Recurring Cold sores - any advice?

[Ilikeviognier]

I’m getting them every 6 or 8 weeks right now- maybe more. It’s driving me mad. They hurt and look awful too. I have my Xmas do on Friday and will have to go looking awful with a cold sore now!

Asked pharmacist and they suggested topping Up with vitamins - fine. Is there anything else I can do to stop them?

Also should I go to see the GP? I’m worried about how recurrent they are these days. I should say that I have a 3 and a year old; I work and I’m constantly knackered and often anxious (type of person I am).

I never had a single cold sore until giving birth (didn’t even know I had the virus) and since then they’ve become a recurring feature in my life.

Thanks.

[Cluckyandconfused]

I have had recurrent cold sores for years. I find that keeping my lips moisturised with Vaseline makes the biggest difference. Sometimes I’ll have a strange tingly feeling on my lip and if I act quickly sometimes I can stop it with the Vaseline.
A friend of mine swears that taking Lysine keeps them away/ reduces their severity.

I tend to get them when I’m tired, stressed and generally run down.

[kevintheorangecarrot]

Are you run down or stressed? I get them after I've had a cold during winter season. I think it is purely down to the colder weather making us more susceptible to illnesses.

[Ilikeviognier]

Thanks for replying.

Tbh I think I’m often run down and stressed so I guess that makes sense!

Will try the Vaseline tip- pharmacist did say they come back more on broken skin.

[Hepsibar]

Honey is very good to help healing. Also there is a specific ointment you can get for coldsores that seems to stop them if put on at first tingle.

[Ilikeviognier]

Haven’t heard the honey tip! Thanks!

[HorridHamble]

I’ve been using a liquorice balm as a preventative and touch wood, it’s working so far. I was sceptical but it supposedly keeps the virus dormant.

The one I use is Lip Q liquorice balm from skinshop.co.uk

[PhoneLock]

Also should I go to see the GP?

I did and got aciclovir tablets on prescription.

www.nhs.uk/medicines/aciclovir/

[AiryFairyMum]

You can get tablets from your gp. Also patches from the chemist, and if you're feeling really brave, a tiny bit of acetone nail polish remover on a cotton wool pad takes away the swelling temporarily. Stings like mad though!

[Caramel78]

L-lysine tablets every day are a godsend. I used to get one every month but haven’t had one in 8 years now (read reviews about it online and there are literally thousands of them saying it cured their cold sore issues too). You can also get lysine ointment for your lips too but I would definitely recommend the supplement first. It’s an amino acid which the body needs to ward off infections like that

[WellTidy]

I sympathise. I've had cold sores since I was about 9yo. Just getting rid of one now. I definitely get more when I'm tired or stressed, and often get them when I go on holiday (and start to relax).

I use the compeed patches for work when I feel more self conscious. Boots do their own brand of them, but they're not as good. I find that I can put lipstick over a patch. The patches don't mean that my cold sores heal any faster, but they do take the throbbing feel away, and I do feel better about myself, which helps.

I am going to try the lysine.

Are you throwing out all of your lipsticks which you've used when a cold sore is appearing or already there? And washing everything like towels and pillowcases and things which would come into contact with the cold sore on hot washes to prevent reinfection?

[ElBanana]

When I'm tired and anxious I get them every few weeks too.

I got so sick of it that I bought high dose Acyclovir tablets online and I keep one in my purse. If I feel that tingle I take one whole tablet then half a tablet twice a day for a week.

It is the only thing that I have found to actually work.

You may be able to get them on prescription. I couldn't be bothered getting an appointment.

[ExCwmbranDweller]

One thing no one has mentioned is Herpatch this stuff is the business. I've had cold sores for about 20 years and this is the best thing I've found barring getting acyclovir tablets from the GP. It completely seals over the cold sore which limits scabbing and can also have make up over the top. If you apply it at the very very start you can sometimes head off problems completely.

The reason you are getting them though is because you are run down from working and having a small child. The best way to get vitamins and minerals is by eating a super healthy diet but sometimes that's impossible so maybe a good supplement will help. Also make sure you have spf moisturiser/lip balm as the sunshine can also set them off.

[Ilikeviognier]

Thanks so much all- very helpful! Will try some of your suggestions.

[woogal]

There's a tablet you can get from Superdrug (private prescription) that helps them. You take them as soon as you feel one coming on and it can stop it erupting all together.

My husband uses them plus a liquorice lip gel and that keeps them away - he's not had one for years.

[Hecateh]

Rather than a generic multivitamin get some zinc tablets.

Take a couple a day for a week and then just keep topped up with them. Not necessarily every day if you have a good diet.

Because of absorption problems I have 6 monthly blood tests for all kinds of things and my levels go up and down so I take specific vitamins and minerals as needed. If my zinc falls I get a spike in coldsores