Yes, but even soap and water kills herpes viruses.  The human HSV
virus cannot survive for long outside the human body, therefore,
once it gets to the surface there are MANY things which can hasten
its demise.

Take care,

Mike

No, rubbing alcohol does not wipe the herpes simplex virus out of your body.

Yes, but you might want to lower the concentration a little.  70%
could easily irritate the skin and make the situation worse.  Others
may find no trouble with 70%.  A strong disinfectant/antiseptic can be
used on localised lesions to reduce itching but you run the risk of
inflammation of healthy surrounding tissues so that the overall time
to healing is not improved.

There is a new topical cold sore medication called Viroxyn that contains a
tincture of a safe and commonly used anti-septic called benzalkonium
chloride.

It's in a tincture of 70% isopropyl alcohol.

It comes in a "filter-tipped" vial that can be applied directly to the site
of the lesion, or the site of the itching in the "tingling" stage, to get
the antiseptic deep into the skin to kill the active virus that is causing
the cold sore - without irritating the healthy tissue surrounding it too
much.

The use of the vial helps to convey the medication deeply, so that the
anti-septic agent doesn't just lay on the surface of the skin. The use of
the vial can help the anti-septic tincture to reach most, if not all, of the
active virus causing the cold sore lesion.

Viroxyn can not reach, and therefore can not treat the dormant HSV1 virus.
But it can reach and kill the active virus that is causing the cold sore.

It disinfects the area very effectively, as well.

You can learn more about Viroxyn at www.ColdSoreGone.com.

I hope this helps.

Allen