hands after touching the sore or applying cream
- don't share towels, cups, cutlery or lip balm
- avoid kissing and oral sex until it's fully healed
Recommended reading: Cold sores (HSV-1): stages, treatments and prevention
Do not pick, squeeze or burst a cold sore. It can spread the virus to other areas and slow down healing.
Do home remedies get rid of cold sores?
You'll find plenty of kitchen-cupboard fixes online. Here's how the most popular ones stack up.
Toothpaste
There's no evidence that toothpaste helps cold sores heal. Common ingredients like menthol and sodium lauryl sulphate can irritate the already sensitive skin around a sore. Some toothpastes also dry out your lips, which can make things feel worse.
Vinegar
Vinegar is much more acidic than your skin. Dabbing it on broken skin around a cold sore can cause stinging and irritation, and may slow healing down.
Salt
Salt won't dry a cold sore out of existence. There's no evidence it helps, and it's likely to sting.
If a remedy stings, it's probably irritating skin that's already damaged. Treatments designed for cold sores are a gentler bet.
Can you get rid of cold sores forever?
Unfortunately, there's no cure. The virus stays in your body, so cold sores can come back.1
But that doesn't mean you're stuck with frequent flare-ups. Avoiding your personal triggers can help keep the virus quiet. And if you get cold sores often, a prescriber may suggest antiviral tablets.5
See a GP or pharmacist if:1
- your cold sore hasn't started to heal within 10 days
- it's very large or painful
- you have a weakened immune system, for example because of chemotherapy or diabetes
- you're pregnant
A cold sore that hasn't started healing after 10 days needs a check-up. So does any cold sore if your immune system is weakened.
Frequently asked questions
How long do cold sores last?
Most cold sores clear up on their own within about 10 days. They usually start with a tingle, then blister, burst, crust over and heal. Using an antiviral cream from the first tingle can help them heal a little faster. If yours hasn’t started to heal after 10 days, see a GP or pharmacist.
Are cold sores contagious?
Yes. Cold sores are contagious from the first tingle until they’ve completely healed. The virus spreads through close contact, like kissing, or by sharing things such as towels, cups and lip balm. Washing your hands after touching the sore and avoiding kissing until it’s healed helps protect the people around you.
When are cold sores no longer contagious?
A cold sore stops being contagious once it has completely healed. That means the blister has gone, the scab has fallen off naturally and the skin underneath looks normal again. Until then, it’s best to avoid kissing, oral sex and sharing anything that touches your lips, even when the sore looks almost better.
Does cold sore cream work?
Antiviral cold sore creams containing aciclovir can help a cold sore heal faster, especially if you start using them at the very first tingle. They won’t make a cold sore disappear overnight, and they work less well once a blister has already formed. Follow the instructions on the pack for how often to apply them.
Should I use a Compeed patch or Zovirax cream?
They do different jobs. Zovirax is an antiviral cream that works against the virus itself. Compeed patches don’t treat the virus, but they cover and protect the sore while it heals and make it less noticeable. Some people prefer one, some use both. A pharmacist can help you decide what suits you best.
References
- NHS. Cold sores. NHS website; 2026. nhs.uk
- World Health Organization. Herpes simplex virus. World Health Organization; 2024. who.int
- Segerstrom SC, Miller GE. Psychological stress and the human immune system: a meta-analytic study of 30 years of inquiry. Psychological Bulletin. 2004;130(4):601-630. doi:10.1037/0033-2909.130.4.601
- Garbarino S, Lanteri P, Bragazzi NL, et al. Role of sleep deprivation in immune-related disease risk and outcomes. Communications Biology. 2021;4(1):1304. doi:10.1038/s42003-021-02825-4
- NHS. Aciclovir. NHS website; 2026. nhs.uk
This article is intended for informational purposes only and does not replace professional medical advice. Always read the patient information leaflet supplied with your medication and speak to a healthcare professional if you have specific concerns.