Research is constantly being done to find effective cold sore treatments. This research hopes to find not just some way to treat cold sores but also hopes to find some kind of treatment for other conditions as well. Cold sores are caused by the herpes virus and despite extensive research there has been no cure found for this virus. Till such time that a cure is found, treating cold sores is largely a trial and error method. Different doctors recommend different treatments, which may or not work for you. Even so, all these treatments will also help to reduce the duration and intensity of the symptoms.