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Zinc for Cold Sores: What One Cream Trial Shows
Zinc for cold sores has one herpes-specific trial that we found, and it tested a cream. In 46 people, sores lasted 5.0 days with zinc cream and 6.5 days without. That says nothing about a swallowed capsule. Reviralis Complete has 10 mg of zinc per serving and is not shown to prevent outbreaks.
Written by the Reviralis label deskUpdated · 4 min read
The trial01
What did the zinc cold sore trial find?
In a trial of 46 people, a zinc cream went with cold sores lasting 5.0 days, against 6.5 days with the comparison cream (Godfrey 2001, Topical Zinc Oxide/Glycine for Cold Sores (Altern Ther Health Med)).
That is a difference of 1.5 days. It is the only herpes-specific zinc trial we found, and it is small. One small trial is a hint, not a rule.
Q: Was the zinc swallowed? A: No. It was applied to the skin. That is the key fact for anyone holding a bottle of capsules.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| People | 46 |
| Zinc form | Cream on the sore |
| Sore length with zinc cream | 5.0 days |
| Sore length with comparison | 6.5 days |
| Difference | 1.5 days |
Swallowed zinc02
Does oral zinc help with cold sores?
We found no source that links oral zinc to herpes. The NIH Office of Dietary Supplements does not make that link (NIH ODS, Zinc).
The same page says oral zinc for colds may shorten symptoms by about two days (NIH ODS, Zinc). That concerns colds, a different illness caused by different viruses. It is not a herpes result.
The trial measured how long sores lasted on the skin. It did not test swallowed zinc or repeat outbreaks.
Moving from "a cream worked a little for one group" to a capsule that guards against repeats skips two steps: a different route into the body and a different goal. Neither step is covered by a trial in our sources.
On the label03
How much zinc is in Reviralis?
Reviralis Complete lists 10 mg of zinc per serving of two capsules, which is 91% of the Daily Value.
The adult upper limit for zinc from all sources is 40 mg a day (NIH ODS, Zinc), so 10 mg is 25% of that limit. Zinc sits among the 22 vitamin and mineral lines, with its amount printed. It is not part of the proprietary blend.
A fair reading: the label shows zinc as a nutrient. It does not say zinc is there for herpes, and the label never mentions herpes at all. You can see every nutrient amount at the Supplement Facts page.
Reviralis: from $49 a bottle60 capsules a bottle · 2, 3 or 6 bottles · free US shipping on 3 and 6 · 60-day money-back guarantee
See packsClaims04
Can a supplement with zinc be sold as a cold sore aid?
Not lawfully, if it is represented as treating or preventing a specific disease.
FDA says that a product represented "explicitly or implicitly" for treatment, prevention or cure of a disease is a drug (FDA, Questions and Answers on Dietary Supplements). FTC adds that a disease benefit can be implied without naming the disease (FTC, Health Products Compliance Guidance). That is why we treat the sales page's outbreak wording as a claim to check, not a fact.
Read how we compare each line in the claims page. For an overview of vitamins, minerals and cold sores, see our post on vitamin C and colds.
What to do05
What should you do about repeat cold sores?
Talk to a clinician, and keep any antiviral exactly as prescribed.
The CDC says herpes has no cure. Prescription antivirals are the proven care, and daily suppression lowers recurrences and partner transmission (CDC, About Genital Herpes). Reviralis is not an antiviral, and no source shows it prevents or reduces outbreaks.
Tell a clinician before taking any zinc product if you also take antibiotics such as quinolones or tetracyclines, since zinc can bind them (NIH ODS, Zinc). Sores near the eye need same-day care.
FAQ06
Reviralis questions people ask
Does zinc prevent cold sores?
We found no evidence that it does. The only herpes-specific zinc trial tested a cream and measured how long sores lasted, not whether they returned. Oral zinc has no cited herpes link. Prescription antivirals remain the proven care.
Is a zinc cream the same as a zinc capsule?
No. A cream is applied to the sore, while a capsule is swallowed and spread through the body. A result for one does not carry over to the other, so the 5.0 versus 6.5 day trial says nothing about capsules.
How much zinc can adults take safely?
The NIH Office of Dietary Supplements gives an adult upper limit of 40 mg a day from all sources. Check food, multivitamins and other products before adding more, and ask a pharmacist about medicines that zinc can bind.
Is 46 people a large trial?
No, it is small. Small trials can show a hint but are easily moved by chance. That is why we call it one trial, and why we do not promise any benefit from zinc for cold sores.
Does Reviralis treat cold sores with zinc?
No. Reviralis lists 10 mg of zinc per serving as a nutrient, and its label never mentions herpes or cold sores. It is a dietary supplement and not an antiviral.
Who wrote this07
Written and reviewed by
Pages built from the label, the order page and linked NIH, FDA, FTC, Mayo Clinic and peer-reviewed sources.
Last updated . Read our editorial standards and how we check reviews. This website is the information site for a USA Authorized Reviralis Retailer. It is not the manufacturer or the distributor named on the label. We earn money when you buy through our order links.
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