Question: is zinc oxide good for cold sores?
Answer: Topical zinc oxide cream (Desitin, Dr. Smith's, Triple Paste) may shorten the duration of cold sores. In a 2001 study , cold sores treated with zinc oxide went away, on average, one-and-a-half days sooner than those treated with placebo. Zinc oxide also reduced blistering, soreness, itching, and tingling.