Cold Sores - Frequent!

[GertyTheGert]

Anyone have any tips to alleviate the symptoms/get rid of cold sores? Zovirax no longer works - in fact it now seems to encourage them puff up into a mini balloon! My cold sores now appear in literally 2 seconds so even having Zovirax in the drawer awaiting these monsters to appear doesn't make the cream work - it either just sits on top of the coldsore or you can't help but accidentally spread the cream across and then get 2 more sores........ Reluctantly GP gave me prescrip for Aciclovir tabs but I wondered if anyone knows of a "cure" or of any health supplements I can buy to stop my body creating these mini monsters. I get cold sores at the drop of a hat too - any suggestions - please?!? PS As an aside, I had a cold for a long time (13 wks) so the GP did 3 blood tests, all negative - I even commented on my lack of an immune system but nil showed .........

[blimeyalldecentnamesaregone]

You probably know this but for some people sun is a real trigger as well as being run down. So I always use lip sun block at the first sign of the sun, it has dramatically lowered the frequency of them for me.

As for when you get them, I always use the compeed cold sore patches and find them really good salt not spreading them and also avoiding the crust. You can put lipstick over them too if you want. I have tied boots own brand but find them thicker and not as good.

Good luck.

[blimeyalldecentnamesaregone]

The cold sore patches are instead of Zovirax. I haven't used Zovirax for years due to the spreading and crustiness.

[lasermum]

I get sold sores on the skin around my mouth rather than on the edge of my lips. I use light treatment (similar to www.boots.com/en/Boots-Electronic-Cold-Sore-Machine_1129542/) and surgical spirit to help dry them out.

[Toffeewhirl]

Go to your GP and ask for Aciclovir tablets. I used to get recurrent cold sores that lasted around ten days. Now I always have a supply of these tablets in the bathroom cupboard and start taking them at the first tingle. They don't always stop the cold sore coming up, but they reduce the severity and length of time it lasts. Wish I'd known about them years ago!

[MissLay]

I take Lysine tablets at the first sign of cold sore, and also apply lysine ointment. Better the Zovirax in my opinion.

[OutToGetYou]

Factor 50 full physical sunblock. I always thought the little spots near my mouth and on bridge of my nose when the weather gets nice were heat spots. But someone suggested they were cold sores, so now I use factor 50 every day, even if it's not sunny, and I don't get them any more.

[OutToGetYou]

And try a vit D supplement, might at least help with the cold.

[efeslight]

I also take the lysine supplements, but didnt know there was an ointment so will look into that too.
I also hold ice onto the area and it really seems to take the heat and swelling down, as often my coldsores look and feel like burns.
Still get them, but the lysine/ice combo seems to speed up the healing time. The ice i do as often as i can, for as long as i can, mostly while watching tv in the evenings.
I also use elizabeth arden 8 hour cream which seems to help the healing towards the end of the outbreak.

[BumbleNova]

Get the boots coldsore machine lasermum linked! seriously - its flipping brilliant.

I also dont find the creams make a blind bit of difference. my other latest discovery is www.boots.com/en/Herpatch-Cold-Sore-Serum-5ml_1536285/

it stops them being so messy/gross.

[EveWornOut]

I use the light machine too and it is so good it often stops them in their tracks. I use a lysine lipbalm too which helps.

[amarmai]

Vit D and Vit C and Lycine to ward them off. Tea Tree oil to dry them up.

[imjessie]

Patches !! The creams are rubbish !

[donners312]

I find lucas paw paw ointment seems to get rid of them quickly for some reason. Its in a red tube you can buy it on the internet.

[5608Carrie]

L-lysine 500mg four times a day for seven days when they are active and then one daily for 3 weeks. Never had a cold sore since. Two years and counting probably will get one now

[ChardonnayKnickertonSmythe]

Get the zapper.
It will change your life.

[blimeyalldecentnamesaregone]

Light machine doesn't do much here 😟

[Wellhellothere1]

I have had cold sores all my adult life. Zovirax cream worked for a year or two then started making them worse as described above. The light machine worked for a while too then stopped being effective. I used to take 1g (1000mg) of lysine daily then increased to 1g three times daily when I have an active infection. Avoid foods containing arginine like chocolate and nuts-not so easy I know!
However when I was celebrating my 40th birthday I had 4!!!! cold sores at once. It was awful. I was meeting up with lots of friends and couldn't give them a kiss to say hI. Anyway I finally cracked and went to my GP. He was lovely. I got a course of aciclovir (Zovirax) to take 5 times daily for 5 days, and he also recommended taking them prophylactically, twice daily. It's been wonderful. I've not had a cold sore since I've started I them over 2 years ago and I used to get one every month. I now only take one tablet daily and this prevents them too. If I ever feel a tingle I take a few more daily and it does the trick. I'm staying on these for the rest of my life!
Good luck. Hope you find something that works as cold sores make you feel so miserable don't they?

[FashionLover1]

Lysine is the answer. My cousin had cold sores at least once a month and I recommended lysine supplements, she bought vitamins and cream in Holland and Barrett and it helped her instantly.

[savasanaaa]

Another vote for the coldsore light machine, I love the thing. 95% of the time it either stops the buggers coming through or makes them way smaller & disappear more quickly.

[lucy101101]

my husband was getting them more and more often and until they became a permanent fixture and the creams didn't work at all. We bought the Boots light machine mentioned above (you can actually get this on prescription apparently) and he takes Lysine (ups the dose if he thinks he is going to get one/gets one) and is on a low argentine diet (theres lots of info. on this on the web) and now he gets them very rarely if at all. He has a prescription on hand if he needs it but hasn't had to take it yet.

[kateemo]

I went through a period of about a year when I got them nearly every month until my entire top lip felt like I'd grown new skin. Besides a low immune system (this period followed two pregnancies within 3 years), a trigger is hot peppers (sauce, spicy food).

[kateemo]

. . . they stopped coming when I started getting more rest. Aciclovir only seemed to make them freeze and regenerate elsewhere!

[GertyTheGert]

GOSH THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH! I was dispairing about it - mine can last 3 wks WITH Zovirax cream! I shall this weekend search for/order the light machine, buy Lysine supplements/cream/vitamin D but how do I give up choclit?!!!!! Sob!!!! (PS Got the Aciclovir tabs but GP reluctant - not sure why unless your body gets used to it or something????) Anyway, I luv you all for all the advice!!! x

[Toffeewhirl]

I get my Aciclovir on repeat prescription, Gerty - that way, I always have a packet to hand if a cold sore starts. Maybe you could try another GP at your surgery.

[Fozzleyplum]

I had cold sores continuously for a year and nothing worked to get rid of them until I discovered this.