Antiviral Creams: Uses and Benefits

Antiviral creams are topical medications used to treat viral infections on the skin, such as cold sores caused by the herpes simplex virus.

Antiviral Creams FAQ

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What is an antiviral drug?

A doctor may prescribe antiviral medications to help treat a viral infection, and people can use antiviral products to prevent the growth and spread of viruses. Any substance that slows the replication of viruses is an antiviral. Viruses are microscopic organisms that can infect animals, plants, fungi, and bacteria.

What are antivirals used for?

Today antivirals are used for influenza, herpes-simplex, HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C and some viruses that cause eye infections and warts. Antivirals can be administered by pill, intravenous drip, injection, eye drops or topical ointments and creams. What are the COVID antivirals?

What is the science behind antiviral drugs?

The science behind antivirals is not new. The first antiviral drug approved by the US Food and Drug Administration, idoxuridine, was developed in the 1950s by pharmacologist William Herman Prusoff. Back then, the drug was used to treat the herpes virus. Prusoff also co-developed one of the earliest antiviral AIDS drugs.

What are topical antivirals?

Topical antiviral agents are applied locally to treat viral infections. Different antiviral agents have different mechanisms of action but they all inhibit production of viruses that cause disease. Topical agents are used to treat viral conditions such as cold sores (facial herpes simplex ).

How do topical antivirals work?

Topical antivirals work by inhibiting the growth of the virus (prevents the virus from multiplying). Although they will not cure the viral infection (as they cannot kill the virus), but they may help reduce the pain and discomfort caused by the sores and can help speed up the healing process.