One of the keys in effective cold sores treatment is to act fast, as soon as the first symptoms are noticed. Typically this is when a tingling sensation is felt in the area that the cold sores later appear, signaling that the virus has woken from its dormant state.
The application of an ice pack to the affected area is highly recommended by many people, although topical treatments such as Abreva are most effective when applied at this stage. It is thought that ice slows down the action of the virus due to chilling effect, and it is unable to replicate as much as at body temperature. However, it is found by many cold sore sufferers that the best treatment is found by trial and error before they are able to find how to best treat the virus.
