Cold sores: the truth & a new treatment

The Edmonton company behind Cold-fX has launched a new product that promises to cut down the healing time of cold sores - a not-so-pretty condition, with even uglier myths surrounding it.

"A common myth is that it's a sexually transmitted disease, especially when you say the word 'herpes,' but it's actually not," said Gavin Searle, of Afexa Life Sciences Inc., responsible for helping develop the new remedy.

A recent Canadian survey reveals some surprising statistics: 28 percent of non-sufferers would not kiss someone who gets cold sores - even if they didn't have one at that moment. And 20% of non-sufferers would question the sexual history of potential dates who get cold sores. Given those numbers, it's not surprising that about 60 percent of people who get cold sores, say the skin condition has a severe impact on their lives, including keeping them from going to school or work, and avoiding other social situations.

But the reality is that the Herpes Simplex I virus, which is responsible for cold sores, is a "contact-spread disease," that can be passed onto someone through something as simple as using the same towel, drinking from the same glass, or sharing lip balm. And while 80 percent of people actually carry the virus, only 20 percent get cold sores from it.

Scientists say that whether or not you get the cold sores can depend on the strength of your immune system. "Like with most skin conditions, you have a predisposition to the condition and then you have the weather, or psychological stress - certain things can trigger it," said Dr. Linda Papadopoulos, a psychologist who has been researching the social stigma attached to cold sores.

"I get them about once a year, when the weather changes," said Deborah Price, who has been dealing with the condition since she was little. "People stare and people comment, and yeah it's embarassing."

Price admits to trying every cold-sore remedy on the market, including some unconventional treatments. "My dad always said to use after-shave when I was a child - it was always something that stuck with me - except that burned - stung terribly," she said with a laugh.

Now, she has another treatment to try - Coldsore-fX. The newly-launched product is made from propolis, a compound generated by honeybees to help seal their hives and keep them sterile.

"Propolis itself has been shown to have quite a lot of different effects such as antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, even regenerative," said Searle. "And this particular propolis extract that we're using has been shown in clinical trials to have a really good effect on cold sores."

The new product promises to cut down the healing time of cold sores, which usually takes about 10 days, to just four. And that gives some cold-sore sufferers, like Price, a new hope. "I will try anything on the market that will get rid of them as fast as possible."

Canadians spend nearly $20 million on over-the-counter cold sore remedies each year.