Zovirax Cold Sore Cream 2g

Zovirax Cold Sore Cream contains aciclovir 5% w/w, an antiviral medicine for treating cold sores on the lips and face. It is supplied by Haleon and is listed on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods as ARTG 150098, and is not scheduled, so no prescription is required. Aciclovir is spelled acyclovir in the United States, and cold sores are sometimes called fever blisters, so you may see this product described either way.

Is Zovirax a steroid?

No. It is the single most-asked question about this product, so it deserves a plain answer. Zovirax Cold Sore Cream contains aciclovir, an antiviral that acts on the herpes simplex virus while the virus is copying itself. It contains no corticosteroid and no anti-inflammatory. The distinction matters, because a steroid cream is a different class of medicine with different uses and is not what this product is. If a doctor has told you to use a steroid on your face for another condition, that is a separate treatment for a separate problem.

How to use Zovirax Cold Sore Cream

Use it exactly as directed on the pack, and start as soon as possible after the first signs of a cold sore, such as tingling, itching or tightness. The product label directs you to apply a small amount to the affected area five times a day at approximately four-hourly intervals, for four days.

Wash your hands before and after applying, and do not share the tube. This is for external use only: do not use it in the eyes, inside the mouth or inside the nose. If symptoms persist after 10 days of treatment, see your doctor. The pack and the Consumer Medicine Information are the authority on your course, and they override anything on this page.

How long does a cold sore last?

Cold sores are usually caused by herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), and according to healthdirect they normally clear up on their own after about two weeks, without leaving a scar. What commonly sets off an outbreak is fatigue, stress or emotional upset, menstruation, illness, or skin damage from strong sunlight, cold or wind.

Two practical points that are easy to miss. First, cold sores are highly contagious even when blisters are not present, and they spread through kissing, skin-to-skin contact, and shared drink containers, utensils, towels or toothbrushes. Second, the virus can be carried on your hands: spread to the fingers is called herpetic whitlow, and it can also reach the eyes. That is the real reason for washing your hands before and after every application, and for not touching the sore in between.

Cold sore creams, tablets and patches: which is which

The cold sore aisle mixes several different kinds of product, and they are not interchangeable. It is worth knowing which one you are actually buying.

• Antiviral creams such as this one contain aciclovir and act on the virus itself. They are the products people usually mean by "antiviral cream for cold sores".
• Soothing and protective creams contain ingredients like menthol and camphor. They are aimed at comfort and at protecting the skin rather than at the virus. The Nyal Cold Sore Cream 10g we stock is this type, with menthol 0.5% and camphor 1.5%, and it comes in a larger 10g tube.
• Antiviral tablets are a different matter entirely and are not something to self-select from a shelf. If your cold sores are frequent or severe, that is a conversation with a GP or pharmacist, not a product choice.
• Patches are hydrocolloid dressings that cover the sore. We do not stock them, and we would rather say so than pretend otherwise.

If you want the antiviral, this is the page for it. If you want comfort and cover for lips that are already cracked and sore, the Nyal cream is the one to look at.

When to seek medical advice

Speak to a pharmacist or doctor rather than self-treating if any of the following apply:

• It is your first suspected cold sore, or you are not certain that is what it is.
• The sore is not healing, is spreading, or there is more than one.
• There are signs the cold sore has become infected.
• The sore is near your eyes, or you have any painful eye symptoms.
• You get cold sores often.
• You are immunocompromised, pregnant, or breastfeeding.

This product is for cold sores on the lips and face. It is not for use in the eyes, inside the mouth or nose, and it is not the product for genital symptoms or for a suspected case of shingles, both of which need proper medical assessment rather than a lip cream.

Zovirax Cold Sore Cream ingredients and product details

Read the current pack and the Consumer Medicine Information before use, and always use this medicine only as directed. Browse the rest of our medical supplies range for related pharmacy and skin care items.

Sources. Directions and warnings are taken from the product label published at medsinfo.com.au and from the pack. General information about cold sores, including duration, triggers, contagiousness and herpetic whitlow, is from healthdirect.gov.au, the Australian government health service. Last reviewed 19 September 2026.

Always read the label and use only as directed. For external use on the lips and face only. If symptoms persist, worsen, or it is your first cold sore, talk to your pharmacist or doctor. This information is a general guide and is not medical advice. For poisoning advice, call your national poisons information service.