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Original poster

To ask for your help with this cold sore

62 replies

shouldbesleepingnotscrolling · 19/07/2022 00:15

I have a really bad cold sore brewing, I woke up this morning with a swollen lump on the edge of my lip and the painful tingling. Ive bought some cream but if anything it just feels worse tonight.
Ive only had a couple before and theyve never been so sore before its even ‘erupted’!
Ive got work tomorrow and Im dreading what its going to look like, does anyone have any help with what can make it heal quicker or be less painful?
Ive googled it and there seems to be ‘stages’ it goes through, am I supposed to keep applying the cream all day?! Dont want to make it worse than it already is.

OP posts:
parenthood1989 · 19/07/2022 01:28

What's wrong with saying herpes? What's the insinuation?

ThePumpkinPatch · 19/07/2022 00:46

newnamethanks · 19/07/2022 00:21

If you have any anti histamine cream try that. Or, if you have bicarbonate of soda, wet your finger, dip in bicarb and gently rub on the herpes. Either of these will reduce the itching, pain and inflammation. You'll still have it but it won't be so bad.

You just had to use the Herpes word didn't you? You had to squeeze that in there to have a little insinuating dig!

FYI - 90% of the population carry the Herpes virus, whether dormant or active HTH!

vaingina · 19/07/2022 00:43

Compeed clear them up really quickly and I used it under lipstick too.

Original poster
shouldbesleepingnotscrolling · 19/07/2022 00:35

@parenthood1989 sorry, that was me not being very clear I did buy the Boots own cream - I figured the active ingredient would be the same but would have gone for Zovirax as its the only cold sore remedy I knew of.
I was hoping people could recommend any thing else or had any tips to speed up the healing, I hadn’t heard of the compeed patches below so will definitely look for those tomorrow.

OP posts:
Angrymum22 · 19/07/2022 00:32

As long as the stuff you have has aciclovir in it there is no need to get Zovirax.
Firstly wash and dry the cold sore then using a cotton bud apply the cream very sparingly. Don’t rub it in as it will spread it further. Repeat this regularly remembering to use cotton wool pad to wash and dry so you don’t reinfect yourself each time.
The Zovirax patches are probably the best since they cover the cold sore and mean that the antiviral is in contact with the it constantly.

parenthood1989 · 19/07/2022 00:29

I went into Boots today and they were all out of Zovirax, only had their own brand and didnt have anything else.

It's the same thing, go back in the morning if you can.

ChuckBerrysBoots · 19/07/2022 00:26

The compeed patches are lifesavers. Reduce swelling and discomfort and speed up the healing process really well. I only get cold sores when i’m very run down but I make sure I always have them in the house to put on straight away

ChuckBerrysBoots · 19/07/2022 00:26

The compeed patches are lifesavers. Reduce swelling and discomfort and speed up the healing process really well. I only get cold sores when i’m very run down but I make sure I always have them in the house to put on straight away

Original poster
shouldbesleepingnotscrolling · 19/07/2022 00:24

Thank you, Ill give those other options a go. I went into Boots today and they were all out of Zovirax, only had their own brand and didnt have anything else. I will try try another pharmacy tomorrow night but will have to wait u til after work.

Im really hoping the swelling will go down a bit in the morning because my lip looks ridiculous right now!

OP posts:
newnamethanks · 19/07/2022 00:21

If you have any anti histamine cream try that. Or, if you have bicarbonate of soda, wet your finger, dip in bicarb and gently rub on the herpes. Either of these will reduce the itching, pain and inflammation. You'll still have it but it won't be so bad.

KnottyKnitting · 19/07/2022 00:18

I find the compeed patches really good. They seem to suffocate the blisters and shorten the life of it. Also try Fenestil cream which has a slightly different ingredient to Zovirax. I find it far more effective.

Nannyamc · 19/07/2022 00:18

Zoverix does the trick

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