Cold sore treatment

Herpes sores usually appear as one or more painful blisters on or around the mouth. This is known as having an oral herpes outbreak. The blisters break and leave painful sores that may take a week or more to heal. Flu-like symptoms (e.g. fever, body aches, or swollen glands) also may occur during the first cold sore outbreak.

Online treatment includes a treatment plan created for you by a licensed clinician. Care plans may include valacyclovir or acyclovir prescriptions or lifestyle recommendations when applicable.

Cold sore (oral herpes) treatment is not available for anyone under age 18.

Your treatment plan will be ready within 24 hours after your request has been submitted. Providers review requests between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. CST seven days a week, excluding major holidays.

Your licensed board-certified nurse practitioners are qualified to prescribe medication, order lab tests, and assess your symptoms and health goals to create a customized treatment plan for you.

Online care is only available in select states. The following states require a live telehealth visit with a clinician: AK, AR, DC, DE, ID, KS, LA, MS, NM, OK, RI, VT, and WV. If you require a live telehealth visit for any reason, the cash pay price will be $59 or may be covered by your insurance. Price does not include the cost of any medication that may be prescribed.

The cash pay price is $45, unless a live telehealth visit is required. If you require a live telehealth visit for any reason, the cash pay price will be $59 or may be covered by your insurance. Price does not include the cost of any medication that may be prescribed.

Your clinician will review your medical history and symptoms and prescribe medications, if appropriate.

If applicable, your provider may prescribe antiviral medications such as acyclovir or valacyclovir to manage outbreaks and reduce the frequency of recurrence. The specific medication recommended will depend on factors such as the severity of symptoms and individual medical history.

Care plans may include prescriptions, testing, and lifestyle recommendations when applicable.

Our services are HIPAA-compliant and follow privacy guidelines. We use industry-leading technology to ensure your personal information is kept safe and confidential.

You can cancel your request if it has not yet been reviewed. You can contact our Everlywell partner, OpenLoop, at +1 (708) 787-4438, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. CST, Monday through Friday.

There are two main types of herpes simplex virus that cause an oral or genital herpes infection. Type 1 (HSV-1) is mainly spread through oral contact, leading to cold sores or oral herpes. Less commonly, HSV-1 can also cause genital herpes. [1] Type 2 (HSV-2) spreads by sexual contact and is the main cause of genital herpes. [1] Medications like valacyclovir and acyclovir are used in the treatment of oral herpes as well as genital herpes [2, 3]; however, dosage and duration of medication use differ depending on the person’s specific clinical situation. Sources:

1. Genital Herpes. Johns Hopkins Medicine.

   https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/herpes-hsv1-and-hsv2/genital-herpes. Accessed February 24, 2029.

2. Saleh D, Yarrarapu SNS, Sharma S. Herpes Simplex Type 1. In: StatPearls. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; August 28, 2023.

3. Mathew Jr J, Sapra A. Herpes Simplex Type 2. In: StatPearls. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; August 7, 2023.