Evidence supporting the use of: Vitamin C (unspecified)
For the health condition: Cold Sores

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 1

Vitamin C is sometimes used traditionally to support the management of cold sores (herpes labialis), based on its general reputation for boosting immune function and promoting wound healing. However, scientific evidence directly supporting the use of vitamin C for treating or preventing cold sores is limited and inconclusive. Some older studies and anecdotal reports suggest that vitamin C, when taken orally or applied topically, might help reduce the duration or severity of outbreaks due to its antioxidant properties, but robust clinical trials are lacking. Most research on cold sore management focuses on antiviral medications and, to a lesser extent, other supplements such as lysine. The traditional use of vitamin C in this context is primarily based on its role in immune health and tissue repair rather than direct antiviral activity against herpes simplex virus (HSV-1), the causative agent of cold sores. Overall, while vitamin C remains popular in complementary and alternative medicine for this purpose, its efficacy for cold sores is not well established by high-quality scientific evidence.

More about Vitamin C (unspecified)
More about Cold Sores

Products containing Vitamin C (unspecified)

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