For external use on the lips and around the mouth. Start as soon as you feel the first signs of a cold sore (tingling, itching or redness), even before a blister appears. Wash your hands, dab the cream gently onto the cold sore and just around it, usually five times a day at roughly four-hourly intervals, for the number of days on the pack (often 5, up to 10). Wash your hands after applying, and do not rub the area or share the tube.